My Google Chrome Extensions
Last week Google Chrome updated itself on my MacBook and now allows Chrome extensions. I’ve almost completely moved over to Chrome as the speed of the browser just blows both Firefox and Safari away in my experience…and the way it handles gmail, gdocs, gwave, and the rest of G is just smooth. What’s been holding me back from making the full switch were the Firefox extensions that I have come to rely on. But now that I have most of them, I use Chrome 90% of the time.
Extensions slow a browser down as it’s extra code that needs to be loaded, extra things sometimes running in the background, so I’m committed to keeping my extensions to a minimum and keep the Chrome speed a priority. So, here’s my basic package:
FaceBook for Google Chrome: Extension which lets you read your Facebook news feed and wall. You can also post status updates by clicking on your profile picture.
(Simple and Quick, just how I like my updates, now only if it supported pages)
Google Apps Shortcuts: A simple extension that allows you to quickly create a new Emails, Calendar Events, Document or Spreadsheet with minimal clicks.
(Link seems to be gone at the moment but there are a ton to choose from find one that works for you.)
Google Tasks: A simple Google Task extension for Chrome.
(I’ve tried using Google Tasks off and on, but I think I finally found my extension that will put those to dos right in front of me!)
One Number: Check GMail, Google Reader, Google Voice, and Google Wave. Four sources, one number.
(Not sure I need this and Google Apps Shortcuts so I’m testing both. What I really need is one that will check and log me into different Google accounts like the Gmail Manager extensions does in Firefox.)
That’s it….I do also have the Bit.ly URL shortener on the toolbar. If you have a bit.ly account it’s an easy way to share web pages to Twitter as you are reading them. I also have the Diigolet link on my toolbar as well. Diigo now has a Chrome Extension, but I like the way this toolbar extension works and once again it takes a load off my browser and only loads when I need it.
The one extension that keeps me coming back to Firefox is the one I’m using to write this blog post. It’s called ScribeFire and I’m in love with it. It sits within Firefox and allows you to blog while searching for web pages, drag and dropping images (like the one to the left), quotes, and links from the web directly into your blog post. What I hate at the moment is I use Chrome and only open Firefox to blog. Now I’m going back and forth between tabs I have open on Chrome and Scribefire in Firefox. I need something like this (really I want Scribefire) in Chrome for my transition to be complete.
So there’s my list of extensions, what are your Google Chrome extension must haves?
Custom Google Docs App for your school
Hi Jeff,
I’ve got quite a few installed and haven’t noticed any slowdown. Here’s my 3 favourites that aren’t in your list:
FastestChrome – “Save time by speeding up repetitive tasks. Get auto-loading of next page, improved searching, and more. Enhance your productivity!”
Twitter Reactions – “Shows the latest Twitter reactions for the browser web page”
Webpage screenshot – “Fast&Simple solution to save JPG screenshots of any webpage. The first extension that captures the whole page.”
Jeff, have you tried the “Press This” bookmarklet for Chrome? I was in exactly your boat with regards to Scribefire keeping my tied to firefox for blogging. But the Press This tool is great… not quite as many features as Scribefire but for WordPress bloggers it’s pretty darn convenient. I’m now completely weaned from Firefox and loving life as a Chrome browser!
BTW missed you in Mumbai and working on getting you out here to Zurich for some PD at ZIS next fall! Interested?
Thanks Jeff…this is exactly what I have been waiting for to make the transition to CHROME. Thanks for sharing your favs and for starting this wave of change.
Hi Jeff!
I *love* Chrome! My two favorite apps right now are:
Twitterbar (https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/pioclpoplcdbaefihamjohnefbikjilc) : “Post to Twitter from the Chrome toolbar. The current page’s title and URL are automatically entered into the textbox for easy posting of links.”
Evernote Web Clipper: (https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/pioclpoplcdbaefihamjohnefbikjilc)
Try “Session Manager” I often have multiple tabs open and link in and out to other pages. Then I need to get away from the web and I can easily save my session with it. I like “Chrome Reader” because one click lets me subscribe to a podcast and have it link with my Google Reader account. And… Scribefire is now a Chrome extension.
I would add WordPress Stats extension at https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/kfkplpbeijhlpnlccijpjpggabgmbopg
A real time saver