Enterprise Nation

Yesterday, the latest version of open-source web browser, Firefox, was released and downloaded over 8 million times, earning itself a Guinness World Record and a plethora of new users. Here are 10 reasons why you should join them and use Firefox in your home office.

1. Smart Location Bar
   The new Firefox 3 location bar autocompletes addresses from your browsing history, as well as websites you've bookmarked and tagged in a speedy little drop down. It doesn't wait for the www's and will learn, for example, when you type 'home business' to suggest Enterprise Nation!
2. Smart Bookmarks
   Bookmarking has been overhauled in Firefox 3, adding new features like One-Click Bookmarking and Tags. So, for example, if you label bbc.co.uk with the "news" tag, as well as guardian.co.uk both sites will be shown as results when you type "news" into the location bar. You can create Smart Bookmark Folders based on tags or use those that are included as defaults, such Most Visited and Recently Bookmarked.
3. Security and Privacy
   Firefox 3 comes bundled with oodles of security and privacy features, such as Instant Web Site ID, Anti-Malware and Phishing, a Pop-Up Blocker and a Password Manager that is unobtrusive (it integrates with the top of the web page so as not to interrupt your browsing session).
4. Customisation
   Firefox is the only browser that allows you to customise its functionality, look and feel, with over 5,000 add-ons. With its new Add-ons Manager it's never been easier to install those little extras.
5. Download Manager
   Firefox's Download Manager has been souped up for its latest release, allowing you to pause and resume downloads, which also works if your system crashes or is forced to restart.
6. Session Restore
   Have you ever used Internet Explorer with lots of windows and tabs open only for it to crash and leave you having to start over (it's even worse when you're in the middle of a web form or e-mail)? If Firefox ever unexpectedly closes, you don't have to retrace your steps - Session Restore instantly brings back your windows and tabs, as well as any text you entered or downloads you started.
7. Speed
   Firefox is (probably) the fastest browser in the world. The latest version loads web pages faster, while using less of your computer's memory.
8. Open source
   Mozilla, the software company that makes Firefox, is a non-profit, public benefit organisation. Its products are created by an international movement of thousands, only a small percentage of whom are actual employees, making Firefox a community (not corporate) powered browser.
9. Integrated Web Search
   With Firefox you can search the web with its inline search box using the engine of your choice, including Google, Amazon.co.uk, eBay and Wikipedia.
10. Find as you type
    Hit a keystroke and Firefox's new Find feature appears, allowing you to highlight words on a web page that match your query as its typed.

Photo credit: Flickr user Garrett LeSage.

San Sharma is a creative thinker, blogger and designer, as well as a writer on popular culture, technology and business.

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