Filed under: Productivity, Internet Tools
Backpack extension for Firefox
Backpack is a slick online PIM tool, and if you've been searching for a way to get organized but haven't checked out the free version, I just found one more reason for you to stop procrastinating: a Backpack extension for Firefox. This handy extension gives you quick access to a drop-down list of your Backpack pages with the use of a button you can add to your toolbar. I just finished installing it on the recently-released Firefox 1.5, but there's an extra couple of steps necessary to get this extension up and running, so here's a walk-through:
- obviously, download the extension, install, and restart Firefox
- edit the extension from Firefox's extension management list to add your Backpack user name and API key (obtain your API key from the account page in your Backpack)
- customize your Firefox toolbar (right-click on it for the option) and scroll down the list of buttons you can add to find a new Backpack button
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LD said 4:04PM on 11-30-2005
Wouldn't Safari be so much better if it were Firefox?
Yes, yes it would.
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David Chartier said 4:08PM on 11-30-2005
Yea but Firefox doesn't play with any of OS X's built-in services like the spell-checker or text summarizing. It's great that Firefox has all these cute extensions available, but it has to be written in Carbon to make it easily portable between other OS's which rules out all these other great fundamental systems and functions that Apple has provided.
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LD said 4:54PM on 11-30-2005
Firefox certainly could if Apple were using it as the platform for Safari.
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Al Willis said 4:54AM on 12-01-2005
A few things:
* the Backpack widget is much better than the Firefox extention
* don't get caught up in the Carbon vs. Cocoa thing: Carbon apps can access all of the same goodies that Cocoa apps can, and in some cases, more
* while I like Firefox, it's unlikely to run as smoothly has Safari does on Mac OS X. It's already a great browser; there are lots of goodies coming--see http://webkit.opendarwin.org/
* the reason Apple picked KHTML and not Gecko (Mozilla's engine) is that Gecko was big and bloated and KHTML is lean and fast
* Safari passes the Acid2 test today; we're still waiting on Firefox. See http://www.webstandards.org/act/acid2/
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Mirko said 8:38AM on 12-01-2005
I don't feel comfortable entering my Backpack API into any add-ons or widgets not made and/or supported by the 37signals (the makers of Backpack).
As it's stated on your Backpack account page, anyone that has your API will be able to access your account. You can change your password but this stays the same.
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David Chartier said 8:42AM on 12-01-2005
Mirko: yea but the user name and API key get saved locally, it's not like the extension author needs it transmitted back to them for any reason. An app like Little Snitch should catch any transmission like that, and I'm sure someone would notice and call foul pretty quickly.
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Mirko said 9:28AM on 12-01-2005
David, I agree. I guess I'm lazy to check it with Little Snitch running. I'll just wait a bit to see if there'll be smoke and install it at a later date.
The widget looks mighty fine though :)
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