If you’re going to be celebrating the Chinese New Year, Tet, Losar or any other lunar calendar celebration that I’m not aware of – you need to check out Brand Thunder’s dragon browser themes. It’s the Year of the Dragon and we have the browser skin for you.

3D Dragon Browser Theme

3D Dragon Browser Theme It started as a joke to release a 3D browser theme, but it has it’s fans. Sorry, we don’t have the red and blue glasses that really make this theme pop. You’ll enjoy it regardless with the classic style Chinese dragon. A great way to start off a very auspicious year.

Dragon Browser Theme

Dragon Browser Theme You may decide that a more fantasy-oriented dragon is more to your liking. This theme may have you thinking more about World of Warcraft than the Three Gorges, but like either of those destinations you’ll be transported to another place and time.

Blue Dragon Browser Theme

Blue Dragon Browser Theme is a browser theme created by one of the folks in the Brand Thunder community using BT:Engage, Brand Thunder’s browser theme creator. It’s a ethereal image of a Chinese dragon. More understated on the dragon front, but more forward on the design front.

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon

We hope you find something to like, or if you don’t, head over and create your own at BT:Engage. It’s as easy as dragging and dropping your own images into the theme creator. And it’ll be a fun way to kick off this New Year of the Dragon!

Sorry, Chrome users. These themes are for Firefox and Internet Explorer only. We’re upset about it too and are working hard to bring all our great themes to Chrome.

Please read both of them. We can really use your help with the first point. The second point is a much more subjective one. I won’t say which way to throw your support, but it’s an issue worth your time to have an informed opinion.

Share Your Blackout Details

As a small company, we test for as many scenarios as we can. There’s no way to prep for what we saw yesterday, and no way for us to understand it’s full impact. That’s why I’m asking for your help. I’ll outline some of the “known” issues or expected ones from a downed server, but if you want to share your experiences – especially if they’re not listed below – please email me directly at kevin – at – brandthunder – dot – com (substitute ” – at – ” with @ and ” – dot – ” with .). You can also make a comment in the Brand Thunder support forum.

Some things we know about:

• Toolbar buttons missing from themes – Many of the buttons are images that are pulled from our server. With the server down, the buttons won’t load. This is different from the theme image, which always has a locally saved version.
• Internet Explorer down in some instances – There was an early identification of a bug in an update that just released that required a server check. Oversight on our part that we quickly rolled back, but there may have been some instances where this was noticed.
• Installs not completing - Some of our themes are fully hosted on other sites. Examples include the Chrome Webstore and Addons.Mozilla.org. I know on Chrome, themes went through the install process fine, but the theme never loaded because of the blackout. If it’s not working now, I’d suggest uninstalling the first attempt then reinstalling. It should pull it up fine.
• Sidebar content missing – This may have been an artifact of the reconfiguration. I saw the outage today and is now working in some themes I’ve checked.

If there are other oddities, or issues you’ve identified, please share.

SOPA – The Long-Term Blackout

Good intentions don’t always make good policy. I’ll admit I’m not versed enough to talk to all aspects of the Stop Online Piracy Act, but for a company that has created an engine allowing anyone to instantly build a Firefox and Internet Explorer browser theme, and publish it to Brand Thunder’s browser theme gallery – it scares the heck out of me.

Despite the legal protections we put in place, like the user agreement stating a user has ownership of all images used in their theme, I’m sure there’s exposure somewhere. Just like with freedom of expression, there are those that will say things you don’t like. With a tool that allows you to express yourself via a browser theme and then share it out, expressions that approach the line of appropriate use will undoubtedly occur. Artistic license, satire or parody, we simply could not afford the legal costs of defending a series of challenges that can come our way.

Whether we willingly or accidentally participated in the SOPA blackout, we all got a taste of what may happen if it comes to reality.

Image via Wikipedia

Wow! What a competition for Best Holiday Browser Theme of 2011. While all five finalists had merit and style, two quickly emerged as contenders for first place: Christmas Ornament and Perfect Christmas Eve. Voting was fast and furious at the end, with the lead changing several times. As in any competition, however, there can only be one winner and for this year, it turned out to be…

 And the Winner is…

Christmas Ornament(:

The winner of Apple’s iPad 2 and first prize in Brand Thunder’s Best Holiday Browser Theme of 2011 is Christmas Ornament(:  In the end, user’s seemed to favor the abstract and contemporary feel captured in this holiday browser theme.

The Runner’s Up are…

Perfect Christmas Eve

Despite the idyllic snowy winter’s night, as we discovered in the movie “Elf,” Christmas spirit is running a little low for Santa. Hopefully, this doesn’t affect what appears under our Christmas tree in a couple days.

Xanapus` Lair Christmas Theme

Holiday Snow

A Year to Celebrate

Thanks to all who participated in the holiday theme contest. It was a ton of fun for us and we hope you enjoyed it as well. And while these themes are great and can bring you months of joy to your daily Internet use, don’t forget to visit the Brand Thunder Theme Gallery the next time you want a fresh look for your browser. There’s a world-class selection of Chrome themes, Firefox themes and Internet Explorer themes with new ones being added all the time.

Image via CrunchBase

Win an iPad 2 in less than 5 minutes

You can win an iPad in less than 5 minutes. Sound easy? It is.

There is no purchase necessary to enter or win.

Just create your own Christmas or holiday browser theme using BT:Engage and share it with us – you’ll be entered to win. It only takes a few minutes. A panel of judges will select 5 finalists, then the public will vote on the winning entry. Enter by 12/15/11, finalists will be announced on 12/17/11 and winners announced on 12/23/11. First prize gets a new iPad 2, the other finalists will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

All the details for participating are below. Enter early and often, and have fun!

Holiday Theme Your Way

BT:Engage makes it easy to create your own browser themes for Firefox and Internet Explorer. For a completely custom look, upload your own images then drag & drop to the browser theme. In a few minutes, you’ll have a new Internet experience that’s personal and fun.

The Rules for Winning

1. You must create your holiday browser theme with BT:Engage. It’s 100% free.
2. Tweet: I entered @brandthunder’s holiday browser theme contest (http://ow.ly/7pFcY). See my theme: PASTE YOUR THEME URL
3. Email info@brandthunder.com with the URL to your theme’s download page by 11:59PM EST on 12/15/11.

***NOTE: If you don’t use Twitter or have a Twitter handle, simply indicate this in your email submission and you won’t have to Tweet it to win.

Finalists will be promoted in our blog. You can send your fans to that post to vote up your theme!

How BT:Engage Works

Here’s a short preview of how the BT:Engage product works. You can always find more help and links to “How to” videos at http://bt-engage.com/faqs.

Free to build, share and use.

1. Go to BT:Engage and click the Get Started button
2. On the Background and Logo tabs, click the Holiday link to see the special image options
3. Double Click or Drag & Drop those images to add them to the theme. Use the green arrows in the Properties box to move images to the front or back.
4. Widgets are buttons and feeds you can Drag & Drop into your theme. You’ll need to select where to point them, like your online gift wishlist, Facebook page or Flickr photo album.
5. Add your own photos under the My Images tab. They can be uploaded as Backgrounds or Logos
6. Find links to videos tutorials at the BT:Engage FAQs.

Eligibility

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. THE CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. Open only to permanent, legal U.S. residents who are physically residing in one (1) of the forty eight (48) contiguous United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other United States territories), and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and of the age of majority in their state of residence as of the start of the Contest Period.

The Contest is governed by U.S. law and subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. By entering the Contest, participants agree to accept and be bound by all terms of these Official Rules and Regulations.

Image via Wikipedia

Brand loyalty is fierce among browser users.  Everyone seems to have found their favorite browser and uses them consistently, but a few people have become real fans. Some people have found that the time spent on their browser is not enough and they need to show their love for their favorite browser on their desktop background as well. Firefox seems to be one of the brands that inspires to most loyal fan base for Wallpapers.

Though there are many Firefox wallpapers available if you do a simple search for them, you’ll find that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of fan wallpapers available. If you’re in the market for a new desktop background and you love Firefox, you’re sure to find one that suits your style.

Firefox Wallpaper Examples

This sleek, orange theme shows not only the Firefox himself, but also includes the browser’s name in the background. Nothing quite says, “I love Firefox” like this Wallpaper.

http://www.mouserunner.com/FF_FirefoxWallpaperRakaz.html

The Firefox “Eye” Wallpaper

This somewhat eerie theme could be all yours if you want to look Firefox in the eye all day. However, this just further proves that the love for Firefox runs deep inside of a person.

http://www.techdrivein.com/2010/01/top-15-never-seen-firefox-wallpaper.html

Classic Firefox Wallpaper

If you’re looking for something a bit more toned down, the Firefox wallpaper below might be more to your taste. This wall paper incorporates muted, mellow colors and seamlessly integrates the Firefox logo.

http://slodive.com/freebies/30-top-firefox-wallpaper-collection/

As you can see in the above examples, there are a wide variety of styles available when it comes to Firefox wallpapers.

Customize Your Firefox Browser

It’s one thing to be a fan of a product.  It’s quite another thing to take the product and make it your own. If you’ve already decorated your desktop with Firefox wallpaper and have found yourself wanting to show that you’re an even bigger fan of Firefox, you should consider installing a custom Firefox theme.

A Firefox theme is an overlay that fits over top of the Firefox browser to change its look and feel and sometimes its function. You can find themes  based on hobbies, careers, sports, seasons or holidays. There are thousands of Firefox browser themes available.

Brand Thunder Makes Interactive Firefox Themes

Brand Thunder has changed this perception of the browser theme as a static, useless (though aesthetically appealing) add-on. If you’ve already downloaded Firefox wallpaper, you’ve proven that you love your browser. Certainly you’ll want to take your browser’s function to the next level.

The new interactive themes allow your browser to provide additional functions. Brand Thunder has introduced many new themes which provide direct access to content, or even change based on a certain period of time or the completion of a certain event.

For example, the Baseball browser theme shows constant baseball updates. This theme includes scores and news updates.

Another available Firefox theme from Brand Thunder is Pirate Firefox Theme. This theme is great inspiration for those of us who are getting ready for the next Talk Like a Pirate Day!

You already love the Firefox browser and showcase that love with Mozilla Firefox Wallpapers, now see where else your browser can take you.

Avast ye scurvy dogs!  Weigh anchor and set course for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card with our Pirate Browser theme!  One lucky person who downloads the Pirate theme and “Likes” from our post on Facebook or downloads and shares on Twitter  will win!  Firefox users check out the theme at http://pages.brandthunder.com/piratepersona@brandthunder.com/download/ff . Sorry IE and Chrome users, we’ll get you into the fun soon.

REMEMBER! You’ve got to Like or Share to Win!

Yes, you’re winning by the shear fact that you have a super cool pirate theme on your browser and easy access to all your favorite social sites and weather! But to win the $25 Amazon Gift Card, you’ve got to Like our post on our Facebook wall or tweet it on Twitter.

Good luck!

Image by brandthunder via Flickr

Each month, Brand Thunder releases a number of new Firefox themes and skins for fans of the popular Mozilla web browser. With each new release, we are responding to the demands of our fans and the types of themes they would like to see. It’s an exciting endeavor and certainly rewarding to create new themes for our fans knowing that they will enjoy some of our new creations.

This month, we wanted to highlight some of our newest Firefox themes including one dedicated to everyone’s favorite Pop Star, Justin Bieber. If you are looking to change your Firefox theme, this is an excellent time to do so. Without further ado, here are some of our newest Mozilla Firefox themes developed by Brand Thunder:

Pop Star Justin Browser Theme

The browser skin created for fans of Justin Bieber, this browser theme shows everyone you are a true fan of the Pop superstar. Features include:

• A beautiful Bieber inspired design
• A video sidebar
• A news sidebar

Download the Pop Star Justin Browser Theme

Coach Tressel Browser Theme

This is the official browser theme for Ohio State Buckeye and Coach Jim Tressel fans. If you bleed Scarlet and Grey, this is a must-have Firefox skin for you. Show your support for the Buckeyes and Jim Tressel with this new Firefox theme that features:

• Three themes celebrating Coach Tressel and the Buckeyes
• Breaking Jim Tressel news right in the sidebar
• A video sidebar highlighting the latest updates from Coach Tressel and Ohio State Footbal.
• A script Ohio background for fans of the Best Damn Band in the Land

Download the Coach Tressel Browser Theme

Tron-Grid Browser Theme

Fans of Disney’s “Tron” will love this new browser skin. Imagine being born inside the digital domain of the Grid and into the virtual world. This imagination is what inspired this captivating neon-influenced design. Features of the new Tron-Grid Browser Theme include:

• A Tron-Grid inspired design and feel
• Quick access to social media sites like Facebook & Twitter
• A video sidebar for top news features

Download the Tron-Grid Browser Theme

Additional New and Updated Firefox Themes & Skins

• San Francisco 49ers Browser Theme
• Blue Paint Splatter Browser Theme
• Motorcycle Theme
• Rock ‘n Roll Browser Skin
• Ice Hockey Browser Theme
• Ctrl+Alt+Del Browser Skin
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Browser Theme

Brand Thunder is completely changing the way that you and I experience the Internet. With savvy technology and groundbreaking ideas, Brand Thunder is customizing the user experience like never before. Both users and businesses alike are flocking to this technology and the offerings of the Brand Thunder team.

There are a couple of different things that you will want to understand as you dive into this technology and the many benefits that Brand Thunder has to offer.

What is Brand Thunder?

Brand Thunder completely changes the way that your browser looks. The brand works to create customizable web browser themes that greatly enhance the experience the user has with their normal Internet browser.

The business and technology has been recognized by all of the major Internet browsers on the market, with all working to form a partnership with the brand. Firefox, Google Chrome, and even Internet Explorer fully understand the benefits that Brand thunder brings to the table and wants to make the technology a regular part of the user experience.

What Are Web Browser Themes?

Web browser themes are the future of web browsing as we know it. These themes are all-immersive, completely changing the face of the Internet browser that we use. The web browser themes allow individuals to customize what they see when they open their web browser. The colors and visual style of the browser completely changes, from the menu bar to the buttons that are used on the browser. Individuals and businesses can easily add in their own buttons to the browser, integrating things that would normally not be found through a web browser.

These browser themes are available on all of the major Internet browsers on the market: this includes Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Users and Browser Themes

Many of the best themes are available as add-ons to the web browsers. These add-ons piggyback on the user’s existing browser. This makes it incredibly easy for the user to install and maintain all their current bookmarks, favorites and security settings. Take themes for Firefox for example. These Firefox themes are simple to download and simple to install. In a couple mouse clicks, the user will have selected the theme that they want to use, have downloaded that theme, and have installed that theme onto their browser. They will be able to use the theme from that moment forward, and can change or remove that theme as easily as it was downloaded.

Businesses and Browser Themes

Businesses can use these themes to their advantage, changing how they communicate with their target audience and getting the ultimate in both reach and frequency. These businesses can create browser themes and Personas for their own brand. This leads to users directly interacting with their brand whenever they load their Internet browser.

Businesses are only limited by their creativity, as far as their use of the Brand Thunder browser theme is concerned. They will be able to deliver the buttons, links and content they need to connect with their users right in their browser.

Take the time to fully understand Brand Thunder and its the browser themes. The future of the web and how we interact with it is constantly changing and evolving. The popularity and success of Brand Thunder helps to outline the possible future of the Internet for both the users who use Internet browsers and the businesses that are trying to reach them.

One of the things I got to do over the holidays was dial up the strength of my passwords across the web.  This was a gift that resulted from the Gawker hack.

I’d been casually improving the strength of the passwords I used, but using very little variety among the passwords.  I was an easy target.  So, when the Gawker notes went out, followed by Amazon’s note and so on.  So, I decided to take my security more seriously.  I explored creating a system that allowed for unique passwords, but was memorable enough that I could still keep them in my head.  But, all the typing quickly got old.

Then a note from a team member who linked to this post “Jesus Christ, Use a Password Manager Already” and it got me looking into password managers.

As a quick overview, there are three basic categories:

• Desktop – stores your passwords on your computers hard drive.
• Portable – For your mobile device whether it’s your smart phone or thumb drive.
• Web based – Online password manager.

What you quickly discover is that each method has its own strengths (platforms or uses where it excels) and weaknesses (where it’s vulnerable). Each also creates additional overhead in terms of what you need to do to access secure sites (cut and paste, authenticate manually).  Don’t get overwhelmed and do nothing.  Choose a path that fits best with your computing habits.  You’re online security will be better for it.

I’m giving KeePassX a try.  It’s a free open source password manager. It keeps my passwords in an encrypted database with either a master password, a key file or both. You only have to remember one single master password or select the key file to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish) which is great.  And it’s available across platforms, so whether you’re on Windows, Mac or Linux, you’re covered.

If you don’t want to get a feel for what others are using, check out Lifehacker’s Five Best Password Managers from their Hive Five efforts.

Good luck and safe browsing.

Here’s a quick and easy add-on to your Firefox browser that’ll make all your coffee breaks a little more secure.  Get the HTTPS Everywhere extension.

If you were attuned to the buzz back in October, you heard a lot about Firesheep and how it made painfully clear how the practices of many popular websites puts user information at risk by not encrypting user information.  CNN did a story on how Firesheep may endanger your computer when using wi-fi.  It discusses the risk, and offers a few suggestions like logging out of your accounts when done to reduce your risk of being automatically logged in when you launch your browser on a Wi-Fi network.

HTTPS Everywhere, a Firefox extension produced as a collaboration between The Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, can help in some cases. It encrypts your communications with a number of major websites and its latest version is designed to offer improved protection against Firesheep.

It provides much better protection for Facebook, Twitter and Hotmail accounts, as well as completely new protection for bit.ly, Dropbox, Amazon AWS, Evernote, Cisco and Github. The extension makes your web browser demand an HTTPS connection if it’s available.  (NOTE: the phrase “if it’s available.”)  HTTPS Everywhere only works if a site implements HTTPS; many of the most popular sites still haven’t deployed HTTPS properly, if at all.  And for maximum Firesheep protection, especially on Facebook, you must take two extra steps: you’ll find all the details on the HTTPS Everywhere site.

This is an easy but important step for you to take until major websites implement HTTPS properly and completely.