FireTune Takes the Hassle Out of Optimizing Firefox

Have you ever typed about:config into Firefox's address bar? If you do, you'll get back a huge array of files that you can modify to configure and customize your Firefox installation. Some people like to play with these. I don't like to, and that's why I'm a big fan of FireTune. FireTune is a free, downloadable utility that automates the process of improving your Firefox setup. The application simply asks you to specify a few questions about your computer and connection speed, then automatically configures Firefox for optimal performance—in seconds. FireTune is newly updated for Firefox version 3. Here is a screenshot-driven guide to it.

FireTune executes a numbe of Firefox optimizations, and, importantly, it prompts you to create a backup of your original configuration before running it. You should perform the backup, and one button lets you return to your original configuration if you want to. (The application is for Windows users at this point.) The options for backup and restore are seen below.

FireTune performs some optimizations that will have variable results according to what type of Internet connection you have. Below, you'll find the options it asks you about, and it will optimize your performance so that it's the best it can be for your setup.

FireTune's main page include the three tabs seen below to take you to various options for targeted types of tweaks that the application performs. You can make selections for what you do and don't want tweaked using these.

And that's it. The whole point of FireTune is to take the many manual ways to tune up Firefox and automate them. It does have a pronounced effect on performance, and it's easy to run. For many more Firefox tips, see OStatic's Firefox Superguide.