![Most Useless Startup At Disrupt? [video]](http://cdn.thenextweb.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/09/043-480x245.jpg "Most Useless Startup At Disrupt? [video]")
We’ve seen a fair few attempts at simplifying the “I have too many bookmarklets in my toolbar” problem, fortunately this might be the best solution yet.
Quix is a way to essentially use one bookmarklet to replace all others. You could, with just a little time and effort, shrink your bookmarks toolbar to just one bookmarklet and what’s more, it will work splendidly on any browser, yes, your iPhone’s too.
So how does it work? To test it out, drag and drop the Quix bookmarklet onto your toolbar. On clicking on this new bookmarklet, you’ll notice a text field appear, simply type in a command you’d like (you’ll find a list of them by typing “help”) and Quix will make it happen.
These are a few of the basic commands immediately available (type the letter then whatever you’re looking to do after, eg. “A michael jackson” would search Amazon for Michael Jackson. Remember you can add a ton more, in fact any bookmarklet, but we’ll come onto how in just a minute.
So in essence, Quix is a command line bookmarklet. The real magic happens however when you can replace your entire selection of bookmarklets, and if you’re a computer geek, you’ve probably got a few.
To add your own bookmarklets/commands, you first need to download the txt file that Quix extracts all its commands from. The txt file is editable, the only thing you really need to be able to do is to upload the txt file somewhere and tell Quix where it’s located.
If there’s one thing that’s missing it’s an autocomplete feature when typing a command, with all the bookmarklets this is likely to replace, a helping hand wouldn’t go a miss. A keyboard shortcut would also be helpful but this is understandably a browser limitation rather than Quix’s – note, Safari does feature a keyboard shortcut for bookmarklets.
Those minor limitations aside, for non-Firefox users, this brings the genius of a Ubiquity like browser command line to any browser…something that Chrome users are bound to be delighted with.
Still unsure whether this is for you? Check out the video demo below.
Read more at: WWD and Digital Inspiration
Sounds like a replacement for the firefox addon Ubiquity…..
Yep, i mention Ubiquity in the post. Regarding posting to twitter, there are bookmarklets that allow that to happen – check out http://www.twitlet.com/
Your first link pointing to Quix is false, it should be http://www.quixapp.com not quix.com
The URL is not working for me… quix.com
apologies, fixed.
apologies, fixed.
Will check it out. See also https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/mii… btw, why would I click a bookmarklet, then type G, then a search query – when I could just click the adress bar and start googling?
agreed, but it does so much more than that – it effectively replaces any bookmarklet out there. The example i gave was probably not the best.
http://yubnub.org especially after making it default search engine in firefox/chrome is doing the same + many more. and the great thing is you can add your own for all the other users in the world ;)
Like the idea and have used it today for evernote and some other bookmarklets I had. It works. But it would work even better if i could use a keyboard shortcut to activate it. Like Ubiquity or Quicksilver, you just use your keyboard. I guess Quix could go that way too.
Looks like a nice little app, although Opera has most – if not all – of this functionality built in.
After using Opera for YEARS this seems pretty useless, since it's so use add search engines (ANY) with two clicks I already have many mapped with keywords and stuff. More info on: http://www.opera.com/browser/tips/?feature=cust…
The great thing about this is Opera Link, which syncs this info and more across all you Opera devices (in my case Opera on my Windows desktop, Ubuntu netbook, my Macbook and Nokia smartphone) so I can add or edit searches, bookmarks and notes with ease. No addons, comes by default.
Really? I'm confused – so Opera can essentially integrate any bookmarklet into the browser without the need for bookmarklets?
Say I want to use bitly's bookmarklet, how could i integrate it with Opera without the need for a bookmarklet? If that's possible, then heck Opera deserves more time in the lime light.
Really? I'm confused – so Opera can essentially integrate any bookmarklet into the browser without the need for bookmarklets?
Say I want to use bitly's bookmarklet, how could i integrate it with Opera without the need for a bookmarklet? If that's possible, then heck Opera deserves more time in the lime light.
At least for defining search engines. For instance, I use is.gd for
URL shortning so If i write isgd before the current URL on address bar
it goes to is.gd site with the shorturl for that specific site i was.
Sounds a lot like Shortwave ( http://shortwaveapp.com/ ). Actually, it almost looks like a rip-off (Shortwave existed earlier as far as I know). I wonder what the author has to say about this, since I could be wrong of course.
Thanks for featuring Quix Zee!! One slight remark: I sometimes update the bookmarklet (there's a versioning system built in), so it might not be wise to link the bookmarklet directly…
Hey Barry, you can post to Twitter using Quix too, try 'tn' or, if you're on a Mac and use Tweetie, 'tt' :)
Hey Frank, you could have just dropped those ideas in an email to me or on GetSatisfaction ;) The “exchange market” or “share your commands” site is almost done and will be live in a couple of days, and opening the bookmarklet with a keyboard shortcut is very well possible, though it depends on your browser. Check http://quixapp.com/browsers/ for more info :)
Hi Al, I think you've missed the biggest point of Quix: it can do almost anything based on your commands, not only do a search, but also integrate javascript or stylesheets into the current page, there's a whole set of Webmaster commands that open different types of bookmarklets. The biggest thing, to me, is being able to open just about any bookmarklet I have with just a short a command, instead of having to search where I left the bookmarklet on my bookmarks bar, or worse, in my bookmarks folder.
It IS a lot like Shortwave. In fact: the syntax for extending it is the same, but with more options. Quix was born out of the fact that I loved Shortwave, even helped Shaun extend it a bit with stuff like selected text, but wanted even more, like the ability to integrate javascript bookmarklets that inserted code into the current page.
I've never made a secret of the fact that it's based on Shortwave, and never will, Shaun is a great guy and a great mind as far as I can tell, and I wouldn't want to take anything away from that. Quix is taking his idea 3-4 steps further, by adding the javascript options, making it work in https, building in an upgrade system, etc. etc.
I recommend writing an embeddable javascript file, so anyone can use <script src=”http://quixapp.com/bookmarklet_link.js?newest”></script> to include the latest bookmarklet link into his website.
Fair enough. :) Thanks for clarifying!
the. best. ever.
Hmm good idea.
Is there some way of converting existing bookmarklets into Quix?
Install Bookmarklet in Opera.
Here = http://my.opera.com/chooseopera/blog/2009/05/25…
Install Bookmarklet in Opera.http://my.opera.com/chooseopera/blog/2009/05/25/how-to-install-bookmarklets