Pages

Friday 6 August 2010

Mac OS X: Extensions and AdBlocking …

Oh …

HANDY … !

I’ve got to admit, it’s been a while since I’ve gone anywhere near writing about OS X.

Quite simply, that’s a lack of money: mostly, I’ve not got the dosh to spend on new bits of kit.

But one thing I do know is that I’ve given something a try, tonight.

And that both the computer industry — and computer design — has led to a bewildering variety of terms that add up to the same thing.

Or maybe I should say add-ons … ?

You see, I’ve actually managed to make of use the Safari Extensions Gallery that Apple have included with the update to Safari 5.0.

Now, software extensions — or plug-ins, add-on, themes, what-ever you want to call them* — have been around for for a very long time.

In fact Apple had included them with most versions of Mac OS. The vintage Performa 6400/200 that I’ve got runs Mac OS 7.5, complete with dozens that launch on start-upº.

And Firefox has included extensions — of one sort or another — for some time.

Which, incidentally, is possibly what prompted Apple to include them Safari. Or that’s what I believe, anyway.

We can’t let the open-source crowd get ALL the credit, now CAN we … ?

At any rate, the simple fact that the Safari Extension gallery was there prompted to have a look.

Which was …

Well …

For me, personally, a little unimpressive.

There’s not much in there — yet — that caught my eye. Although I may tinker with some of the search engine and picture grabbing ones.

The two that did catch my eye, though, were the Twitter bar — which I may just swap for one of the URI shortening extensions — and a Safari version of the AdBlocker for Chrome.

Which has left me with a lot of naked — but advert-free — web pages.

And, my LORD, doesn’t Facebook look different … !

‹‹‹•›››


























* Although I’m told there’s a variety of very subtle — possibly too subtle for a layman, like me — technical differences between each term.

º Actually, the geekiest suggestion for a set of tattoos that I ever saw was from a writer in MacWorld magazine, ages ago. He suggested designing your own versions of the little jigsaw piece extension logos — one for being born, getting a new job, getting married, what have you — and have them tattooed on whatever body part you felt appropriate, as and when. And get a little red line tattooed through the relevant one, when you changed jobs, got divorced or died. Although you’d probably need a bloody quick tattooist for that last one …







No comments:

Post a Comment

I love it when someone comments. But, having had anonymous comments I feel may be libellous, actionable or just plain offensive, over the years?

I’d appreciate you* leaving your name — with a link to your website or social-media profile†, for preference — before you post a comment.

Should you choose to use a pseudonym/name, I’d appreciate it if that name were to be polite and inoffensive. I’d rather you kept it clean, and relatively grown up. Comments left with a pseudonym will be posted at my discretion: I really prefer a link.

Contentious, actionable or abusive posts left anonymously will not be posted. Nor will comments using offensive pseudonyms or language, or that are abusive of other commenters.

Thank you.

*   I know many value their online privacy. I respect that. But hope you respect my wish to see who’s commenting on my blog: and my wish for you to introduce your self to me, and to your fellow commentors.

†   Your Facebook, X/Twitter, Blogger, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn profile are acceptable. I also like seeing folks webpages.