You've seen how Google Reader's iPhone interface fits oh-so-nicely into your Firefox sidebar, and now the How-To Geek shows how you can make it even more compact and useful. Using some bookmark digging and the Stylish theme-ing extension for Firefox, you can remove Reader's blue border and header, change the font sizes, and reduce the feed displays to headlines only. Hit the link for individual or compilation Stylish scripts that make Reader even better on the side.

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In the wake of the recent Google Reader for iPhone update, web site Mozilla Links saw an opportunity to make good use of the new mobile interface by putting Google Reader iPhone into your Firefox sidebar. The setup is a snap, and when you're done the simple, mobile-friendly iPhone interface loads perfectly and looks great in the Firefox sidebar. Add this one to the growing list of mobile apps that fit perfectly in your sidebar.

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The Digital Inspiration blog suggests that Facebook's new browser-based chat system, which we stood up against Gmail's web chat yesterday, works well running inside a Firefox sidebar. To anchor it there, simply add this Facebook Chat popout URL from Bookmarks->Organize Bookmarks, and make sure "Load this bookmark in the sidebar" is checked. The intended two-column layout can make the sidebar a little intrusive into your actual browsing, but you can resize to a narrow strip and still get chat functionality, simply by clicking inside the sidebar to re-order things.

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Readers are submitting their best life hack for a chance to win an autographed copy of our new book, Upgrade Your Life. Here's our latest winner.
Reader Zalary put some HTML skills to work to turn the Firefox sidebar into a one-stop shop of frequently used utilities. Zalary says:

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Windows/Mac/Linux (Firefox): With all the things you can throw into your Firefox Sidebar—including web sites, gTalk, and a to-do list, among others—wouldn't it be nice if you had a bit more control over where that pane shows up on your browser? The MultiSidebar extension lets you right-click to place individual sidebars on the right, left, top, or bottom (kind of defying its nature, right?) and remembers where you wanted them next time you launch them. The real benefit, besides training your eyes, is being able to open more than one sidebar at once. If you have certain sidebars you browse with and others you occasionally pop open with a shortcut, MultiSidebar should be right up your alley. MultiSidebar is a free download, works wherever Firefox does.

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Windows only: Free sidebar application Trog Bar keeps your email, tasks and calendar items within quick reach and organises them into a personal favourite productivity system, be it Getting Things Done, Total Workday Control, or most other popular approaches. While Outlook is not technically required, Trog Bar gets most of its value out of the Microsoft email/organiser app, instantly syncing and adjusting schedules and suggesting which task to tackle next based on your system and past work habits. For those just jumping into the pool of stress-reducing time management, the Trog Bar could be a helpful introduction. Trog Bar is a free download and registration (for a "limited time") for Windows systems only, and requires a sign-up and email confirmation. Thanks Al!

Windows only: Like the convenience of the Vista sidebar but wish it offered more customisation, or even just a hiding option? Free application SideSlide gives you program and website launchers, RSS readers, notepads, reminders, pictures, clipping holders and more in one skin-able bar that hides on the edges of your desktop. It's the kind of tinker-friendly widget that shortcut lovers can easily get lost in—containers to launch multiple programs at once, feed combiners with group searching and updating and lots of keyboard navigation options, to name just a few hacks. Check out this quick start guide by SideSlide's makers to get started. SideSlide is a free download for Windows XP, 2000 and Vista, and requires that Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 be installed (a link is provided on the SideSlide link below, but Vista users should be set up already). Vista users who just want to get more out of their pre-installed sidebar can check out our roundup of useful sidebar gadgets.

You already know that you can load bookmarks in Firefox's sidebar, and that narrow webapps like iPhone-optimised services work well there. Reader Eli writes in with how he customises his Google Calendar agenda to load in his Firefox sidebar, with events from multiple calendars, as wide as he likes. Here's how to set up your Firefox sidebar-friendly agenda using GCal's embeddable calendar HTML.

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