Free Screen Reader Software

If you are in the market for screen reader software I suggest that you check out Fire Vox. It works well, it’s free and it’s compatible with the Windows, Mac and Linux versions of Firefox. I found Fire Vox to be every bit as good as Freedom Scientific’s overpriced screen reader software Jaws. For a free operating system-wide screen reader check out Thunder. I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but I’ve read some good reviews.

Firefox Add-Ons

I’m into my first week at my new job and I’ve been spending some time getting my workstation setup.  This task includes getting Firefox installed and adding some key Add-Ons.  Here’s my list…

• Adblock Plus
  http://adblockplus.org/en/
  Blocks ads!  ‘Nuff said!

• CF Debug Copy
  http://cfdebugcopy.riaforge.org/
  The days of copying, pasting and reformatting ColdFusion queries are over.

• FaviconizeTab
  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3780/
  Allows you to reduce the size of your tabs to just the icon.

• Firebug
  http://getfirebug.com/
  Firebug is a software developers best friend.  I also reccomend the ColdFire extension for Firebug ( http://getfirebug.com/wiki/index.php/Firebug_Extensions#ColdFire )

• FireFTP
  http://fireftp.mozdev.org/
  A decent FTP client that runs in Firefox!

• FireShot
  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5648/
  Creates screenshots of your web pages.

• TinyMenu
  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1455/
  Collapses the text menu row into a single icon that says ‘Menu’.  Fight toolbar bloat with this add-on.

Hopefully you will find some of these helpful.  Have I missed anything cool?  Please post your favorites in the comments section.  Cheers!

UPDATE
August 2nd, 2010

Two Firefox Add-Ons that every web software developer should have are The Firefox Accessibility Extension and Total Validator