One of the primary reason why Mozilla Firefox has grown in popularity is the extensibility it provides through the means of add-ons (extensions). With Internet Explorer 7 (IE7), Microsoft has provided the ability to create and use IE specific add-ons to enhance the browser’s functionality. Unlike almost all of Firefox’s add-ons, many IE7 add-ons, though, are not free. That being said, there are numerous free IE7 add-ons that can increase productivity and make the IE7 browsing experience more pleasurable. The best of these IE7 add-ons are listed below while additional add-ons can be found at the Windows Marketplace. (Note: If you are a Firefox user you will notice that many of these add-ons are also available for Firefox.)

Extended Copy Menu

Adds a “Copy As Html” and “Copy As Plain Text” to the context (right-click) menu. (Author’s Site)

Customize Google for IE

Customize Google for IE (CG4IE) is an add-ons that enhances the search results of Google. For example, it adds options to a search, providing additional links to sources such as MSN, Wikipedia, and Yahoo. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

Del.icio.us Buttons for Internet Explorer

Del.icio.us is a collection of a user’s favorite links that can be accessed from any computer on the web and shared with others. The Del.icio.us Buttons for Internet Explorer add-on provides an easily way to look at your favorites and quickly add new ones. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

FoxyTunes for Internet Explorer

FoxyTunes allows you to control most media players and find covers, lyrics and more with just a click in the browser. iTunes, Winamp, and Windows Media Player, among others, are supported. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar

The Microsoft Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar provides a set of tools for quickly creating and debugging web pages. Tools include such areas as exploring the DOM of a page, locating specific elements on a page, and outlining code blocks. (Windows Marketplace Download)

IE7 Open Last Closed Tab

IE7 Open Last Closed Tab is simple yet effective. It allows you to reopen the last closed tab. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

IE7 Pro

IE7Pro adds several features such as ad filters, crash recovery and mouse gestures to IE 7. Many people will tell you that IE7Pro is the one must-have add-on for IE7. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

ieSpell

ieSpell provides a spell checker for text boxes on a web page such as in online forms or in blogging software. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

Inline Search

Inline Search is a quick way to search for content on a web page without pulling up the Find Dialog as well as providing the ability to find as you type and highlighted search terms. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

Mouse Gestures for Internet Explorer

Mouse Gestures for Internet Explorer adds Firefox/Opera style mouse gesture support to IE7 allowing the user to execute commonly performed tasks by drawing a symbol on the browser screen. (Author’s Site) (Windows Marketplace Download)

StumbleUpon Toolbar for Internet Explorer

StumbleUpon provides a way to ‘channel surf’ the Internet, randomly discovering websites that match your interest. The StumbleUpon Toolbar for Internet Explorer makes it easier to do this ‘channel surfing’. (Windows Marketplace Download)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 27th, 2007 at 11:03 pm and is filed under Browsers, Software. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.