Build the Perfect Browser

Browser Boosters [continued]

IE Tab If you use Firefox but at times need to visit sites that display correctly only in Internet Explorer, this extension is for you. Right-click a link and choose Open in IE Tab, and you'll see the page in a Firefox tab as rendered by IE. Click a browser icon to alternate between the different views while staying in the same tab.

IE View It behaves like IE Tab, except that it starts up Internet Explorer to display a selected page.

IESpell Gain a right-click 'Check Spelling' option for text that you've entered into forms and fields.

FoxyTunes Another Firefox favorite that is now available for IE, FoxyTunes introduces a toolbar that lets you control a multitude of media players (including iTunes, WinAmp, and Windows Media Player) from inside the browser. Foxy indeed.

LeechGet Ideal for the inveterate power-downloader, LeechGet handles downloads in an external program that runs from the system tray. It can accelerate downloads by splitting files into different parts and pulling them all down at the same time. If you use Firefox, you'll need to install an extension as well as the main application to use LeechGet.

StarDownloader Like LeechGet, this program adds a download manager that runs outside the browser in the system tray. LeechGet may have more options than this application, but StarDownloader has a more straightforward interface.

All-in-One Sidebar This excellent extension creates a cleaner Firefox interface by collecting the normally separate array of add-ons and download windows and pulling them into a highly functional sidebar.

Yahoo Mail Notifier This app tucks a small icon into the lower-right corner of your browser to identify the number of unread Yahoo e-mail messages you have. You can configure it to show new e-mail alerts, too.