Access my Bookmarks from ANYWHERE

Everyone has them, most probably have too many - but none-the-less, they are still very useful!

Bookmarks, or favourites that is.

Come across an interesting or useful site, hit Control+D (Firefox and IE) and the site is saved to an index, who’s address is ready to be easily accessed at a later date. Now that’s all fine and dandy if you are sitting at the computer you made the bookmark on, but what if you want to access your bookmarks on another computer, or if you are at an internet cafe – hell, what happens if your computer spontaneously combusts? Yes I know, you’ll have bigger worries than bookmarks on your mind – but all the same, once your NEW computer is all set up there will come a point when you suddenly realise you’d like them back. Ok smart arse, so you are one of the few that actually made a full backup. Well good for you! Read on anyway, because this is useful even if your computer DOESN’T blow up!

Now, you could export the bookmarks to a file and carry them around on a USB or mobile device - but that’s clunky and you would have to synchronise them manually every time you updated one of the other computers. No, there has to be a better way than this, and one that doesn’t involve the only other option which would be to use a rusty compass to inscribe this vital information all over your precious body. I hear the obvious sighs of relief – “Thank God Johnny, we were getting really worried there!”

Yes, I bring you not just one `other’ option, but two (one for Firefox, the other for Internet Explorer)! – (the clouds part and we hear a chorus of Angels sing amid the delicate rays of sun that shine forth).

The first option is a Firefox browser only option (quieten down Internet Explorer people, I hear ye - next post we’ll deal with you!). This solution uses a little Add-in that automatically uploads a copy of your bookmarks to a server every time you make a change to them. You can then access your bookmarks from anywhere in the world. What’s more, if you install the extension (which literally takes less than an couple of min) on another computer, it synchronises them on that computer as well – neat! Ok, so here’s how we do it (yes it looks like a long list but in reality it takes no time at all I promise - think how many steps it takes to make a cup of coffee…see, exactly).

Firefox Browser Solution - FOXMARKS

Load up Firefox
Go to the top menu and find the item that says `Tools’.
Scroll down and click `Add-ons’
A box will open – click the words `Get Extensions’ in the bottom right of the box
A web page will load. Click to save time – there is a little search box in the top right, enter the word “foxmarks” (without the “quote” marks)
Click the title “Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer”
Click the green button that says `Install Now’
A box will open and after a couple of seconds you can click `Install Now’ button at the bottom
Do this and then click the `Restart Firefox’ button
Firefox will restart and you will have a window that says “Foxmarks Setup”. Click “Next”
Click the small blue writing that says “Create an account…”
Fill the top of the form in (email addr, username & Pass) - you will be sent an activation email to the address you enter
Check your email and then click the activation link
A page new page will load - follow the instructions which ask you to close the browser windows until you see the box asking for your usename and pass. Once you are here, just fill in the boxes with you chosen details.
Done
Stage 16 just shows you logging into the Foxmarks website in order to access your bookmarks online

Foxmarks will now create a copy of your bookmarks on a remote server. Every time you add or delete a bookmark, Foxmarks will syncronise in the background. This now means that if you ever need to access your bookmarks on another computer you can either log into the Foxmarks website and access your bookmarks or (and this is much better) download the plug-in and just enter your usename and pass - all your bookmarks will magically reappear within your browser.

For all the latest on Foxmarks, check out the Foxmarks Blog

I have included thumbnails below for every step of the installation, should anyone need them. Click on tiny pics for larger images.

And there we have it, the joy has been shared and spread
Catch you next blog people where we have a way for Internet Explorer people to handle their favourites online.