Features

Policy

Do I need to learn a new programming language?

No! Crossrider uses regular Javascript and supports the jQuery library and its plugins. You can develop in the languages your in-house developers (or freelancers) already know. This will also cut your development time & costs.

When I develop my own Firefox extension I can easily change the default search engine. Can I do it with Crossrider?

Being that Crossrider is a platform for developing extensions, we need to support (almost) all regular extension's capabilities and changing the user's search engine will be an option in the future. Unlike regular extensions, where you can change the user search freely, Crossrider will prompt the user and will ask for permission for this action.

How fast is it to write an app?

Very fast!
But it depends, really. If you are already familiar with Javascript, you can create a full-on cross browser app in matter of hours. With bigger apps, development can take longer, but still days/weeks instead of months.

Why do you ask for so many permissions in Chrome apps?

In order for developers to have access to our extensive API, those permissions are required. In the future we will allow developers to customize the permissions level needed for each app. Please, bare in mind, that removing these permissions will disable API methods which require them.

How does auto code update work?

Apps JS and background code are automatically being updated every 6 hours. When you change core aspect of your app, such as buttons, icons or name we will repack you XPI and Chrome native extension file. The CRX will be updated automatically by chrome when time comes, and on Firefox the user will be notified that there is a new update waiting

Are auto code updates secure?

In most modern browsers, such as Chrome, end-users are being updated automatically with code updates. Though it may seem not secure to some, we also do not require the end user to confirm each code update. However, we will immediately remove any application which violates our T&C and poses a threat to the end user.

When is Safari support coming?

Crossrider aims to be a cross browser development framework and as such we will support as many browsers/platforms as possible. Even though Safari does not have a wide market share, we believe strongly in supporting Safari and are working hard on completing it. We will announce the date of the Safari launch in the very near future.

Can I create a toolbar with Crossrider? Why do you restrict me to only a single button per app?

We believe user experience is very important. The purpose of Crossrider based extensions is to make the web a better place by providing cool apps or extending existing sites. We believe your users will enjoy your product better with minimal UI instead of a large toolbar. If you still wish to create a toolbar, we can recommend other companies such as Conduit, who can provide you with this solution.

How do I create an installation page for my app?

All you need to do is embed a piece of code on your download page or use Crossrider's installation page. Its easy as 1,2,3. Crossrider will automatically detect your user's browser type and will let him/her download the appropriate file. You can also use a direct download link, to share with friends, or add as a simple link to your web page.

Can I change the end-user's homepage?

Although it can be done with Firefox and other browsers we are currently not supporting this API method. In the future we might add it if we see our developers need it, but even then it will require the users permission.

What can I do with your API?

With the Crossrider API you can save data on the browser and re-use it, just like cookies but without size limitations. You can use our Facebook API to easily connect and interact with Facebook seamlessly from any page, bypass the cross domain limitations to fetch data from any site, bind selected text events, enable keyboard shortcuts and much more.

How safe are Crossrider based extensions?

Crossrider is actually much safer than other custom developed extensions!
Crossrider is a powerful layer between the developer code and the browser's native APIs. Our goal is to keep the balance between the developer's needs while still letting the end-user enjoy safe extensions. By complying with our T&C you will benefit from great development framework that will enable you to quickly create cross-browser extensions in minutes. It's a mutual goal to make extensions much safer and helpful for your end-users.

How to Uninstall Crossrider ?

You can quickly and easily uninstall any Crossrider extension/program by following these steps for each web browser:

Firefox: Follow Mozilla's easy 5 steps removing Firefox addons instructions: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_extensions#Uninstalling_extensions_and_themes
Chrome: Follow Chrome's 4 steps extension uninstalling process: http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=113907
Windows / Internet Explorer:
If you wish to disable a specific Crossrider app, simply click the Crossrider icon on the Internet Explorer status bar and choose "Disable" next to the app you wish to disable.
Otherwise, if you want to remove Crossrider completly, follow this link to find detailed instruction on how to remove Crossrider from Windows Add / Remove programs panel.

To revert Firefox search change to Google, do the following:

In your address bar, go to: about:config
Click the "I'll be careful" button if you get one.
At the filter input type: keyword.url
There should be only one entry. double-click it
Change the current value to: http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

Crossrider's FAQ