A prototype of the Ubiquity extension for Firefox was released today. This is still version 0.1 so things do not work perfectly. The potential for this is enormous and the Internet has been buzzing about it all day.
It is my understanding that Ubiquity basically allows you to mashup various components of the web via a command line interface that is integrated with the browser. As the video outlines, if you want to make a lunch appointment with your friend via Gmail (it does not currently work with other email clients) you can insert a map to the location, a review of the restaurant, and add the appointment to your google calendar from within the body of the email using the extension. Prior to this, you would need to add links to these various objects by opening news tabs and cutting and pasting the information.
Please watch the video for a better explanation of how it works.
Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.
How to Use Twitter with Ubiquity
I am using Firefox 3. I have not tested Ubiquity with other versions. I am also using Windows. If you are using a Mac please read this section of the tutorial.
- Install Ubiquity
- Restart Firefox (ugh)
- A tutorial will open when you restart the browser. If you are at all interested in Ubiquity, I highly recommend reading it.
- Ctrl + Spacebar opens Ubiquity
- Type Twitter and the message you want to send and then Enter
- The first time you do this during a browser session a dialog box will open asking for your twitter username and password. Fill that in and select OK.
- Your tweet will be sent.
Obviously, this lacks most of the functionality of the web version of Twitter or a client such as Tweetdeck but you can send a quick message while surfing or working on an article without leaving your work. I’m typing along, think of something, hit Ctrl+Enter and send my message without having to leave what I’m doing. Since this is only version 0.1 the functionality is only going to increase and it really has the potential to change the way that we currently use the Internet.
Closing Tip: Type about:ubiquity into the address bar to get more information and a list of all the commands that are pre-installed.
Additional Resources
- Introducing Ubiquity
- Ubiquity in Depth
- Ubiquity 0.1 User Tutorial
- Mozilla Labs’ Aza Raskin talks about the big picture for Ubiquity
photo credit: moriza
I would like to use Ubiquity, but since I rely on certain Add-Ons, won’t be updating to Firefox 3 nor Flock 2 soon.
Hi Eric,
Thanks for stopping by. So, Ubiquity is only compatible with version 3 of Firefox? I wasn’t quite sure.
What add-ons are holding you back? I generally resist upgrades but Firefox 3 is SO much better than 2. Even when it starts using too much memory it doesn’t slow down. I think 1.5 was better than 2.
A couple of add-ons didn’t work for me but I’ve found that I’m fine without them.
And Ubiquity is still SO new that it does still need a lot of work. I did have a lot of fun playing with it yesterday though.
I have also heard a lot about Ubiquity. Will try it soon.
Madhur Kapoors last blog post – Notepad 2: Another Notepad Replacement
Madhur – Let me know what you think of Ubiquity after you try it.
What’s the difference between Ubiquity and TwitterFox. Has Ubiquity more functions?
Sabina – Ubiquity has a number of functions one of which is being able to use Twitter from it. It is not a full featured extension for Twitter like Twitterfox. With Ubiquity you can also search Google maps and insert them into a Gmail message, view the source of a web page, quickly insert text into an email, add a calendar event and much more.
Ubiquity is still in the very early stages so is still buggy. I recommend watching the video embedded in the article to discover more of the features and commands in Ubiquity.
Thank you! I think I’ll stick with the TwitterFox for now. :)
Hey Kim, I have installed Ub… Ubiquity. Sorry but I had to copy the word from your reply above :-)
I am not using it though. Maybe if I find a reallly good reason why I will check out what my short cut was that I have set it up … and start to use it from then on.
I am also a TwitterFox user and it seems to work just fine. If something new comes along it must be really good before I will replace the previous app that I have grown accustomed to. One such improved tool is FireFox3. I will never want to go back.
PS…. I found your blog the the RSS commentluv backlink on Barbara’s blog post “How can you tell it’s real”.
Hi Gert,
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! Barbara has a great site and community.
Ubiquity is still alpha but I think will really change the way we integrate information online. For example, you can search google maps and insert the map into gmail when sending someone directions.
Did you watch the video? I also liked being able to highlight text on a page and insert that right into an email (well, only gmail right now).
I’ve never used Twitterfox. I use the web, twhirl and Tweetdeck – it depends on what I’m doing. And, yes, Firefox 3 is SUCH an improvement. It still uses a lot of memory (might be the 20+ tabs I have open) but manages it better. I don’t get the same browser slowdown the way that I used to. I love the built in spell checker too.
Yes I watched the Video but although the feature whereby you can add a map in your emails and stuff are eye-popping, I would rather see that your operating system incorporates the same technology wich would increase the range of application with so many options – me think :-)
I like the idea very much that you can type a multi task instruction like that. I am looking forward to watch out for Ubiquity updates in the future. I like to use Twitterfox but since I may benefit from some daily Ubiquity exercises I may soon discover how to twitter with the ubiquity firefox extension and may even prefer that method.
I wish the twitter command could embed the URL you’re looking at so that I can tweet about a page I’m browsing.
Same here. There’s definitely a way to do it, I want it streamlined as possible. Something like “twitter Blah blah blah message here [tag]” and Ubiquity knows that means automatically format the into bit.ly or tr.im or whatever else and place it where the tag key. I know it’s possible, it’s just a matter of finding the extension or writing one myself.
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It seems that there is still a lot of interest in Ubiquity – I haven’t done much with it since it was released. But a lot of people seem to search for information about it and find this article. Maybe it’s time for an update.
Hi Christopher – Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment – I really appreciate it.
I haven’t used Ubiquity too much since it was first released – it won’t do that?
Does this work with Ubiquity 0.1.4? I tried it on a Mac and it doesn’t work but I can do it on my PC.
@Evan Thank you for visiting and commenting. I’m not sure. I don’t have a Mac to test it on. And I haven’t really used Ubiquity since September – I wanted to wait for a more robust version.
I just figured it out. There is a popup that asks for your Twitter login/password on the Mac that was hiding behind all of my windows. I found it by using Expose to show all application windows and then I was able to type in it even though I couldn’t see it! It was a little wacky … I guess that’s what i get for using an early version of the software.
But anyway, it is working now on PC and Mac and it’s awesome.