7 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

By | September 16, 2011 | 43 Comments

5 Web Browser Features To Save Your TimeTime management as its best. Updated on 9/16/2011.

More than 4 years ago, I’ve wrote about a few things you can do to save your time and boost your productivity. Some are still relevant and some are not. Seeing how this post still receives some attention, here is an updated version, which now includes Google Chrome and Maxthon web browsers as well as 2 additional features.

The world moves fast, don’t you think so? It’s time to learn some tips and tricks and do everything at the speed of light. So to begin with, here are 7 web browser features that will help you to save a lot of time. So, here we go. 7 web browser features to save your time.

Mouse Gestures

Why bother clicking back button with your mouse when you can easily do that with the mouse gestures enabled?

Mouse Gestures

Download Opera with Mouse Gestures.
Download Mouse Gestures add-on for Firefox.
Download Mouse Gestures add-on for Google Chrome
Download Mouse Gestures add-on for Internet Explorer
Download Maxthon with Mouse Gestures

Search Engine Management

Not for search engines only.

Isn’t that annoying when you have to open a web page and only then type what you are looking for? It is. But there’s a solution. When I want to search for something, I don’t visit Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia or eBay. Just pick a character, select your web page and that’s all.

5 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

Supported by the majority of web browsers.

Sessions

Don’t you just get bored when you have to open your previously visited web pages? It is. That’s why web browser developers have incorporated tab sessions.

5 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

Nowadays, pretty much all the web browsers support this feature, which is a win-win for consumers.

Snap Links

This is probably one of the best things I’ve ever seen. This little add-on helps you to open multiple links at same time. Just mark them using the right mouse click and that’s all. Every link will open in a new tab. A must have when accessing search results or browsing reddit.

6 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

Download Snap Links add-on for Firefox.
Download Snap Links add-on for Google Chrome.
Download Snap links add-on for Opera.

Speed Dial

This feature allows you to open your favorite sites just in one click. Back in the old days, this one was supported by Opera only. Today however, a similar functionality is implemented in pretty much all the web browsers. However, Opera still takes the lead here.

Opera 11 Speed Dial

Download Opera with Speed Dial.
Download Speed Dial add-on for Firefox.

Shortcuts

5 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

This one requires an article on its own. I can’t stress enough how important web browser shortcuts are. No longer do I use mouse to open a new tab (CTRL+T), access news feeds, preferences. Heck, even right click to open page in a background tab is no longer required.

Facebook Preview

5 Web Browser Features To Save Your Time

If you are one of those people who visits Facebook only to check the notifications and are not really interested in all the drama that is going on there, then this one is a must.

This Speed Dial extension for Opera web browser will automatically check the notifications for you and display them in case there is a new one. No more useless visits.

Download Opera Facebook Preview add-on.

Alternatively, you can get the following extension for Google Chrome.

Anything else? Let us know in the comment section below.


About (Author Profile)


Vygantas is a former web designer whose projects are used by companies such as AMD, NVIDIA and departed Westood Studios. Being passionate about software, Vygantas began his journalism carrier back in 2007 when he founded FavBrowser.com. Having said that, he is also an adrenaline junkie who enjoys good books, fitness activities and Forex trading.

  • Tiago Sá

    Good stuff.

    The biggest speed improvement is usability. That’s one of the reasons Firefox is and has always been the fastest.

    • FForever

      Of course :) Do you want mouse gestures? Try to find an extension which work with latest FF version. Do you want sessions? 
      Try to find an extension which work with latest FF version. Do you want speed dial?  
      Try to find an extension which work with latest FF version. and so on.. I f@#!ng tired of such usability :(

      • Leo

        Are you talking about the latest Stable or Beta or Nightly/Aurora? Take the latest Stable version and you’ll be f@#!ng great with all the extension you mentioned! Jeez…

        • FForever

          For exmaple, link from an article
          https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/snap-links/
          Jeez… Research before posting your dumb opinion.. :(

          • Leo

            You’re saying Snap Links addon was AMONG the addons you mentioned?
            Learn to read before posting your dumb comments. ;)
            And, yeah… for example:
            https://addons.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/addon/firegestures/
            https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/session-manager/
            https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/speed-dial/

            Where do you illiterate lamebrains come from?..

          • Mikah

            Instead of fighting how about posting some productivity tips for Firefox , plenty of tips from Opera users but its not helping me any as I already know them .
            Would like to learn something about the other Browsers must be some reason so many people use Firefox. ?

          • Leo

            I’ll be glad to help. Just drop a hint on what exactly you’d like to know (about Firefox).

          • Mikah

            I don’t know really know , how about some tips to make me more productive & save me time if i use Firefox.

          • Leo

            Well, first of all, you should consider using those three addons I mentioned above.
            Besides, here goes something that can potentially save your time and nerves:
            1. Search utilities.
            a. Adds ANY search engine to the list of search engines – https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/add-to-search-bar/
            b. Expands the context menu’s ‘Search for’ item – https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/context-search/
            c. Organizes your search engines – https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/organize-search-engines/
            2. Saving for later.
            Marks any page to read later WITHOUT logging in to Evernote or such services – https://addons.mozilla.org/fr/firefox/addon/read-it-later/
            3. Checking mail.
            Mail notifier – https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/webmail-notifier/
            4. Saving pages as MHT.
            Saves pages as MHT – http://www.unmht.org/unmht/en_index.html (Install the latest 5.7.0 version)
            5. Logging in.
            Secure login (Opera like) – https://addons.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/addon/secure-login/
            6. Download manager.
            Download statusbar – https://addons.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/addon/download-statusbar/ (This addon has a LOT of great options)
            7. Feeds.
            Awesome feed reader – http://brief.mozdev.org/
            8. Menu editing tools.
            Great menu editor – http://menueditor.mozdev.org/

            Try these addons and I’m sure you’ll be amazed when you see how much time they can save you.

            P.S. I’m an Opera fan. But Firefox has a great potential.

          • Mikah

            Read Later is a boon for when U are traveling i use the similar “reading list ” extension for Opera when I’m away from home.
            Opera users save loads of time by having so much built in to the browser I’ve tried several extensions for Firefox that duplicate mouse gestures & speed dial & always found that Opera does it better.
            One of the problem is so many extensions are available in Firefox that I’ve probably not tried the best mouse gestures etc…

          • Leo

            Yes, Opera really does it better, but there are issues… When it comes to mouse gestures I can not say I’m satisfied with what Opera can offer. FireGestures addon for Firefox has a lot more options and gestures to set up.
            I practically don’t touch the keyboard while browsing. I do it only by mouse gestures. And for example, in Opera there is no such command to be bound to a gesture – Stop All Pages From Loading. It’s just not there. People on Opera forums suggested me to make a user button for this. It’s kind of solved the problem, but not really…

          • Mikah

            I’m a keyboard junkie so the Opera gestures are more than enough for me. 
            Stop pages loading is useful theres a couple of extension now that do it but no way to do it with the mouse.

          • Anonymous

            My past experience with FF, tried to do thing that is given in Opera, can’t as there is no such feature.

            I then proceed to frenzy adding add-on to ultimately mimic Opera, and what I’ve got is buggy, slow cluttered mess of a browser that can’t even do what I want right (add that the UI is/was(?) uncustomizable or just half baked).

            I give up, I went back to Opera, never look around again (except for interesting release and preferably portable). Love it although some feature are unnecessary and useless (unite, widget) but hey they can be turned off and it does not slow down thing at all, so I’m fine with it.

          • Leo

            Yeah, that’s why I can’t refuse of Opera. Everything’s built-in! Mail agent, RSS, Download manager, Notes. These features have a heavy use during everyday browsing. And now they implemented these Speed dial extensions. Firefox has a large distance to cover to get close to Opera.

          • Mikah

            Its the same for me I know Opera inside out, I use the Opera mail client to manage several email accounts & have hundreds of notes & bookmarks. 
            Installing Opera on a new PC or as a portable on a friends PC takes less than 5 minutes & using Opera link I have all my Bookmarks ,Notes mail accounts , Speed dials, Search engines, content blocker rules. The user interface will be changed to my liking with a favorite skin the address bar will be on the bottom of the screen & combined with buttons from the status bar. 
            When I try out Firefox I soon get frustrated  & give up. Maybe if I spent a month only using Firefox I would be in a better position to judge the relative merits of both browsers.

            Its probably a similar experience  for Firefox users moving to Opera .

          • Anonymous

            You may be right, but whenever I see my friends use other browser (usualy FF) I always thought, “I could do it so much better and faster in Opera”, but of course, those guys are also very resistant to change and refuse to learn other browsers. So I never bother again to tell them that. :P

    • Carl

      Always? All of these features are innovations of Opera and Firefox not have some even with extensions.

      Why always the fans believe that Firefox is “the best” highlighting things that really says the opposite?.

  • OP

    More Little Tips:

    1) Imagus:(http://my.opera.com/Deathamns/blog/opera-extension-imagus)
    If you like to browse huge images site..this one is for you though i dont have any similar extension to other browsers

    2) Opera Voice(http://help.opera.com/Windows/9.22/en/voice.html)
    This one has many uses..it can be use for porn browsing(watching a video then select a text then let it do the rest)
    also useful for people with problems in hearing or seeing text in opera
    You can also talk to your browser the way you want it..

    3)Panels/mails etc
    This is built in feature in opera already but i heard there are addons for firefox and chrome though i dont have any links(someone provide?)

    4) Turbo/Unite/Link
    Turbo: built in already for opera(if you want this feature on other browsers then use this)
              (fastun.com/ )

    Unite: great alternative for downloading/sharing files to other person..its free all you need is 1 account and ready to go..also has media streaming..for more info(http://unite.opera.com/overview/)

    Link:great for synching you bookmarks/speeddial/passwords etc..for you mobile phone and other PC’s
    more info:(http://www.opera.com/link/)

    5)Buttons: you can add as many buttons as you like in opera but it will make opera look bloated and slow

    sites for buttons/button creating etc..
    nontroppo.org/tools/buttonmaker/ 
    my.opera.com/Vectronic/ 

    6) Other Guides/Tips/tweaks/etc
    If you are new to opera and looking for more guides on how to tweak it go here
    -my.opera.com/Tamil/ 

    7) Extendtube
    -This is an awesome and excellent add on youtube extension for opera…if you are a youtube addict then this one is for you(although there are good addons youtube extension for other browsers but this one is above th rest..all built in features you can imagine for a YT extension)

    https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/extendtube/

    (be sure to check back from time to time it may have an update..also the link may change if there is an update..if so..just go to opera extension page and search for it

    8) Customizing .ini files in opera
    -not everyone knows you can cuxtomize .ini files in opera since it can be open in a notepad(windows) and change the way you want it..

    for instance type :opera:about: in addressfield and look in “Paths” once you do..go look at these files

    search.ini(editing search box on how many search sites you want)
    urfilter.ini(adblocking)
    speeddial.ini(you can change on how many SD you want in opera)
    skin.ini(this is in program files if you default install opera there)

    9) Notes
    your “easy to do” lists is listed here for more saving time..just look here

    http://help.opera.com/Windows/11.50/en/notes.html

  • dXm99

    I dont know for other browsers but in Opera You can use search managment for more then just search.
    http://translate.google.com/translate?u=%s assigned to letter z translates current page. just add z *space* in front of current address and hit enter to get current page google translated withoud annoying popups

    or this one
    keyword: pe (yes – in opera You are not limited to one cahracter prefix)
    address: http://recnik.krstarica.com/
    query: input_text=%s&source_language=en&destination_language=sr&btnTranslate=Prevedi
    english to serbian translation from address bar

    another one
    Whois lookup and Domain name search
    keyword: who
    address:

    i haven’t try it yet but I am sure that You can make google calendar entry via address bar

    with search engine manangment You can replace several non search related extensions

    • Mikah

      With Opera its very easy to create a search for any web page that has a search-field like the one at the top of this page, just right click on the search field & create search give it a name (a number or letter a word ) initiate the search in the address bar with the name followed by a space then search term.

  • Anonymous

    Very nice article and you can save your time with Opera everytime. No need further program for your business live as well.

  • Mikah

    My favorite Opera time savers.
    Being able to give a bookmark a nickname
    The Windows panel makes it far easier managing large numbers of tabs than the tab bar.
    Opera notes they are search-able & double clicking on the note header opens the web page it was copied from. 
    The Alt Menu : Keyboard shortcut Alt opens the Menu & every option has a letter underlined which is the keyboard shortcut. an example  If i am in full screen mode pressing in sequence Alt L a will toggle the address bar on & off. 

  • Anonymous

    Opera Note. Just that, to this day I still cannot find a better one on any browser, with plugin or not. Which is crazy, since it’s very very useful.

    Also snap link is useless if you use mouse, just middle click a link and it’ll open in background, work for any sane browser.

    Lastly, this extension : https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/cleanpages/1.0.2/ if you appreciate clean page while reading anything.

    • Xerxes

      100% agree on Opera Note. I heavily use notes to remember things, copy funny or nice texts to read later, transfer texts between my laptop and desktop pc (using OperaLink), using it as a multi-clipboard, etc. I can’t browse without this feature!!!

      • Leo

        +1. No other browser can offer such an easy-to-use Notes manager.

    • http://my.opera.com/rafaelluik Rafael

      Snap Links isn’t useful it lets you open multiple links with onle click by selectin them and them opening. :P

      • Anonymous

        Well, I rarely ever encounter scenario which has link of interest grouped together in a manner that snap link could be used. middle click is way more flexible.

        Though having an option wouldn’t hurt. ;)

  • Anonymous

    One extension I love in Opera is AutoPatchWork. It automatically loads the next page. There’s probably something similar available in other browsers, but I haven’t checked. 

  • Mikah

    This one doesn’t save you time but does save on screen space.
    How to Show Tabs Always in Titlebar When Mozilla Firefox is not Maximized?

    If you use Opera  enter opera:config  & type chrome into quick find & change “Chrome Integration Drag Area Maximized” to 0
    the other setting “Chrome Integration Drag Area ” controls how close the tabs are to the top edge.

    Well thinking about it  i guess it is a time-saver for Opera with the right skin when the browser is maximized the tabs extend right to the top of the screen enabling you to throw the mouse cursor to the top of the screen & open the tab without worrying about overshooting the target.
    for more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitts's_law

  • Julian89

    Opera is a rubbish browser and those who use it are just ignorants or fanboys.
    Why the autor’s article is obsessed with Opera? Opera don´t display well many important sites.
    Why waste time even to try it?
    Besides these “key features” anyone can obtain them for his browser through extensions, so there is no need to write an article mentioning Opera and their features.

    • Mikah

      Yeah Opera the rubbish browser everyone copies 

      • Leo

        Haters gonna hate. :D

    • DWBH

      What are these sites you talking about ? 

    • Leo

      So between 2 browsers one of which has every key feature built-in and the other has none of them by default you’re gonna choose the latter? Where’s logic here?

    • Katimwilk

      If you come across a page that “doesn’t work” in Opera and masking the browser as Firefox or IE doesn’t help, just do this:

      1. Right click a blank spot on the webpage
      2. Choose “Open With >” 
      3. Pick what browser you want to open the page in.

      I rarely have to do this, but it’s yet another feature of Opera that can save time which I don’t believe is in any other browser.

  • Mikah

    ” ignorants or fanboys ”  open your eyes & take a long hard look in the mirror at yourself.

  • Leo

    I doubt this pseudo-troll will ever come back to this page or write any sane answer…

  • mori bund

    The best feature that came out in the last year is the tab grouping-feature in Opera. Windows should copy this feature for Win 7 (instead of its Superbar), because it’s the best, intuitive and most flexible way to manage a higher number of tabs/windows.

  • Mikah

    Don’t use it very much from the tab bar but i do from the Windows Panel, lots of tabs use the panel

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