CompleteFusion

Firefox is a web browser that many people use as an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. There are a variety of reasons to use it, including enhanced security, speed, and customization via extensions. Some of my favorite Firefox extensions include:

• Download Statusbar – Lets you view downloads in the status bar at the bottom of the browser window instead of having them open in a separate window.
• Drag Drop Upload – Forms to upload files to sites are a hassle because you have to browse through folders to select a file.  Drag Drop Upload lets you drag a file onto the field and it takes care of finding the path.
• Fasterfox – General performance and network tweaks for Firefox.
• Firebug – In addition to Edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript in any web page.
• FireFTP – Provides an FTP client within a Firefox tab, which is a huge time saver compared to using a separate client.
• Gspace – Although there are rumors of a Google storage service, it hasn't happened yet. Gmail Space provides an FTP-like interface for storing files in Gmail, so if you want to access a file from anywhere you can use Gmail, this is your tool.
• IE Tab – Makes it possible to use Internet Explorer within a Firefox tab for sites that were designed only to work in Internet Explorer.
• Snap Links – Hold down the right mouse button and you can select multiple links to open in a tab at a single time.  I frequently use this when browing sites like eBay and Craigslist.
• View Source Chart – Lets you view a color-coded source code chart and collapse/expand code within tags, instead of relying on the plain/default Firefox source code view.

Leila and I recently switched cell phone carriers from Cingular/AT&T to Sprint. Since our old phones (Razr v3 and Samsung T509) were GSM-based, they wouldn't work on Sprint's CDMA network. The plans we signed up for with Sprint include unlimited data, so we definitely wanted to get an EVDO (3G)-capable phone. Initially, I got a Treo 755p; unfortunately, its square (320×320) screen and aging PalmOS didn't impress me. Although I loved the form factor and keyboard, its inability to multi-task was a killer for me. Leila had previously decided to get the Sprint Mogul by HTC, and after checking out the available phones and reading tons of reviews, I also decided to get the Mogul.

Features:

1. General: 400MHz CPU, Windows Mobile 6, 2MP camera, 5.8oz
2. Data options: Wi-Fi, EVDO/3G, Bluetooth
3. Memory: 64MB RAM, 256MB Storage, MicroSD slot

Notes: The Mogul comes with a 512MB MicroSD card, we each upgraded to a 4GB MicroSDHC Kingston card from NewEgg for $27.49.

One of the things I love about the Mogul is how easy it is to add or change functionality by installing programs. Here are a few of the programs I've installed and am currently using:

1. Google Maps
2. Adobe Flashlite
3. TCPMP
4. WkTask
5. ELF Calculator Skin
6. HTC WMP Touch Skin
7. Finster869 WM6 RDP
8. xda-developers HTC Cube

Most of these programs can be found on XDA-Developers, and the rest can be found via Google.

Also, several system tweaks have been useful in improving responsiveness and performance. The biggest benefit so far has come from removing two files from the My DeviceWindowsStartup folder: htc_cm_guardian and dddaemon. I haven't experienced any problems after removing these two files, but you may want to simply move them out of the Startup folder instead of removing them entirely. XDA-Developers is a great site for cell phone information, and was where I originally found the suggestion to remove those two files.

I found out about the Sprint Employee Referral Offer (SERO) program a while ago, but we were still locked into our contracts with Cingular/AT&T at the time. Since both of our previous contracts expire in December, I started the tedious process of investigating plans and phones again. Although AT&T's iPhone is tempting, its plans are not. Eventually, sanity won out and we decided to go with Sprint's SERO program. With SERO, there are no "family plans", so each line needs to have a separate plan. Since I typically use less minutes than Leila, I ended up getting a 500 minute/month plan for $29.99, and she got one with 1250 minutes/month for $49.99. Each plan includes unlimited 3G data access, unlimited text messaging, and free nights/weekends starting at 7pm.

I'll post again with more details about our new phones, the HTC Mogul, soon.

The basic concept behind any fusion reaction is to bring two or more atoms close enough together that they fuse and become a single larger atom. CompleteFusion is dedicated to the fusion of technology, business, and life. By bringing these three elements close enough together to effectively "fuse" together and operate as a single entity, we can become more productive and gain greater control over our time.

Processing and filtering information is critical to being a productive member of a society, company, or family. Utilizing technology can improve the way we handle everyday activities. As a brief example, I read a wide variety of news on a daily basis. I also use Google frequently to search for information. Google's customizable, dynamically generated home pages, called iGoogle, represent the fusion of these two frequent activities.

On my customized iGoogle page, I have widgets that display the current top stories from news sites that interest me, my upcoming events on Google calendar, weather, and more. Since the news widgets are based on RSS feeds, I see new news items when they are available, without having to constantly monitor each site independently. Not only does this save time, it also makes it easier to keep track of more sources of news.

If you're interested in reading news through RSS, take a look at our RSS feed.