David's tech blogTech tips focusing on Mac OS X and iOS

Firefox lets you choose Gmail as your email service, but it doesn't work if you're using Google Apps on your own domain name. Here's how you can configure Firefox to send mailto: links directly to your Google Apps web email interface:

1. In Firefox, open a new window (File menu, then New Window)
2. In the address field, type about:config and press the Return or Enter key on your keyboard.
3. You'll be warned that this "might void your warranty." Click the I'll be careful, I promise! button.



4. You'll be presented with an intimidating list of settings. Ignore them and just type the word "register" into the Filter field.
5. All you should see now is a line that says gecko.handlerService.allowRegisterFromDifferentHost. Assuming the rightmost Value column reads false (which it does by default) double-click it. The whole line should become bold and the Value column should say true instead. Keep this window open for the final step (minimize it or move it out of the way.)



6. In the box below, delete YOUR_DOMAIN_HERE and type the name of the domain you have registered with Google Apps.
   javascript:navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto','https://mail.google.com/a/YOUR_DOMAIN_HERE/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s','Google Apps');
7. Highlight all the text in the box below and Copy it.
8. Open a new window in Firefox and Paste into the address bar.
9. Press the Return or Enter key on your keyboard.
10. A bar will appear at the top of the window, asking you to confirm that you want to add Google Apps as an application for mailto links. Go ahead and click the Add Application button.



11. Open the Firefox settings window: On a Mac, go to the Firefox menu, then Preferences. On Windows, click the Tools menu, then Options.
12. Click the Applications tab.
13. In the Content Type column, locate the entry called mailto.
14. Click the menu next to it and select Use Google Apps, then close the window.



15. Go back to the Firefox window where you have the about:config page open.
16. Double-click the line that says gecko.handlerService.allowRegisterFromDifferentHost and make sure its Value switches back to False. Close the window when finished.

You're all set! Now you should be able to click on email links in web pages and have them open a new message in your Google Apps email.