When Firefox introduced the Speed Dial feature, users thought they’d finally be able to control the new tab page the way they wanted. However, Firefox’s idea of a functional Speed Dial is very different to what users need. It only shows the history of your recently accessed pages and doesn’t even allow you to specify what you want. That’s where FVD Speed Dial comes into play. This fully functional Firefox addon fundamentally changes the Speed Dial feature to what it should have been all along.

Get Started with FVD Speed Dial

You can download FVD Speed Dial from Mozilla’s web site.

FVD Speed Dial follows the normal add-on installation process like other Firefox add-ons. You’ll need to restart your browser before using it.

Setting Up FVD Speed Dial

FVD Speed Dial comes with a lot of settings for you to customize the add-on.

using-fvd-speed-dial-in-firefox

This is what sets FVD Speed Dial above every other Firefox Speed Dial add-on out there.

Click on the “Gear Icon” in the Speed Dial page to get started.

general-settings-for-fvd-speed-dial

Global Options lets you deal with General and Appearance related settings.

From here, you can enable the various features of FVD Speed Dial, along with choosing the default mode the new tab page opens to.

The Appearance settings give you the power to change the way the Speed Dial layout looks and feels.

appearance-settings-in-fvd-speed-dial

You can change the sizing of dials, so that your most used dials are larger than the rest of the dials for easy access.

You’re also able to change the way dials scroll, as well as the overall theme between light and dark in the Speed Dial.

The Speed Dial settings let you enable popular groups and create dial groups.

speed-dial-settings

Click “Manage” to create your own dials and organize them.

create-or-modify-speed-dial-groups

This lets you create your own groups for your Speed Dial that give you quick access to the sites and services you want.

Most Visited settings change the amount of sites shown in the Speed Dial, how they’re ordered and what time period they’re calculated from.

most-visited-settings

Recently Closed settings allow you to change how many tabs are shown at a time.

recently-closed-settings

Background lets you choose a background color or image to use on the Speed Dial.

background-settings

Text Color lets you further customize the color scheme of the Speed Dial by giving you options for every type of text it uses.

text-color-settings

Syncing FVD Speed Dial

One of the best features included in FVD Speed Dial is EverSync integration. This lets you sync your dials so that you can access them in any Firefox browser, no matter the computer you use.

eversync-in-fvd-speed-dial

You’ll need to install the EverSync add-on into Firefox either from its settings page or this link.

EverSync needs you to restart Firefox to use it. It also syncs more than just your Speed Dial; it syncs you bookmarks and other Firefox data if set up properly.

using-everysync-to-sync-speed-dials-in-firefox

You don’t have to sign up for EverSync to let it store your Speed Dials and other data from Firefox. Signing up for an account just gives you some security, so it’s up to you. Otherwise, you can just use EverSync to backup and restore your Speed Dials bookmarks and more. The process is the same for each type of backup and restore.

Click the “Speed Dial” tab and click “Backup Dials.”

Clicking “Restore Dials” will let you choose a backup to restore in Firefox.

restore-backup-speed-dials-with-everysync

You can select the backup want to restore and it’ll be auto-downloaded and loaded into your Speed Dial tab.

Clicking “Enable Auto-Backup” will let EverSync auto-backup your Speed Dial regularly so you don’t have to manually do it when you make changes.

Part of the Sync settings include the ability to import and export the entirety of your Speed Dial settings.

backup-speed-dial-settings

This, in conjunction with the EverSync backup, gives you a full backup of FVD Speed Dial’s settings.

Securing FVD Speed Dial

FVD Speed Dials’ settings also let you use a passcode to secure your dials. If you share a browser or PC with others, enabling this feature can help protect your Firefox Speed Dials.

create-passcode-for-firefox

All you need to do is create a passcode, enter a recovery e-mail and click “Create PassCode.”

Whenever you access the Speed Dial, you’ll need to enter your passcode before gaining access to everything it has to offer in Firefox.

Conclusion

After going through the settings for FVD Speed Dial, you gain access to a fully functional Speed Dial that should have been designed for Firefox users from the get go. Speed Dial sync, backup and more can be yours in Firefox with FVD Speed Dial.

How To Read ODT Documents Inside Your Browser

Various web services can open Microsoft Office files with ease, but what about files created with LibreOffice? The good thing is, you can also read ODT document in your browser as well.

Show Notification Counts on Pinned Tabs in Chrome

Do you use pinned tabs in Chrome as a way to keep up with your email and/or social networking sites – like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? Wouldn’t it be great if you could display notification counts for messages and unread items on your pinned tabs? Here’s how you can do so.

15 Clocks For Telling Time Within Google Chrome

Your computer came with a clock that is functional enough, but there are so many more ways you could have your computer tell you the time. The Chrome Web Store is filled with various clock apps and extensions. Here are 15 options that might just add an extra bit of excitement to how you check what time it is.

Add Events to Google Calendar From Anywhere in the Web

One of the biggest complaints about Google Calendar is that you can’t add events to Google Calendar without visiting the site. With Spot – Calendar’s Best Friend, you will be able to add events to Google Calendar, whenever you come across one anywhere in the Web.

4 Great Ways to Take And Edit Screenshots in Google Chrome

Taking screenshots can be time-consuming. Here are 4 screenshots tools for Google Chrome that allow you to snap and annotate screenshots all in the browser.

Skrill, a Trustworthy PayPal Alternative

Paypal may be the biggest online payment platform, it is definitely not the best. Skrill is a good Paypal alternative that is available in 200 countries.

Useful Resources to Learn Android and iOS Coding Online

If you have thought of learning how to code this summer break, here is a list of some of the most useful resources for you to learn Android and iOS coding.

Force Google Chrome to Remember Username and Password for Particular Websites

Have you encountered websites where Google Chrome refuses to remember the login username and password? This extension can fix it.

How to Enable Private Tabs in Firefox

Private browsing in Firefox requires you to open a new window. The Private Tab addon allows you to open private tabs in Firefox instead of a separate window, making it easier for you to keep track of multiple sites at a time.

How to Stop Firefox from Sending Downloaded File Information to Google

Firefox version 31 comes with a feature that checks your downloaded file with Google for malware. You can disable it if you are concerned about your privacy.

4 Must-Have Chrome Extensions for YouTube Enthusiasts

If you are a Youtube enthusiasts, as well as a Chrome user, here are some of the best Chrome extensions for YouTube to improve your video watching experience.

How to Close and Snooze Tabs in Chrome to Reduce the Clutter

It’s common to have multiple tabs open in a web browser. Here is how you can close and snooze tabs in Chrome to free up space in your web browser.