[Deskbar] can't use web browser plugin

["John H." <mistamaila gmail com>]

for some reason on this new laptop, despite having latest
deskbar-applet .15.2 and having gnome's default browser as firefox
with new tab option selected, when i tell it to go to www.foobar.com
or whatever, although it shows that it will use web browser plugin, it
never does???

i have to do firefox www.foobar.com