Programming Blog

A bookmarklet is a tiny JavaScript application contained within a URL, designed to add a one-click functionalty to a web page that will allow you to alter not just your own web page but any page that you choose.
The functions that they can perform vary – you could do perform a quick search for you, they could even extract some data from a page or they can change the look and layout of a web page – which is what we are focusing on in this article.

There are, of course, many extensions and addons for the major browsers, that can perform similar tasks, but none will work with the simplicity as the bookmarklets below, and all of the extensions will use far more resources to function and load and will in some way slow down your browsing experience.

Each of the bookmarklets below, have been developed with one thing in mind: Make your web browsing experience better, quicker and easier.
It is really amazing how much usefulness you can take from such a small Javascript URL… You will be surprised…

Quix Syntax

Quix is an extensible bookmarklet, that allows you to easily access all your bookmarks and bookmarklets, across all your browsers, while maintaining them in only one spot.
Quix gives you a simple prompt, which allows you to type easy to remember commands and perform the actions you want to perform when you want to perform them. It comes with a huge set of built in commands (Social commands, WordPress, SEO, Webmaster, Analytics, URL Shortening, App Integration commands and Mac Integration commands), but the real power from Quix comes from the option to extend it by using your personalised commands files as well.
Quix Syntax Hompeage »

The Quix Syntax Bookmarklet

To install the Quix App bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar and type “help” for a full list of all available commands.

Quix Syntax Features Video

Shortwave – An Extensible Quick-Search and Shortcut Bookmark

Similiar in functionalty to Quix Syntax (above), Shortwave also responds to predefined commands and does include a number of useful defaults. Like Quix its real power lies in the option to add your own by simply pointing to a custom command file. Once you create your command (easy to follow docs are available), upload it to somewhere web-accessible and enter your commands URL on Shortwaves homepage, and you are good to go.
Shortwave is perfect for iPhone/iPod touch and anyone using multiple browsers/computers on a regular basis. Because no data is stored in the bookmark (other than the url of your custom commands file) every browser you use stays in sync automatically.
Shortwave Hompeage »

The Shortwave Bookmarklet

To install the Shortwave bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar and type “help” for a full list of all available commands.

Readability – An Arc90 Lab Experiment

Readability is a simple tool that makes reading on the Web that little bit more enjoyable. It works similiar to the other bookmarklets on this page by removing a lot of the content clutter with one major difference – you get to choose exactly how the content will be rendered. Firstly, you will need its homepage and configure the bookmarklet to suit your needs – you can choose from a selection of fonts, the size of the text and even the margin size.
It works with most major modern browsers and has been tested on many news sites and blogs. It isn’t 100% effective but works surprisingly well.
Readability Hompeage »

The Readability Bookmarklet

To install the Readability bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar. Don’t forget to visit the Readability homepage to customise the bookmarklet to suit your needs: Readability – An Arc90 Lab Experiment.

Readability Features Video

Instapaper

Instapaper is a great app, it really is. It works like this: When you are viewing a web page and don't have the time to fully read it, click the Instapaper bookmarklet and it will save the page (in text-only format removing all those cumbersome graphics and functionalities) to your Instapaper web page. You can view the page via most smartphones (this web app is very popular within the iPhone community) online, or you can choose to download them and view them at your leisure offline.
To access this service all you will need to do is submit your email address.
Instapaper Hompeage »

The Instapaper Bookmarklet

To install the Instapaper bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar. Don’t forget to visit the Instapaper homepage and register your email address to access all your saved pages: Instapaper Registration.

The Printliminator

The Printliminator is a bookmarklet with some simple tools that you can use to makes websites print better. One click to activate, and then click to remove whatever elements you choose from that page and apply better print styling.
When the bookmarklet is active you click on whichever elements you do not want and they will magically disappear, you can also click the "Remove all Graphics" button which will remove everything except the content text.
The Printliminator Hompeage »

The Printliminator Bookmarklet

To install the Printliminator bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar.

The Printliminator Features Video

Print Friendly

The algorithm Print Friendly uses cleans and optimizes webpages for print by removing the ads, navigation, and any other junk you wouldn't want to see in your print out.
You have the choice of either preparing the page for print or you can download a PDF version and uses best practices in print typography to format your document for great readability.
Print Friendly helps you save paper and ink when you print and gives you great reading printed documents.
Print Friendly Hompeage »

The Print Friendly Bookmarklet

To install the Print Friendly bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar.

Print Friendly Features Video

TidyRead

While reading is one of the main activities on the internet, a lot of sites pay very little attention to the readability of their text, format and display. Instead, the reader's eye may be drawn to other UI elements, ads, and widgets.
TidyRead is a bookmarklet and add-on that strips away all the extra stuff from news or blog article pages, leaving you with some nicely formatted text to read and removing all of the cluttered materials, so that you can read what you should and nothing else.
TidyRead Hompeage »

The TidyRead Bookmarklet

To install the TidyRead bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar. There are also extensions for Chrome and Firefox available, which you can download here: TidyRead Extensions.

TidyRead Features Video

Form Auto-Fill Bookmarklet

We all know we hate forms, the only thing we hate more than forms themselves is actually filling out forms. Sadly though we cannot do without them.
If like me, you love to try all of those marvellous new web based apps that crop up everyday, and have to fill out form after form then this little bookmarklet is a Gods send.
It works very simply, when you land on any web page that has a form or forms, you click the bookmarklet and it automatically fills in all the form fields on that page for you with some random data. The thinking behind is to have a form ready to be submitted that generates as less validation errors as possible.
Its not perfect but does take most of the form filling pain away. What more could you ask for?
Form Auto-Fill Bookmarklet Hompeage »

The Form Auto-Fill Bookmarklet

To install the Form Auto-Fill bookmarklet drag and drop the button below to your bookmarks toolbar. To learn how to configure the bookmarklet properly, visit: The Form Auto-Fill Homepage.
You can also view a demo here: Form Auto-Fill Demo.

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