What Causes Firefox To Slowdown

Well, here are the things I observed that causes Firefox to slow down significantly:

• The more tabs or windows you open, the slower Firefox gets as it increases significantly more RAM consumption and CPU usage.
• Viewing web pages with Adobe Flash and streaming videos on many tabs simultaneously will cause Firefox to slow down heavily until sometimes it becomes unresponsive. If you are in Windows Vista and your memory is low, the more you are to experience this kind of slowdown symptom. Adobe Flash player is a monster plugin and it causes Firefox web browser to consume more RAM and CPU. In fact, I have experienced on my system that the videos streamed through this player pauses every two seconds and it sucks.
• If you have installed and enabled a lot of Firefox extensions, there is a big chance that Firefox 3 will eat a lot of RAM and CPU, causing the web browser to slow down as a result. While there are lots of nice and useful Firefox extensions out there that adds more exciting to your web browsing, I highly recommend that you only enable the extensions you really need if you want speed.
• Same would be the case if you have a lot of plug-ins installed and enabled. However, unlike Firefox extensions, plug-ins are usually invoked on certain pages who use it. So, the slowdown chance is not that great. By the way, Adobe Flash player, the one that is invoked when you watch YouTube and similar sites, is a Mozilla Firefox plug-in.
• If you have a slow computer system. If your laptop or personal computer is slow on system RAM and your processor has slower clock speed, you will definitely notice more how Firefox will slowdown each day especially if you experience the above-mentioned causes. I am on a decent laptop with Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a SATA hard disk drive and 3 gigabytes of RAM, so it’s a bit mysterious as to why Firefox 3 still slows down.

How To Make Firefox 3 Faster

Now, for sure these procedures will make Firefox 3 feel faster again:

• Defragment your hard disk drive.
• Clear Firefox cache and all your system temporarily files.
• Disable all your Firefox extensions.
• Get a faster computer with higher clock speeds and generous RAM supply.
• Don’t visit sites that uses plugins that causes Firefox to slowdown (well, don’t follow this if you like to watch YouTube a lot).

Now, if those things don’t work for you, maybe it’s time to consider other newer web browsers that runs simultaneous threads at the same time: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 and Google Chrome are the best alternatives.

If you experience slowdown on Mozilla Firefox 3 web browser too, drop your comments below and let’s tell the world that this browser gets worse each day.

Update: By the way today, Mozilla released Firefox version 3.0.2, let’s see what it can do.

It’s been just days since Microsoft released the second preview version of its flagship web browser that shocked me in disbelief, turning my negative expectations on Internet Explorer down. Now, we heard that Google just released its own browser dubbed as Chrome. For Google and its followers, it sounds like an exciting, business tool; for other browser developers, it’s less than a threat; for web developers like me, while it performs good, it’s also another piece of crap.

Why Release A New Browser?

Google’s engineers have succeeded to deliver their own web browser developed for two years, but why did Google choose to develop its own browser, considering that the current browsers are already excellent in many ways? Trust me if you set aside your beliefs, you would find that today’s current browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera) are already more than enough.

So why develop Chrome? Well, Google could say they mind us for this — but actually, it’s for their business. Google wants more so it needs ways to expand…and to have its own web browser is the best way. With it, Google can effortlessly tap more audience and infuse its web services to expand its market.

Google Chrome Is A “Virgin”

What are Microsoft and Mozilla have to say about Google Chrome? Well, neither of them find Chrome as a great threat for the time being. Both have expressed that Google is new to the browser market and it can’t shook their user base (yet) just like that. While Google Chrome in perception is aimed to flirt users using Internet Explorer, I definitely feel that Mozilla Firefox will suffer the greatest consequence should Google decide to halt support to Mozilla’s browser. Google Search has been the default search engine on Mozilla Firefox browser and because of that it makes Google one of their biggest source of funds. But that is not about to happen yet, Google Chrome is still like a virgin — people may find its speed hot, still it is undeniably tight-featured and inexperienced. By features alone, Google Chrome cannot stand against Firefox’s rich extensions library.

Google Wants Dominance, Empire Expansion

Like any other business, Google wants market dominance and with this goal in mind it already facing tough and tested industry giants such as Microsoft, Yahoo, among others. I particularly noticed Google battling Microsoft products even more in all possible, ethical ways. It seems to me that Google is becoming more and more like Microsoft except that it has the advantage of having the Web, which all technologies are shifting to, as its domain. Last year, we saw Google booming and acquiring heaps of other IT companies for its growing power. I have made a prediction that Google will fall this year, but with the advent of Google’s new browser that could change depending on how the people would be compelled to use it. Google could use its popular search engine as its weapon. However, it is good to note that Google Talk, Google’s own Internet messaging client, have failed to snatch the user base of Yahoo Messenger and other IMs. Google can’t have it all.

Should You Use Chrome?

Chrome by functionality and usability is pretty excellent, despite its freshness to the browser market and the fact that it’s just a preview version. Although I was awed by a faster Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 just released few weeks ago, I was even more enthralled to know that Chrome surpassed any available browsers on this planet in terms of JavaScript execution speed — and that means Chrome got muscles with it, considering that the trends of today’s web applications are shifting towards Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). Chrome has been built above several opensource code engines that have blessed Firefox and Safari’s superb browsing performance. 

Personally, I liked the simplicity and minimalistic of Chrome’s interface. Its tabs look intuitive and futuristic. However, since it’s just beta (note: it’s version 0.2) and even if Google could still boost it a lot, the current one is still half-baked. It doesn’t have most features of today’s popular browsers have — and that sucks.

Another thing is that as a web developer, Google Chrome is again another browser platform. It’s another piece of crap where all my web pages will have to be tested to ensure compatibility. If Google plans to create its own web standards in web development and other browsers will not support it, that would definitely a pain in the butt for me and all other web developers.’

Try Google Chrome now then come back and let me know how you find it.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 deserves the spotlight.

One day after Microsoft released IE 8 Beta 2, and after scratching the features, stability and reliability of the new Internet Explorer for 24 hours, it is clear that the Microsoft IE8 Beta 2 is an eye-opener for Microsoft and Internet Explorer pessimists like me. I’m pretty sure hardcore Firefox fans would not (or just hesitant) to believe this, but give Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 a try and you would believe how great this browser would be when its full version will be released — especially to web developers and Internet-savvy persons like me.

Considering the rapid and continuous shift of computing, social and business paradigms toward the Internet, Microsoft’s flagship web browser is surprisingly abreast and aware with this. Mozilla Firefox have been long hailed for its speed, openness, adherence to web standards and increased functionality — but now, Microsoft proves us it can do the same — at least finally. For sure, there are features that they somewhat copied from other web browsers, but they are worth copying to make our Web life easier, faster and exciting.

Hard-core Firefox Fans And Microsoft Haters: Listen

Avid Firefox fans like me for years can admit that the terms “Internet Explorer” and “Microsoft” are annoyances. And Microsoft cannot blame us with that: many people were disappointed with the release of Windows Vista, and the home browser that it comes with, the Internet Explorer 7, is slow and problematic. I agree that there were problems that came with the original Vista release, but I already have forgiven Microsoft with that after they released Windows Vista Service Pack 1, which encouraged me to love Vista even more and recommend to my friends that it’s now worth upgrading from Windows XP.

I was truly doubtful that IE 8 Beta 2 would satisfy my browsing needs. But after I installed it for fun, it seemed to be beyond my expectations. For a product that comes from Microsoft, that’s “record-breaking” (LOL) and great. If you are a long-time Microsoft products hater, try playing with the new web browser and you’ll see what serious market research can do.

Less Headaches To Web Developers

Web developers completely agree with me that coding compatibility is a pain in the butt especially when dealing with Internet Explorer browsers. I’ve been patronizing Firefox for its adherence to web standards and I used it as my main browser. Why? Because the sites I developed there looked and worked the same with most of other web browsers in the market such as Safari and Opera — and Internet Explorer is not always like that. I would add so many “trys and catches” in our code just for IE, especially with JavaScript or Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). However, that assumption is about to change with Internet Explorer 8 as they finally emphasized support on web standards and interoperability. So, it means less headaches for me and that is great.

I highly encourage that you discover and try Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 by downloading and trying it. It rocked a Microsoft hard-core pessimist like me. It will rock you too. Set aside your hatred and you’ll see that Microsoft’s efforts in giving us an excellent browser to experience and work with the Web is worthy of recognition for the time being.

Learn more by visiting Microsoft’s blog post related with Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 release.

…it came with new features, new speed, new look — and it made me forget Firefox for the moment.

“Wow!” With Emphasis 

The last time I patronized Internet Explorer was when I was still using its version 5 and 6 web browser — and it was because I haven’t heard of Firefox yet. When Firefox came into the scene after that, bringing better security, faster speed and tabbed browsing, that made my Internet Explorer 7 unused (except for web development purposes where I make sure that my web pages would work well with both browsers). Internet Explorer 7 was the worst IE I’ve ever encountered and it came pre-installed with my Windows Vista. It’s slow and annoying — far behind the performance of recently released Mozilla Firefox 3, and even its version 2.

Out of curiosity amplified by the rumors I read from web development and web hosting forums, and due to the nature of my work as a web developer, I downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 two months ago. I wasn’t quite impressed to it actually as it performs similarly like Internet Explorer 7 — and it was meant to be that way. Microsoft purposively released IE8 Beta 1 for web developers who want to work on their coding and make them compatible with the full version release of IE8. As one of the developers who took advantage of IE8 Beta 1, I was happy to learn that the forthcoming Internet Explorer 8 is more compliant with web standards.

When I read from Yahoo’s tech news that Internet Explorer Beta 2 is already out, I didn’t hesitate to download and install it from its homepage. It took me two reboots on my Windows Vista: first after I uninstalled Internet Explorer Beta 1 and the second one is after I installed Internet Explorer Beta 2. It took quite a portion of my time but I was patient enough for it. When I return to my desktop, I immediately ran Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 and surprise: it was able to awe me with emphasis (as in, “WOW!!!”) with its new look, its amazingly newfound rendering speed, and intelligent, whopping features. Looks like Microsoft has finally able to please me once again after all my complaints with its previous web browser versions.

IE8 Beta 2 Got The Muscles To Punch Firefox 3 Out Of The Ring

I love IE8 Beta 2′s new, clean looking tabs and completely revamped Autocomplete and Search features. Now, tab switching and web browsing is fast (even faster at times compared to Firefox 3, in fact). I was asking myself “Where did this browser got this speed? And why it wasn’t like this before?” Looks like this time, Microsoft really seriously developed this web browser to prevent any competitor from dethroning IE. And since they finally listened to people’s complaints (especially web developers), they made a very good move.

IE8 Beta 2 presents a couple of new features. A new feature called “InPrivate” lets you browse the Web without leaving any trace (no history, cookies, etc) — which is good for security and anonymous browsing (you might want to call this “porn mode” — lol ). Well, I will not try to convince you to trust Microsoft, but I think I finally do trust them because their new features just work.

IE 8 Beta 2 also features “Accelerator” which lets us discover new services; “Web Slices” which lets us slice a portion of a website so we can have up-to-date information even though we are not actually visiting that website; “SmartScreen Filter” for additional protection against deceptive and malicious websites and the Compatibility View which displays an image on the web browser’s address bar if the web page is meant for older browsers. This feature, and IE 8 Beta 2′s integrated Developer Tools really made my heart rejoice as a web developer. I’ve been looking such features before and I only found them in Firefox add-on feature. Now, Microsoft is dragging me back to their base.

…it was already able to please a long-time Microsoft Internet Explorer pessimist like me

Despite the fact that Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is still beta, and it could still offer a lot more on its full release, it was already able to please a long-time Microsoft Internet Explorer pessimist like me. Firefox had already snatched my heart for a long time, but now with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, I’m reassessing myself because I believe it now deserves love too, even from you.

Experience for yourself the latest preview version of Internet Explorer 8, and believe me it is one of the most satisfying Microsoft products I have ever known. Two thumbs up with pride. (Wow! I can’t believe I said that!)

BlogRush is a cooperative syndication network launched by John Reese. Their web service binds the blogs of their members through their widget which displays five clickable blog post headlines. Each member earns one syndication credit every time the widget is loaded on their respective blogs. It also costs them same value to have their recent blog post title displayed on another member’s blog.

Basically, I signed up for BlogRush with good expectations that their web service would help drive traffic to my blog. Blogrush’s dashboard looks great for sure: the statistics and traffic charts look neat and attractive. Unfortunately I’m not charmed with the interface whatsoever, like other bloggers do, I want results for my efforts: quality traffic for my blog as promised.

In the first few months, I ignored that it didn’t bring traffic due to the fact that my blog was one-month old when I registered it to their service. In the following months, I read and followed lots of tips and articles from other bloggers who praised BlogRush – but none of them worked. Even though BlogRush’s idea of driving traffic from targeted audience is good, people seem not to care clicking their widget and prefer links and referrals written on the blog post itself.

My Personal Standpoint

No matter how much I think that my articles might not be “hot” in the eyes of BlogRush members, I personally proven that some of them were proven good – good enough to actuate a click. In fact, some of my articles got stumbled in StumbleUpon and that drove me enormous amount of traffic. I know that the BlogRush and StumbleUpon are two different web services that drive traffic. However, if the two web services are to compete each other in terms of traffic generation performance, no doubt I would abandon BlogRush quickly and hop right away to StumbleUpon (or any other social bookmarking or web service that would bring measurable benefits for me and my blog).

It’s good to note, however, that Blogrush is a free web service. I’ll leave them now my comments and hope they take all of them positively. The intent of their service is great, but it needs spark.

The upgrade process went very smooth and definitely transparent. As usual, WordPress guys made things easy – no “computerese,” no jargons whatsoever, just good steps. After I upgraded, I was redirected to the WordPress login and it is where my impression begins.

The login design has been changed for better. It looks very neat and fresh now, unlike the blue one that we used to see in the previous version which, in my opinion, was large.

The center of improvement came after I logged into my WordPress control panel. I was surprised – indeed, there are big changes. The first thing I noticed basically is the design. The new WordPress 2.5 default dashboard configuration displays recent comments, incoming links, WordPress development blog, popular plugins and the typical box news.

The default main menu now comes with only five items: Write, Manage, Design, Comments and Ratings. The Write menu item when clicked displays the Write Post page featuring the revamped (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) WYSIWYG WordPress blog editor. The Manage menu item lets you manage posts, pages, links, categories, tags, link categories, media library and like before, boasts WordPress Import and Export function. The Design menu, on the other hand, is equivalent to previous “Presentation” menu. The Settings, Plugins and User menu items are now displayed in small font to the upper right portion of the administration panel.

Another thing that is noticeable with the new WordPress is the speed. It is a whole lot faster than the previous one – one thing many bloggers will like (including me). The one-click plugin upgrade is superb. It asks for your domain’s FTP login information, and then it upgrades the outdated plugins for you.

My conclusion is that I very much prefer the previous blue-themed control panel. When I found that the color scheme can be changed to classic through the Settings, however, my little disappointment vanished. Now, WordPress 2.5 looks good and I love it like other bloggers do.