Turbo
Browser, Download, Gears, Speed, Turbo
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When using your Dashboard, your browser has to download files from the servers for everything to work. Sometimes this takes a bit, but you can change that by going Turbo.
You might ask, “What is Turbo?” Turbo is a WordPress feature that uses Gears. Gears? It is a browser extension like Flash or QuickTime/Media Player. However Gears works with the browser to enhance web based applications. It can create local database and file storage, and run JavaScript in the background to update them without slowing down the browser.
On WordPress.com it is used to store all images and other web page components from the admin area to the user’s PC, speeding up access and reducing unnecessary web traffic. The speed increase is most noticeable when Internet is slow or on high latency and makes everybody’s blogging experience more enjoyable.
If you use Firefox 2 or 3, Internet Explorer 6 or 7, Safari 3 for Mac, or Chrome, you can use Turbo. To turn it on for your blog, click on the link in the upper right corner of your Dashboard or visit the Tools menu on the left.
If Gears isn’t already installed, click the Install Now button.
Your browser will open the Gears site, which gives you a button to Install Gears. Follow the instructions to install Gears.
After you have installed Gears, return to the Tools section on your blog. Click the Enable Gears button.
A popup will appear similar to the one below. Check the box I trust this site. Allow it to use Gears. and click the Allow button.
Gears will begin downloading around 200 files and store them on your computer. It will also update them when needed automatically in the background, no other actions are required.
Once everything has been downloaded, the status will let you know it has been completed.
The downloaded files will be used everywhere in the admin interface, speeding up every page load, enabling you to blog at faster than the speed of light.*
* Your mileage may vary.
Additional Info
If you clear your browser’s cache or cookies you will not need to repeat this process.
If you have multiple blogs on WordPress.com you will need to enable Gears for each blog.
Video
Watch the “Speed up WordPress with Gears for Firefox” video from WordPress.tv.
Watch the “Speed up WordPress with Gears for Safari” video from WordPress.tv.
Watch the “Speed up WordPress with Gears for Internet Explorer” video from WordPress.tv.
Last modified: November 30, 2008
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