Download Statusbar for Windows

Even Firefox diehards will admit the download dialog could use some work. It's not bad, exactly, just a bit clunky. The Download Statusbar extension for Firefox has made great strides toward a solution. The latest version fixes a long-standing problem, and now you can pause, stop, and resume downloads midstream. Its compact toolbar, which can be minimized to a solitary icon, makes it easy to check the status of your downloads (for instance, the speed and the percent completed). Maximized, the application shows each download as a tab at the bottom of the Firefox window that opens a control panel.

The display indicates the various download speeds with different colors, which you can customize. The source URL of the download can be copied to the Clipboard, even if the site has been closed. The file can also be renamed from the manager, cutting down on the switching of program windows. We're still waiting for a definitive Firefox download manager, but until then Download Statusbar is a good step forward. Active downloaders should definitely give it a try.