Wikipedia Simplified – A Complete Guide

Tips and tools to get the best of Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopaedia.


Wikipedia is probably one of the first websites you would go to if you are looking for information about any particular subject. The Free Encyclopaedia contains articles about anything and everything.

You can however optimize upon the experience of basic Wikipedia and do much more. Try these 20 tips and tools.

1. Surf Wikipedia in a dedicated browser


Gollum is an independent browser that is entirely dedicated to surfing Wikipedia. Head to the Gollum website, specify your choice of language in Wikipedia and a new window will launch with Wikipedia.

The advantages of such a browser are that you can optimize articles for printing or editing and can easily manage and share Wikipedia bookmarks.

2. Instantly check what’s popular on Wikipedia

Similar to Twitter’s trending topics, you can check what articles are most popular by reading WikiRank or WikiRage.

3. Get the entire Wikipedia on your iPod

You can download the contents of Wikipedia and read on your Apple iPod. Visit Sourceforge to find out how you can do that.
 
4. Explore Wikipedia more easily

Powerset is a brilliant web service that finds you articles and facts related to what you are currently searching in Wikipedia. Get instant summaries and related stories with Powerset.

5. Read Wikipedia in Simple English

Can’t understand Wikipedia articles that use complex English language? Head to Simple English Wikipedia to find an easy-to-read version of the article. Again But Slower is another website where you can find simplified articles.

6. Wikipedia keyboard shortcuts

Wikipedia features a host of keyboard shortcuts that make the encyclopaedia an easier and faster experience. Head to the official Wikipedia keyboard shortcuts page to learn them.

7. Try these Firefox add-ons for Wikipedia

Wikipedia Toolbar and Googlepedia are two excellent add-ons that help you get more out of Wikipedia in the Firefox web browser. The Wikipedia toolbar allows you to easily navigate and edit Wiki pages, while Googlepedia offers a related Wikipedia page next to search results in Google.

8. Download the entire Wikipedia

There are ways to download Wikipedia to your hard drive. Download XML dumps of Wikipedia depending on the size you want, and import them into a WikiTaxi database. Details of the Wikipedia dumps are available here.

WikiTaxi is basically a portable freeware that allows you to access the encyclopaedia offline.

9. Find similar content in Wikipedia

If you are looking for articles that contain similar content to something you are browsing, head to Similpedia and find similar reads of the current piece you might be reading.

10. Surf Wikipedia on Mobile

Browse Wikipedia in a mobile formatted version by heading to Wapedia Mobi on your mobile phone.

11. Navify – Multimedia Wikipedia

Find multimedia Wikipedia articles at Navify, and browse and discuss those in this specific Wikipedia service.

12. Buy the WikiReader

Carry an exclusive Wikipedia reader with yourself by purchasing the portable WikiReader. It is priced at $99, and can be updated twice a year with SD cards. If you are willing to spend money to carry Wikipedia with you everywhere, then you should consider buying it. 

13. Easy social bookmarking in Wikipedia


Faviki is a social bookmarking tool that allows you to provide common tags as Wikipedia links. Notice the screenshot above, where information about London is provided as a Wikipedia link. 

14. Easily view and edit Wikipedia articles

WikipediaFS is a simple reader and editor that simplifies making changes to Wikipedia articles. Download it here. 

15. Use Wikipedia offline on the iPhone

Wiki2Touch is an offline Wikipedia reader for your Apple iPhone. Learn more here.

16. Try the Videopedia

Watch 5-minute long video tutorials at Videopedia.

17. Convert Wikipedia articles to MP3s


Instantly convert Wikipedia articles to MP3s and listen to them by using Pediaphon. Search for your article, select reading speed and voice that would narrate the article and listen to the MP3 or download it.

18. Easily summarize a Wikipedia page and print it

Lexisum creates a simple summary of a Wikipedia page and customizes it for easy printing.

19. Check out the Official Wikipedia Tips Page

If you need to know more tips and tricks within Wikipedia, check out the official Wikipedia tips page.

20. Get the Wikipedia Gadget on iGoogle

Browse Wikipedia in iGoogle by add the Wikipedia gadget to your iGoogle page. Click this to do the same.