Useful Chrome Extensions

With the growing number of extensions for Google Chrome, it can be a little overwhelming when deciding which ones to install on your browser. Extensions for Chrome are very helpful and enhance the functionality of your browser. Unlike Firefox, installing an extension in Chrome does not slow down your browser because the extension is a unique instance running in Chrome's task manager. Here are a few of my favorite extensions.

Google Mail Checker - One of the first extensions created for the browser. Made by the chromium developers. This extension adds a Gmail icon beside the omnibar that tells you how many unread emails you have.

Google Voice Checker - The coolest Chrome extension yet. If you have Google Voice you can't pass this one up. The extension scans web pages for phone numbers. Each phone number then appears as a link. When you click on it, you will get a Google Voice pop up which allows you to call or text that number from your GV number. It also tells you how man unread sms's and unheard voice mails you have.

Google Reader Checker - Just like the other two, it tells you how many unread feeds you have. You can click on the icon and a drop down will show you a preview of what's waiting for you.

RSS Subscription Extension - A good companion to the Google Reader Checker. If you are on a site that has an RSS feed, the icon for this extension pops up. If you want to subscribe to the RSS in reader, just click on the icon. Google Reader is the default RSS reader for this extension, but you can change the default to one of a few others.

Google Similar Pages beta - Ever been to a site and wanted to find another site that has similar content? With this extension just click on the icon and it will report 4 similar sites to the one you are on with impressive precision.

AdThwart - Now that Chrome has AdBlock Plus, not as many people are using this extension. I stuck with it though. If you don't want the extension scanning the site you are currently on for ads, you can simply click on the extension's icon to turn it off. Now it will never scan that site again. I do this for https sites because I don't like extensions scanning sites that contain sensitive info.

Google Dictionary - I like this because I use dictionary sites fairly frequently when writing, especially while writing poetry. This adds a dictionary icon to your omnibar. All you have to do is click on the icon, type your word and it gives you the definitions in a drop down window.

There are thousands more extensions to browse through, but these are my favorites so far. If you don't like extensions that are made by the Google devs, you can get most of these same extensions made by the community as well.

Check out the photos of my set up below. Also, if you think it is a little too cluttered you can get a single extension called One Number that checks Gmail, Google Voice, Reader and Wave all in one extension.