Before you know it, a toolbar is already on top of your screen. Without you may know, it might have come from something you downloaded for free online. You don’t know specifically what their uses are except that they give you shortcuts to their own links. Sometimes there are even toolbars so pesky it will give you a website as a sort of “suggestion.” Aside from being pesky, it will also cover up spaces in your window. If you have too many toolbars almost 40% of your window will mostly be made up of toolbar.
One of these toolbars is the Yahoo Toolbar. Good thing that Yahoo doesn’t popup any website suggestion but it will cover your window space. There are also little button that suggests shortcuts to its services like the Yahoo Music, sports, news, bookmarks even stock markets. You then wonder why they even make such things just to annoy you.
Annoy you? They will if you don’t know how to use them. Remember, these are toolbars – the name itself will tell you why its there. It’s supposed to be a tool and not some space covering software. If you frequently visit yahoo, you could already have them in your internet explorer.
How to get most out of the Yahoo Toolbar is tricky yet very rewarding once you get the hang of it. The very first thing you should do is sign-in to your toolbar with your Yahoo Mail account. The sign-in logo can’t be found immediately since it’s hidden on the right side of the toolbar. Click on the arrow button and you will immediately be transferred to a page where you can sign in to your toolbar.
Once you log in to your toolbar it will give you number of logos that serve as shortcuts to many Yahoo services. You can actually change them and select your preferred buttons or shortcuts. All you need to do is to go the pencil logo at the left side of the toolbar and click on the arrow. Like most of the button shortcuts it will give you options. Select personal options and click on add/edit buttons. You will be transferred to a page where you can check and uncheck shortcuts. As much as possible select only up to six shortcuts. If you select more than that you will not be able to see them anyway and will be hidden in the arrow along with the sign-in option. Be sure to click on finished to save the settings you selected. Every time you log in to a Yahoo toolbar whatever PC you use, the setting will show up.
One of the most powerful tools in your toolbar is the bookmark option. Select either the bookmarks or the My Web buttons to activate this. Its primary use is to be an online bookmarker which will be saved in your Yahoo account. You can visit your bookmarks through any PC as long as you log in to any Yahoo toolbar. For example, if you found a website that you like, just click “My Web” and select “Save to My Web.” A message will popup informing that will give you the option to categorize the website.
Total control of your toolbar takes practice. Just remember that toolbars are supposed to be a tool and not a space hog in your internet windows.
You get the most out of the Yahoo toolbar by uninstalling it. Why would you promote such a crappy product?
Comment by tom d. — June 9, 2007 @ 11:01 pm