[Bug-gnuzilla] Free addons for IceCat

[Jay T. Blocksom]

Hi!

Per your request at <http://www.gnu.org/s/gnuzilla/addons.html>, I am writing 
to inform of a Firefox Add-On which I believe meets the criteria you cite 
(namely, that "it is explicitly released under a free software license"), yet 
is not listed on the above-noted page of free add-ons for IceCat.  I am 
referring to "NoUn Buttons" by Gulp21, currently in version 1.1.4:

        <https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noun-buttons/>

It is explicitly noted on that page that the add-on is "Released under GNU 
General Public License, version 3.0."

Personally, I find this particular add-on to be invaluable, as it allows one 
to restore the separate "Back" and "Forward" URL-history lists which were the 
default arrangement in Firefox 2.x (and earlier, IIRC).  By comparison, the 
"unified" history list found in Firefox 3.x (and later?) is an unusable 
nightmare; you can't tell whether you're backing up or going forward as you 
attempt to pick a given URL off the list -- truly a "What were they 
thinking?!?" gaffe.  Alas, IceCat 3.x suffers the same problem (presumably due 
to the Mozilla code base); I therefore feel that this fix should be explicitly 
referenced (perhaps even recommended) on the "Free addons for IceCat" page.

I have personally verified that NoUn Buttons v1.1.4 works properly with IceCat 
v3.6.13.  Note that it can be a bit "fussy" to set up, depending on what Theme 
and/or Button Set you happen to be using; but it is by no means so difficult 
as to be a real problem, even for the prototypical "non-technical user".

And while I'm on the subject...  This may not be the most appropriate place to 
mention this, but offhand, I don't know of a better one.  So I'll make my plea 
here:  As development of IceCat continues (particularly to versions 4.x and 
beyond), *-P-L-E-A-S-E-* correct this horrid error on Mozilla's part, and do 
NOT further propagate the dysfunctional "unified" Back/Forward buttons and 
history lists.  Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,


--

Jay T. Blocksom
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
----------------------------
address@hidden


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
   -- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.