Firefox is the favourite browser of many, but still some of these users are also using Chrome as it is a product developed by Google (and we always believe that by using a Google product we may get some preference or better support while using Google’s services).

This edition of techblog is dedicated for some popular and useful extensions for Chrome browser.

Extensions

Firefox popularised the concept of addons (small software like solutions which can be added to a browser to enhance its usability or performance). Later Microsoft also started popularising extensions for its browser Internet Explorer (IE).

Google too followed the same way. Google Chrome browser (which is available for Windows, Linux and Mac systems) is also supporting extensions.

WOT

Web of Trust is an addon that is available for Firefox as well. You can install the Chrome version of this in your Chrome browser. Considering the fact that the number of spamming and phishing emails are increasing day by days, this tool can help you in identifying the ‘trustworthiness’ of a website. WOT is taking inputs from its users to check to what extend a particular website is reliable. And it gives this information to its users. It uses colour scheme for easy recognition – if the colour shown next to trustworthiness is green, then you can rely on the website.

It warns its users about the sites that cheat their customers, install malware or send spam emails.

IE Tab

This is good tool for web developers and some netizans who use specific services. IE is not having a good reputation as a browser, but still it is one among the popular browsers owing to the fact that it comes (preinstalled) with Microsoft systems. Hence web developers need to check whether their code is working properly in IE (using the IE’s rendering engine). This is recommended if you use ActiveX controls in your websites. Also, there are some web applications that are still asking for users to use IE (which is not a good coding practise). If this is the case, you can use IE in a tab inside Chrome.

You can go the ‘extensions website’ and click on the ‘Install’ button. 

Chrome TV

By installing this extension you can view over 3000 channels from your Chrome browser. It also allows you to display channel names by categories (news, movies, sports, music, entertainment and many more).

Docs PDF/PowerPoint Viewer (by Google)

This is an official extension from Google which allows you to view PDF files and powerpoint presentations in your Google Docs account.

AdThwart

This is the ‘AdBlock Plus (ABP) for Chrome’. It helps you to disable advertisements on websites. It uses the filter lists of AdBlock Plus and disable advertisements. It is a useful thing if you are using a site that has too much of advertisements (and annoying pop-ups), otherwise you may be harming the website owners by disabling ads in their website.

Facebook for Google Chrome

This is an unofficial extension which helps you to view your facebook wall and notifications from Chrome browser. As this being an unofficial one, please use only after reading the terms and conditions.

Bookmark Tree

Bookmark Tree will help you to display your bookmarks in ‘tree model’ and you can open each of these bookmarks in a new tab

Twitter share

This is very useful plugin if you use twitter frequently. You can share a tweet or URL straight from the Chrome browser. If the URL is longer, it automatically shortens it using the bit.ly service.

Autopen

This extension allows you to create catchy email signatures. It comes with a rich text editor which allows you to beautify your email signature. You can also provide the html code of your signature and make it more attractive. It allows you to insert this signature anywhere in the email.

ChromeRIL

Read It Later (RIL) is an addon that is available for Firefox users. Now the developers have extended its support for Chrome. It is more like a bookmark service. But you can have an account and save your bookmarks online. Hence you can view them in any browser or any system.