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After a clean Ubuntu 8.04 install, Firefox 3.0.4 web browser was not working quite right. Flash plugins and MMS videos were not working on some websites that use them. A prime example is the MLS or Major League Soccer website.

This post provides all the details to in order to get your Firefox browser working after a clean Ubuntu install. Just follow the steps below.

1. Install the latest Adobe Flash player. Download it directly from Adobe’s website. Select the Ubuntu 8.04+ deb package. Choose Save to the Desktop. Once saved, go to your Desktop and right click the file. Open it with GDebi Package Installer. Click Install Package!

2. Next, remove the SWFDEC plugin; the open-source replacement for Adobe Flash.

$ sudo apt-get purge swfdec-mozilla

Or you can also use the “autoremove” option.

$ sudo apt-get autoremove swfdec-mozilla

3. Finally, install MPlayer for sites running MMS videos.

$ sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer

There you have it. 3 easy steps to get your browser running in no time.

The latest web metrics from Net Applications, Inc. gave Internet Explorer a market share of just below 70%, a decrease of a few percentage points from last month’s numbers.

Meanwhile, Mozilla Firefox climbed above the 20% mark for the first time, while Safari increased to 7.1% and Google Chrome settled at 0.83%. The market share for browser use is available here.

I expect Internet Explorer use to diminish as the months go by as more and more home users will opt for Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari or Google’s Chrome which is currently in Beta mode.

A large percentage of the 70% market share for Internet Explorer is corporate use. Corporations can’t easily depart from Internet Explorer due to legacy applications that only work with Internet Explorer.

As more of these applications are phased out and new applications becoming more compliant to run on any browser – not just IE, you’ll see more companies turning over to Mozilla’s Firefox.

Another factor is the economy. Belts will tighten, more corporations will opt for open source solutions if and when available. The Internet Explorer market share can dip further down under the current recession.

With IE 7 having been out for a while now and IE 8 looming in the horizon, many corporations will not upgrade to the upcoming release of IE 8. At least not right away.

Expect the trend to continue for IE Explorer. It will lose more market share in the upcoming months.

Why would somebody in their right mind run Internet Explorer in Ubuntu. Before you shoot me, let me at least explain the reasons why. I get many support questions from people regarding the themes I’ve designed. The questions oftentimes are IE related. I either have to power my laptop or go to another computer to view the irregularity.

To avoid the hassles of firing up another computer (my desktop is solely running Ubuntu), I installed Internet Explorer 6 which runs under Wine on my Ubuntu 8.04 desktop. I used a simple script I found from 64 bit Jungle. The script calls for Wine and cabextract to be installed, followed by downloading the program, untarring the file and firing up the GUI installer.

The installation script was straightforward and a breeze. No hitches whatsoever. The GUI installer gives you several choices. I’ve decided to install both IE6 and IE7 beta. IE6 worked out of the box without any problems, while IE7 beta choked. The IE7 beta program fired up, but the browser was not rendering any web pages. It seems to be stuck in forever land.

So, the whole reason for this exercise is having the ability to check how web pages are rendered in IE6 without ever leaving Ubuntu. Running IE6 for just a few minutes makes me appreciate Firefox more than ever.

The upcoming Firefox 3.1 release will have private browsing mode for users who do not want to leave traces of their online activity on their local computers. One caveat, it’s not a privacy tool to make you anonymous from websites or from your internet service provider. Others have coined private browsing mode as “porn mode.”

Nevertheless, its main function is to protect users from leaving cookies, cache pages, etc. on their local computers. It’s perfect tool for people who travel and use public computers, internet cafes or someone just borrowing a friend’s computer.

To begin a private session in Firefox 3.1, all you have to do is select private browsing from the browser’s tools menu. While in private browsing mode, there will be text notification added to the top of the address bar to indicate that you are in a private browsing mode.

To close the private session mode, all you have to do is is uncheck the same item in the tools menu and it will remove all the data in your private mode session.

Meebo web interface: I recently started using Meebo, an online browser-based instant messaging. Meebo allows users to combine instant messaging on a single webpage. Meebo works with several chat networks: AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber.

There is no software to install. Meebo will run on any computer with a browser and internet access. Meebo allows users to combine chat buddies in a singe buddy list. You can use your existing IM accounts, or get a free Meebo login to chat across all networks with a single id.

The Meebo interface is also capable of playing games, video conference, transfer files, and so much more, all from the web browser. There is another feature is called Rocket man, it’s a shiny rocket ship in the Meebo IM window which allows you to launch and select any application to launch with your buddy.

In addition to the web interface, Meebo has other products and offerings.

Meebo Me: is a piece of code that you place in your web page. It allows you to chat with anyone who comes to your blog or web page. Your visitors show up in your Meebo buddylist so you can strike up a conversation, answer questions, or just keep tabs on guests. You can also publish your online status so friends can see if you’re available when they visit your site.

Meebo for iPhone: Meebo brings IM to the Apple iPhone. Just point to www.meebo.com on the iPhone or iPod touch and chat on the go. Effortlessly flick through your buddies. The smart buddylist makes it easy to keep up with all your conversations. No downloads are required and it’s free.

Firefox Extention: Instant messaging across all the major IM networks is now built right into your browser. The Meebo Firefox Extension gives you a sidebar with a smart buddylist and visual notifications when your friends IM you. Drag internet links and images directly to your buddies, all while surfing the Web!

Meebo Repeater: Meebo Repeater is a software download for people who want to chat safely when their IM access is restricted. Just install the repeater on a computer that can access the Web freely, and then use that computer to bounce the signal to Meebo. It’s simple and secure.