Everything available in my KolleXon !!!: [Lifehacker] 10 New Entries: Ask MetaFilter Roundup [Hive Mind]

Ask MetaFilter Roundup [Hive Mind]

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Now Available for Your Testing Pleasure [Beta Beat]

All platforms: Hot off the press, the second beta of Firefox 3.1 is now available for download. In addition to Private Browsing Mode, tab tearing, and the speedy TraceMonkey Javascript engine turned on by default, the release notes list what else you get:

This beta is now available in 54 languages.

Added functions to make it easy to clear recent history by time as well as remove all traces of a website.

New support for web worker threads.

Improvements to the Gecko layout engine, including speculative parsing for faster content rendering.

Removed the new tab-switching behavior based on feedback from users

Support for new web technologies such as the <video> and <audio> elements, the W3C Geolocation API, JavaScript query selectors, CSS 2.1 and 3 properties, SVG transforms and offline applications.

Oh and one thing the release notes don't include: an awesome welcome screen with a new robot.

Here's what pr0n mode, that is, "Private Browsing" looks like:

You can also clear all your private data:

Or just your history from today's secret browsing, or the last few hours, in case you forgot to kick into Private Browsing mode earlier:

Intrepid testers, be warned: most of your extensions will probably not work with beta 2, unless you use an about:config trick to force compatibility. The Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 is a free download for all platforms; if you decide to test it, be sure to back up your Mozilla profile just in case (or maybe wait for the portable version release).

Integrated Gmail Loads Any Google App Inside Gmail [Featured Firefox Extension]

Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): Firefox extension Integrated Gmail creates collapsible groups in your Gmail account that integrate all of your favorite Google apps directly inside Gmail. That includes access to Google Reader, Calendar, Notebook, Maps, Groups, and Picasa. As if that wasn't already good enough, Integrated Gmail can also embed custom pages and Google Gadgets. Granted, Google has started integrating gadgets into the Gmail sidebar if that's up your alley, but if you want full access to different apps without leaving the comfort of Gmail, the Integrated Gmail extension does exactly that. Keep reading for a closer look at Integrated Gmail in action.

Google Calendar in Gmail

Google Reader in Gmail

Lifehacker in Gmail

As you can see, you can even embed a favorite site within Gmail. Not bad, eh?

Google Maps in Gmail, Integrated Gmail Settings

Integrated Gmail is currently an experimental download at the Firefox add-ons site, which means it may have some bugs, and you'll need to register at Mozilla's site to install it. While you're getting experimental, check out a few other experimental extensions we love.

Xpenser Simplifies Receipt-Tracking from Anywhere [Personal Finance]

Keeping track of business expenses can be a huge pain in the buttocks, but webapp Xpenser is out to make it as easy as a phonecall, SMS, or instant message. Back when we first mentioned Xpenser it used the then-free Jott voice transcription service; today it now also works with the free, international voice service Dial2Do so you can call in an expense, like "Lunch 34 with Jack." Xpenser's latest update also offers multiple tags per expense, so you can add keywords like "travel," "amex," and a particular client's name. For folks who spend a lot of business-related money on the road, Xpenser looks like one of the easiest ways to avoid the dreaded stack of crumpled receipts come tax time.

Beta-Test Globex Designs' GReader Redesigned Style [Beta Beat]

Globex Designs, the fine folks who are redesigning Google Products one at a time, are beta-testing their new Google Reader skin, GReader Redesigned. Donate a few bucks to help them iron out the GReader Redesigned wrinkles and you can get it now; the final version will be available for all to use for free in January.

WinWorkBar Is a Robust but Lightweight GTD Sidebar [Featured Windows Download]

Windows only: WinWorkBar is a free, lightweight application sidebar complete with flexible to-do list, notes, calendar, and more. It may not look like much, and it's meager 600KB download size and 6MB footprint may not sound like much, but this little sidebar application packs a lot of punch. You can customize keyboard shortcuts to quickly perform any action (e.g., show/hide the sidebar or create a new note or task), assign tasks and notes to any day or range of days (complete with reminder alerts), create repeating tasks quickly and easily, and automatically toggle the application's visibility so it's only taking up space when you want it to be. WinWorkBar doesn't do any fancy syncing (or anything all that fancy, really), but if all you're looking for is a powerful yet lightweight and unobtrusive to-do list manager, calendar, and notes application, WinWorkBar fits the bill. WinWorkBar is free and open-source, Windows only.

The Savvy Shopper's Guide to This Year's Online Deal Finders [Online Shopping]

With all the belt-tightening going on in this economy, it's no surprise that coupon codes and deal finders—especially for online shoppers—are the hottest tools on the web right now. With only a week or so left to finish your online holiday shopping in time for the packages to show up at your door before the 24th, it's time to fill those virtual carts and get to hitting "Checkout." Before you do, make sure you're getting the best price possible using this year's latest crop of deal finders, price comparators, and clever product search engines. Photo by Thomas Hawk.

Deal Finders

Most deal search engines work the same way: You enter the product you're looking for and in some cases, the price point, and they return any better deals in their index, no email address required.

BeatMyPrice.com (our full review) looks up products on sale at a better price than an existing listing that you enter. Made by the same folks who brought you coupon-finder RetailMeNot (which is integrated into BeatMyPrice.com's results), BeatMyPrice.com combines user-entered prices as well as product listings across the web.

GotoDaily (our full review) is a straightforward coupon search engine. Enter a store web site or keywords and GotoDaily will list coupon codes and deals to be had; users can remove codes that don't work or add new codes that aren't listed.

BeatThat! (our full review) is a community-driven deal search engine which indexes deals and coupons across the web and also gets entries from site users. Dedicated deal hunters can actually make money at BeatThat!, which pays its members for submitting deals that meet a certain criteria.

FreeShipping.org (our full review) rounds up free shipping coupons for over 600 stores online from the Gap to Macy's and Target and Home Depot and Land's End. Search by store or item to find free shipping coupon codes before you hit the "Purchase" button.

Price Drop Notifiers

Most price drop notification systems watch items you enter over time and email you when it goes on sale. While they'll all assure you that they'll never sell your email address or use it inappropriately, the paranoid can set up a spare free web mail account (like at Gmail) or use the Gmail + trick with your existing address to filter notification email and make sure it doesn't invite spam.

ShoppingNotes.com (our full review) is a straight-up online price watcher. You enter the URL of a product online that you want to get at a better price, and ShoppingNotes will email you a price drop notification up to a number of days you specify (like, until December 20th).

ZingSale (our full review) is another straightforward email price drop notification tool. Enter your desired product and your email address, and ZingSale will trigger a message when it goes on sale.

Savvy Circle (our full review) is a wishlist and price drop notification service. You add items from a wide range of specific stores to your Savvy Circle account's wishlist, and it watches those items in those stores and emails you when the item goes on sale.

Shop It To Me (our full review) scours the internet for sales on brands you enter around your zip code and sends an email digest of the latest deals at brick-and-mortar locations near you.

Price!pinx (our full review) tracks price drops at any site and offers a handy bookmarklet to do just that. Give Price!pinx your email address and add items to your watch list by hitting the !pinx button on your toolbar.

Lesser-known Product Search Engines, Reviews, and Recommendations

While your favorite store's search engine, or Google, or Amazon.com might turn up most product results, a few new search engines that offer clever twists on gift-finding are also available this year.

The Pogue-o-matic is a fun, interactive product guide to choosing the best tech gear for your circumstances. Made by our favorite New York Times tech columnist, David Pogue, you choose what item you're looking for—digital camera, smartphone, TV, camcorder—and answer a series of simple questions about what you need specifically in that item. Then Pogue tells you his recommendation based on your responses. Meant more for gadget newbs than anyone else, gamer nerds will still enjoy a classic Easter egg hidden in the app that Gizmodo uncovered.

Like.com (our full review) finds items that look like another based on an image. Upload a photo of those snazzy and expensive shoes and Like.com will send you an email of similar, discounted results.

Amazon Mobile for the iPhone (our full review) looks up any product on Amazon.com that you snap a picture of with your iPhone; similar to previously mentioned SnapTell.

PleaseDressMe (our full review) is a t-shirt search engine that makes finding items for your hipster internet-savvy cohort easy, aggregating snarky tee's from the likes of Threadless, Busted Tees, and other specialty vendors in one place.

GoodGuide (our full review) gets your green on this holiday season with a product database of information categorizing each item on how socially, health-conscious, and environmentally responsible each it is.

ReviewGist (our full review) displays users reviews from across the web in easy to scan graphs, and can even compare products side-by-side, great especially for tech gear purchases.

If Amazon's your online storefront of choice, check out our Top 10 Amazon Power Shopper Tools. For more time-tested online shopping techniques, check out our guide on how to become an online power shopper.

What deal finders and product search engines have netted you the best deals this holiday season? Tell us about 'em in the comments.

Adobe Zoetrope like WayBack Machine on Steroids [Web Browsing]

Adobe is in the process of building a time machine for web content designed to provide users with robust tools for analyzing not only changes in web pages over time, but also for tracking actual data within web pages and comparing it with other data from around the web. MIT's Technology Review has posted a demo video in which the app looks incredible, but don't get too excited—Zoetrope isn't available in download form yet. [via]

Empathy Password-Protects Your Windows (Home) Programs [Featured Windows Download]

Windows only: The more robust versions of Windows XP and Vista have built-in tools for blocking programs from certain users accounts and password-protect apps on shared accounts. Uses of the "home" versions, however, or those looking for a non-system-hacking protection scheme, should check out Empathy. The free, no-install-needed app locks up any executable you point it at, but there's a catch with the free, unregistered version—it only allows passwords of up to one character. To unlock the full-feature version, the developer asks that you send him an actual picture postcard (seriously) with your email address included. Once he receives it, he'll send along your registration. That might be too much data-sharing for the trouble, but if you just want to make people have to run through every character on your keyboard to get at an app, the free version of Empathy can make due. Empathy is a free download for Windows systems only.

Stuff Alert Finds Rare Items on eBay [EBay]

If you've spent many a spare moment trawling around eBay, looking for that one rare gadget, replacement part, or other item that hardly ever seems to show up, Stuff Alert might set your do-want-ing mind at ease. The sign-up-required webapp digs around eBay (U.S. and/or UK versions) looking for your particular search term, narrowed by category, if you'd like. Then it emails you a link to the auction as soon as it hits a result. You can turn certain alerts on or off if you're getting inundated with mail, and SMS alerts are said to be coming soon. Stuff Alert is free, requires a sign-up to use. Update: Apologies for the dupe.

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Everything available in my KolleXon !!!

[Lifehacker] 10 New Entries: Ask MetaFilter Roundup [Hive Mind]