20 essential, time-saving Chrome extensions

Talkback

• My favorites

  Lastpass - excellent password and secure notes manager
  IE tab - to visit the very few sites (including Sharepoint sites) which work better in IE, or to check whether they do. Also to print pages, as IE features scaled printing, which Chrome doesn't.
  Bookmarks - to quickly open my bookmarks without remembering the hotkey
  Smooth gestures - to close a page or go back using a mouse gesture
  Google Quick Scroll - to jump to the relevant bits of a google search result
  RSS subscription extension - to subscribe to RSS feeds

  

  pj.de.bruin

  28 January, 2013 14:38

  Reply Vote

  • LastPass

    Yep, LastPass is a must.
    
    I also use NoScript on Firefox, I've tried NoScripts on Chrome, it isn't as good, but it is getting there. When it matures, I might well switch to Chrome.
    
    Flashblock is another must, for me.

    

    wright_is

    28 January, 2013 16:20

    Reply Vote

    • Agree on NoScript

      Every few months I revisit Chrome looking to see if this has been ported or if similar functionality exists in other plugins (e.g., ScriptNo, NotScripts.)
      
      ScriptNo looks like it has some improved functionality - I'll give it a spin.

      

      CyberZombie

      28 January, 2013 17:34

      Reply Vote

• Great list! Was unaware of one

  Was unaware of 'Email this Page,' something I do every day. Thanks!

  

  zaine_ridling

  28 January, 2013 16:03

  Reply Vote

• FVD does work

  I'm not sure why you say FVD (Freemake Video Downloader) doesn't work in Chrome, it does. I disabled one-click download, but I re-enabled just to check this out. It does launch the actual program, which then does the download for you, but I'm not sure just how easy you want it to be. You can click the button at the corner of the browser window, or it shows a button right on the YouTube page. If the video is part of a series, it will even download all the videos. Personally, I like being able to configure the download before clicking OK, but it's all pretty painless.

  

  big red one

  28 January, 2013 16:33

  Reply Vote

• RECOMMENDED CHROME EXTENSION

  David, I know you're busy, but it appears either your own personal editor or spellcheck would certainly serve you well.
  :)

  

  darciea

  28 January, 2013 16:44

  Reply Vote

• Favorites for Chrome OS

  I always find these lists interesting, but I've never had so little overlap before. The following list was created with Share Extensions for Google Chrome™
  
  - ChromeAccess v1.6: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/aeoigbhkilbllfomkmmilbfochhlgdmh
  
  - Lazy Amazon Search v1.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ajhagnljgceddhfoakpjkdcoobijohhi
  
  - Adblock Plus v1.3.4: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb
  
  - Share Extensions v0.0.9: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chdafcbnfkfenoeejpaeenpdamhmalhe
  
  - Search by Image (by Google) v1.3.2: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dajedkncpodkggklbegccjpmnglmnflm
  
  - Gmelius - Ad Blocker and Better UI for Gmail™ v5.7.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dheionainndbbpoacpnopgmnihkcmnkl
  
  - utf-8 v1.2.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fcemphgmjnjpmmdhcedhjiegickfbiia
  
  - Chrome Office Viewer v2.5.86: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gbkeegbaiigmenfmjfclcdgdpimamgkj
  
  - CrOS Save v1.0.6: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/geojifjnplelmefbggiioamokdomjenf
  
  - Google Calendar (by Google) v1.3.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gmbgaklkmjakoegficnlkhebmhkjfich
  
  - Save to Google Drive v1.5.9: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gmbmikajjgmnabiglmofipeabaddhgne
  
  - FlashBlock v0.9.31: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gofhjkjmkpinhpoiabjplobcaignabnl
  
  - Keep My Opt-Outs v1.0.14: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hhnjdplhmcnkiecampfdgfjilccfpfoe
  
  - Forecastfox v2.0.10: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ihffmkcfkejomlfnilnmkokcpgclhfeg
  
  - Calc SS3 v0.9.98: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/iicfbobganffbpdodmdcbcpblomkbeoa
  
  - Panelize v0.3: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/illfnfpoggnlapniilhkplbofldeimie
  
  - Starbucks automatic joiner v0.0.2: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jjnnlhigonelimfaoglccopcgdghfdbg
  
  - Anesidora v1.6.8.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jkamjlgjpfpidokpnnljcmkjjpgnbaga
  
  - Picasa Extension (by Google) v0.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lhhlohbbihddnfcehbijmlnpkafmmkfp
  
  - Smooth Scrollerator v1.1.5: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lmicgfcegednlkdhgbhgickcgndjeeig
  
  - Pocket (formerly Read It Later) v1.1.5: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/niloccemoadcdkdjlinkgdfekeahmflj
  
  - Docs PDF/PowerPoint Viewer (by Google) v3.10: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nnbmlagghjjcbdhgmkedmbmedengocbn
  
  - The Tracktor - Amazon Price Tracker v3.1.2: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/onajjgekdldckfgodnmoallcmdmfcfom

  

  S_Deemer

  28 January, 2013 17:03

  Reply Vote

• thoughts

  "20 essential, time-saving Chrome extensions"
  
  Sounds like quite a bit. And many of them put their buttons on the bar. Quite a bit of clutter for what's supposedly a minimalist browser, if you ask me.
  
  "Chat for Google is a very neat tool that allows me to stay in Google Chat, even when I don't have Gmail open."
  
  I use Trillian, which supports Google Chat and even Facebook chat (no need to keep Facebook open either). Not really a big fan of cluttering up extensions when a third party app does the job.
  
  A lot of the text-copying extensions seem blogger specific. I do see that some bloggers tend to worship these tools as if every industry in the world could use them, but truth be known, they're really specific to the blogger niche.
  
  Of course in your case you're just showing off the tools you use, so not all of them will be must haves for everybody (especially the web development stuff).

  

  CobraA1

  28 January, 2013 17:21

  Reply Vote

• Font Renedering?

  Is there an extension to fix poor font rendering in Chrome?

  

  hiccupfart

  28 January, 2013 17:55

  Reply Vote

  • what issues?

    Never had a problem with font rendering with Chrome

    

    mytake4this

    28 January, 2013 21:27

    Reply Vote

• Chrome Extentions

  Enjoyed the read, but see that most are skewed toward writer or bloggers. There are at least 15 I would have no use for at all.
  
  Here are my most used:
  
  Clearly (probably similar to Readability)
  Social Fixer (for Facebook)
  Netflix Rating Enhancer (I like to see the rotten tomato ranking)
  ZDNet Blogs Reader (saves me a lot of time)
  
  Like to see others list their favorite (and what they are for)

  

  kitkimes41@...

  28 January, 2013 18:16

  Reply Vote

• Thanks for Sharing

  I'm also a new convert to Chrome, thanks for sharing the list & the others who have also. Really helpful.

  

  Medfordhouse

  28 January, 2013 19:04

  Reply Vote

• how to read?

  Can I download or print this list? I simply refuse to keep clicking to get the full story. It is so time consuming for some of us (me) in rural areas with poor internet. How about what is called a list? Like the one used by one of your repliers. His list made more sense to me than the article since the article was broken into pieces by the way it displays on the internet. It would really be helpful. Thanks!

  

  Wirelessdude

  28 January, 2013 20:45

  Reply 2 Votes

  • Here ya go!

    Well, courtesy of @S_Deemer and Share Extensions (which I didn't know about), here you go:
    
    Extensions: 20
    - Sexy Undo Close Tab v7.2.7: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bcennaiejdjpomgmmohhpgnjlmpcjmbg
    - Share Extensions v0.0.9: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chdafcbnfkfenoeejpaeenpdamhmalhe
    - PHP Ninja Manual v1.1.5: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clbhjjdhmgeibgdccjfoliooccomjcab
    - Email this page (by Google) v1.2.5: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dbeoemfhkdniadbojeencpkgmobndpai
    - Pendule v1.0.0: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gbkffbkamcejhkcaocmkdeiiccpmjfdi
    - CSSViewer v1.3: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ggfgijbpiheegefliciemofobhmofgce
    - Google Calendar (by Google) v1.3.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gmbgaklkmjakoegficnlkhebmhkjfich
    - PageRank Status v6.8.0: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hbdkkfheckcdppiaiabobmennhijkknn
    - Copy Title+URL to clipboard v1.3.3: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hbnaclhngkhpmpgmfakaghgjbblokeeh
    - Universal Search & IE8 Accelerators v1.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hmcgifbelcmjecmkapejifljephjabjd
    - Windows Media Player Extension for HTML5 v1.0: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hokdglbhghcebcopdbanieangmcamaak
    - Google +1 Button v1.1.2.424: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jgoepmocgafhnchmokaimcmlojpnlkhp
    - Search the current site v4: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/jliolpcnkmolaaecncdfeofombdekjcp
    - FVD Video Downloader v1.4.7: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lfmhcpmkbdkbgbmkjoiopeeegenkdikp
    - Copy Link Text v0.5.1: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lhdokmjpoambonhlpgcodobebebjdeil
    - Copy Link Name v1.0.4: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mafjnaphoepgijmgfeemillelgkeigid
    - Chat for Google v1.2013.110.2: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd
    - Buffer v2.3.9: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/noojglkidnpfjbincgijbaiedldjfbhh
    - Readability v1.13: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oknpjjbmpnndlpmnhmekjpocelpnlfdi
    - Evernote Web Clipper v5.9.5: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pioclpoplcdbaefihamjohnefbikjilc

    

    David Gewirtz

    28 January, 2013 21:59

    Reply 1 Vote

  • I agree - COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS

    ZDNET MUST give us an option to download a complete article. I would be interested, since I am having trouble with Firefox locking up on Win8 (though may have fixed today with Firewall change), and was interested in looking at Chrome as an option. But no way will I toggle through and cut and paste 21 screens to get this info. What a waste of time and space. I have however copied your list David in case I need it in future. Thanks for that.

    

    jonc2011

    28 January, 2013 22:18

    Reply Vote

• Adblock Plus

  Adblock Plus is the first add on I use with Firefox or Chrome.

  

  mytake4this

  28 January, 2013 21:28

  Reply Vote

• Slideshow to 1 Page

  Is there a Chrome extension that could convert a 20 page slideshow into a one-page article?

  

  techfired

  29 January, 2013 05:45

  Reply Vote

• Its funny! Firefox is the way to go!

  Its funny how people moved to Google Chrome even before realising potential and benefits of Firefox.
  "Google" name did it, I think. Go to it and loose freedom.

  

  jwalant.soneji@...

  19 April, 2013 23:34

  Reply Vote