June 1, 2006

Komando's Q & A: Extensions add features to Firefox

Kim Komando, Gannett News Service

Question: I just switched to Firefox. On its site, I noticed stuff about extensions. What do they do?

Answer: Mozilla Firefox is an open-source Web browser that competes with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Apple's Safari. Open source means that anyone can write code for it. Many people have written extensions, which are little programs that work with Firefox. One, for example, lets you download everything on a page. Another displays weather conditions. There are hundreds more. To find them in Firefox, click Tools, then Extensions, then Get More Extensions. I have links to popular Firefox extensions at www.komando.com/firefox.

Q: I use Outlook Express for e-mail. I don't like the font. Can I change it?

A: The font is easy to change. Click Tools, then Options. On the Read tab, click the Fonts button. Select both proportional and fixed-width fonts. You can also select a font size. When you finish, click OK, then OK.

Q: I have been told that ActiveX controls are risky. What are they, and should I worry about them? Can I disable them?

disable ActiveX. Click Tools, then Internet Options. Select the Security tab and click Custom Level. Disable the seven ActiveX settings in this list. However, some sites, such as Windows Update, require ActiveX. I use Internet Explorer on those sites; otherwise, I use Firefox.

Q: I want to send some music to my niece. The songs are on my computer. Can I burn them to a disc as MP3s and send them to her? Can she load them onto her iPod?

A: Both Microsoft's Windows XP and Apple's Mac OS X include programs that will burn a disc. The MP3 files should be burned as data, not music. Your niece can transfer the files directly to Apple's iTunes. From there, they can be loaded onto her iPod. The iPod can read MP3 files. However, I have to tell you that you could be violating copyright law.

Q: Have you heard of "zinc whiskers?" I was told they are a kind of dust from loose floor tiles. If they become airborne, they can damage a computer because they conduct electricity. Is this fact or fiction?

A: Zinc whiskers develop from plating on metal. They are microscopic metal pieces that can become airborne if disturbed. They could be a problem in a corporate or government server room with a raised floor. Theoretically, at least, they could be sucked into a computer, where they could build up on computer parts over time. There, they could potentially cause electrical shorts. But a home computer user would probably never see this problem.

E-mail questions to Komando at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.