Google Chrome
It seems like ages since I made Chrome as the default browser in all my PCs and Mac. The factors that drew me to Chrome from Firefox are its ability to sync almost every setting and preference -including the extensions- across all my machines, tight Google service integration, Speed, Simplicity and a good looking icon.
(OK, I made up the last one).
Over a period of time, I have discovered and installed several extensions which simplify the daily browsing chores. Here is a quick run down. You may find some of them interesting, if you aren’t yet using them.
Readability Redux: A click on the Readability icon transforms a cluttered web page into a highly readable thesis-like document. Helps you focus only on the content and finish your reading without any distractions. Wish the whole web is presented in the Readability format (I am ready to pay for a browser which presents all the web content in this format). Readability even has themes to choose how you want your pages to be displayed! One negative is that it does not display all the images if your article has too many of them. You may end up switching between garbage view and Readability view. (If your primary use of the browser is to navigate to sites with plenty of “X” in them, this plugin may not be of much use).
Tweet This: Though I am not a heavy Twitter user any more, I use this extension to send those occassional Tweets with shortened URLs embedded. Wish there is an option which allows me to tweet without the URL of the current page since not all my Tweets have links in them.
Facebook: No comments on this one.
Google Translate: Instantly transforms web pages in any language (OK, most) to English, or your favorite language. Must have plugin. Wish I had this when I was working for all those Japanese customers.
Adblock: The world’s favorite extension. Except may be Google’s. (It nukes the ubiquitous Google AdSense ads too). You must be joking if you say you don’t have this.
Chrome To Windows Phone: I am one among the 8 people in the world who uses a WP7 phone. This one allows me to send short clippings and URLs to my phone in an instant. Very very useful. If you are an Android or iPhone user, you will find equivalent apps in whatever respective store you find your apps from. Not as powerful as Evernote, but quick and simple. (In case you are wondering, the other 7 are working for Microsoft. Steve Ballmer uses a Kin, so he is not counted).
ESPN Cricinfo: Nothing more to say here. I was born in India.
Mail Checker Plus for Google Mail: Apart from winning the award for the “extension with the longest name”, this is a great plugin to get notified, read and quickly compose a mail from your Gmail account. Beats the crap out of the official Gmail plugin with its loaded feature set.
RSS Subscription Extension: Surprisingly, RSS indicator is not yet part of Google Chrome. I think that is probably going to be the major feature of Chrome 18. Till then, you can use this plugin which lights up that tiny orange icon wherever it finds an RSS or Atom feed.
Google Dictionary: Helps me improve my bad English. Select a word with your mouse and the defintion pops up like magic.
goo.gl URL shortener: I use this whenever I need to share a URL via email. Quick and easy.
There you have it. My favorite plugins for Chrome. If you have any interesting one to share, please do so in the comments.
(If you haven’t noticed, I cheated on the title. There are actually 11 plugins listed here).