Extensions for gesture control in Chrome and Firefox

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Mouse gesture controls can greatly simplify and speed up the Internet. In Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, gesture control is implemented using various extensions. In this article we will look at the most common ones, describe their pros and cons, opportunities and limitations.

Probably, it happened to everyone: at first you don’t understand why this thing is needed, and then you can’t imagine your life without it (study, work, etc.). For me, one of those things was mouse gesture control. Fans of gesture control use over 20 different combinations. But even 5-7 basic gestures can change the way you approach everyday tasks in the browser.

Google chrome

crxMouse

One of the most popular gesture extensions for Google Chrome is crxMouse. We have already told our readers about it. With its extensive functionality, crxMouse offers the user a wide range of options and settings. All actions with tabs can be performed using gestures: close, open, refresh, go to the next / last or previous / first, scroll to the end or beginning, add to bookmarks, copy the page address … And that's not the whole set.

There are also tools for working with links and images in crxMouse. With a gesture, you can open a link in a new tab, a new window, a new private window, copy a text or an address. For images there are commands "Open in a new tab", "Save", "Copy URL", "Select for later copying to the clipboard".

It is not necessary to use predefined gestures. Any action can be assigned your own combination of mouse movements. For advanced users, rocket gestures and the ability to write their own scripts are offered. The sync function makes your settings available on any device, and a backup will save them in case of emergency. Among the shortcomings, it should be noted the lack of the Russian language and the slowdown with all the functions enabled.

Gestures for Google Chrome

This extension is similar to crxMouse, but it doesn't do much. For example, there are no gestures for working with images. But there are gestures for links and text, backup settings, the ability to write your own scripts. The extension is quite suitable for those who do not need to manipulate pictures. Plus it works fast.

There is no Russian language in Gestures for Google Chrome either, but this does not cause any difficulties in handling the extension.

Mozilla Firefox

FireGestures

The most popular and most feature-rich gesture control extension for Mozilla Firefox. He is able to do everything that is needed, and a little more. Any operations with tabs, gestures for text, links and images, gestures using the mouse wheel, rocket gestures - the list can be long. If this is not enough for you, then the developers' website has ready-made scripts for all occasions. The extension has been translated into Russian, which greatly facilitates the configuration.

There is only one drawback: you have to use a script to open an arbitrary link. To do this, click the "Add Scheme" button in the settings and copy the following text into the "Scheme" field:

const URL = "//lifehacker.ru/";

const IN_NEW_TAB = true;

const IN_BACKGROUND = false;

if (IN_NEW_TAB)

gBrowser.loadOneTab (URL, null, null, null, IN_BACKGROUND, false);

else

gBrowser.loadURI (URL);

Instead of //lifehacker.ru/, you enter the desired address, and in the "Gesture" field indicate the desired combination of mouse movements or simply draw a gesture at the bottom of the window. For example, it looks like this.

Mouse Gestures Suite

An alternative to FireGestures is the Mouse Gestures Suite extension. It is the heir to the well-known All-in-One Gestures. Among the pluses of the extension - quite sufficient functionality (including gestures for images and links and gestures using the mouse wheel), fast work, translation into Russian, backup settings.

Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages. Some menu items are not translated, the settings are not divided into groups, and it takes some time to find the one you need. A significant drawback: there is no way to configure the opening of an arbitrary URL by gesture. Mouse Gestures Suite can only open two favorite bookmarks, but to use even this function, you have to delve into the properties of the bookmarks. The rest is quite a decent solution.

It is noticed: the more you use keyboard shortcuts, the less useful gesture control will bring. If you mainly use a mouse for work, then you simply have to master the gestures. With them, your browser will never be the same again.