Top Ten Google Chrome Extensions

If you haven't taken a look at the Google Chrome browser yet you are missing out on what is one of the fastest and most diverse web browsers available. This browser goes directly up against Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and Apple Safari in offering lightning fast HTML 5 and Javascript rendering. Google Chrome also allows you to download and install various extensions which can add functionality or improve the browser even further. Here is a good top ten list of Chrome extensions for the casual Google Chrome user.

Piknik Extension for Chrome

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/hcifofgaphfkfdcjbdogpamghiihilkl

Piknik is an online photo and image editing site which allows you to upload and edit/crop your images online for free without having to install an image editing program on your desktop. The piknic extension for Chrome allows you to instantly take a screenshot or clip of a website and edit it as an image in the Piknic web based graphic program.

Auto HD For YouTube

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/kaielpkecabnggniojjhghggjedkecfj

For those of you who spend a lot of time watching YouTube video's and have high bandwidth broadband connections this Chrome extension is for you. Auto HD for YouTube will automatically start any YouTube Video in the highest HD resolution supported so you don't have to manually keep switching the video resolution when you visit a YouTube video.

Fast Typer

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/bhkahmphmkedecjklaeoblniedphnoii

This Google Chrome Extension will test your typing speed and skills by pitting you against 6 letter words and determining how fast you can type them in 60 seconds. It is a good way to test and improve your typing speeds.

Forecastfox Weather

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/ihffmkcfkejomlfnilnmkokcpgclhfeg

This weather based extension for Chrome will allow you to keep tabs on your local weather forcast for the next 7 days, you can always have instant access to weather updates, alerts and maps in an easy to read format.

Meeting Scheduler for Google Calendar

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/ddpjcojaoicnomgkjeeepiiplgheophj

This extension allows you to easily sync up and access your Google Calendar from within the Chrome browser without having to visit the Google Calendar website. Convenient for making quick appointments or meeting notes.

Web of Trust (WOT)

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/bhmmomiinigofkjcapegjjndpbikblnp

This extension contains a list of trusted websites and will notify you if a website has a risk factor when browsing, it will help weed out sites known to host malware, send spam or that may have cheated customers. The only caveat is some innocent bloggers websites can be triggered as higher risk without apparent reason, but the extension is a good baseline for knowing if you can trust a website.

Sports Dash

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/gclgpmifkdcmffihkbjemnakndhndkco

For Sports fans, this extension will allow you to get real time NBA, NFL, or MBA scores as it keeps track of every game.

AdBlock

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/gighmmpiobklfepjocnamgkkbiglidom

This extension does exactly what it says, it blocks ads on the Internet and you won't get anymore annoying popups, popunders or other advertisements displaying while you browse the Internet. It can occasionally block some legitimate site trying to open up content in another window, so on occasion you will have to allow some sites to generate popups, but it works very well.

IE Tab

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/hehijbfgiekmjfkfjpbkbammjbdenadd

This extension allows you to open a new tab in Chrome that renders exactly like Internet Explorer, it basically opens an IE window inside a Google Chrome tab and is useful for websites that still may give you trouble or don't support Google Chrome browser yet.

Google Translate

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb

This extension will translate an entire webpage into a language of your choice. This is an official Google extension created by the Google team themselves and works very well with over a dozen different languages.

There are of course many more Google Chrome extensions to be found in the Google Extensions library, but these are among the top 10 that a casual Internet browser may find useful and valuable.