Make "Add-ons" for Google Chrome Using Bookmarklets
Even though Google took their web browser Google Chrome out of beta last month, we can't help but feel like Chrome is still only half way to being a compete product at this point. Without RSS support, the ability to use add-ons, and gasp! no Mac version, Chrome still has a way to go before people give up Firefox for good and make a full switch.
However, despite Chrome's lack of features, its lightweight feel and speedy browsing have made it a popular choice as a Firefox alternative for light web surfing...especially the kind done on a netbook while killing time at Starbucks.
Unfortunately, no one knows when Google will release an update for Chrome that will provide add-on support. But until then, there is a way to at least simulate the use of browser add-ons. This is done using bookmarklets (small pieces of javascript code) which you can easily add to Chrome's bookmark toolbar.
Google Chrome Bookmarklets
Thanks to the blogote web site, there's a useful list of Chrome bookmarklets available which has been updated off and on since September. However, at the time of writing, the site seemed to be suffering from some sort of CSS design issue that had the blog comments overlaid on top of the post, rendering it unreadable. (Update: this has now been corrected).
We decided to recover that data and recreate the list here as a resource for our readers while also adding several additions of our own.
HOW TO: To use the bookmarklets listed below, just drag and drop the link onto your bookmarks bar in Chrome.
- Share in Google Reader - Share the web page you're on using Google's RSS Reader. There's also a Note This in Google Reader bookmarklet which lets you share the item while adding a note along with it.
- Stumble it - Add this link and click on it whenever you want to Stumble a page you liked. Another way of stumbling a webpage can be found here.
- Gmail This - Email any page using Gmail. For Google Apps Mail, try this instead. (You will need to replace "yourdomain.com" with your own domain name).
- Linkify - Convert plain text URL's into hyperlinks
- Socialize - Submit a blog post from Google chrome to more than 50 social bookmarking website with a few clicks.
- Google Pagerank - Since Google toolbar was not available for Chrome, you can't use the toolbar's smart Pagerank system. Instead, drag this bookmarklet and click on it whenever you want to check the Pagerank of any website or blog.
- Twitter now - Drag this bookmarlet to Chrome and click on it whenever you feel like updating your Twitter account. You'll get a pop up which will let you update your twitter status and check messages.
- Tumblelog - If you own a Tumblr blog then this bookmarklet will allow you to quickly post to your tumblelog.
- Dictionary - This bookmarklet lets you look up words in the dictionary. If you are in need of a Thesaurus, though, just drag and drop this Thesaurus bookmarklet to your toolbar. Another, similar bookmarklet called Reference is available, too.
- Translate - Click this bookmarklet to translate any web page to English. You don't even need to know the source language.
- Post to vi.sualize.us - This bookmarklet posts your favorite pictures to the photo-sharing web site vi.sualize.us.
- Delicious - Save a page to social bookmarking site delicious with this bookmarklet.
- Share on FriendFeed - Share a link to social media lifestreaming site FriendFeed.
- Snipshot - Crop and rotate photos on the web, with Snipshot.
- Digg - Digg a web page using this bookmarklet.
- Clip to Evernote - This bookmarklet saves pages to note-taking application Evernote.
- Take Screenshot - Take a screenshot on a web page using WebShotsPro.
- Google Bookmark - Bookmark a page using Google's own Google Bookmarks service using this bookmarklet.
- Adblock+ - This Adblock bookmarklet removes java, flash, background music, and third-party iframes. It won't render properly on this page for some reason, but you can grab it from the original site.
Bonus!: Get Greasemonkey for Google Chrome - see our previous post for instructions.
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Pretty cool, I've used bookmarklets before but didn't realize there were so many available.
Unfortunately, I just switched back to FireFox. I found Chrome to be far less "light" after a few hours of leaving it open. Waiting a good minute before the mouse cursor realizes it's hovering a link is never good.
These should work in FireFox fine though. ;]
I agree that bookmarklets are a good way to streamline your browsing experience. One of the nicer things is that they are (mostly) not tied to a specific browser, so you can just take them along when you change to a different one
I created a bookmarklet for quickly mapping an address without having to leave the page you are on. It's called "the bookmaplet".
links are not working
For Chrome bookmarklets I use is.gd for short URLs, Gmail This, AddThis (for all social sites instead of one for each), gReader share, and listmixer.com to read later
Forgot to mention that you can access my bookmarklet for mapping addresses through the bookmaplet website.
For Pandora fans that would rather not have Pandora running in another tab, I've been using a bookmarklet I've found here:
http://pmhesse.blogspot.com/2006/09/pandora-bookmarklet.html
Also, if you need an annotating tool, check out Diigo. They've got an excellent bookmarklet that kind of pops up a toolbar (with no installation needed) when you click it.
ShareThis has an excellent bookmarklet as well.
Sarah you rock so hard! I knew there was a reason to read this post the second I saw your name. I started back using Chrome on my netbook just because of it's speed but I was dying not having any addons. Thanx for giving me some Javascript to play with...
Thank you for the bookmarklets compilation, but there are so many and I still need more. I cannot wait until the Shareaholic Firefox add-on comes to Google Chrome. It's one add-on for them all.
Hi Abhas,
We are indeed on it :)
Jay
Or... I could just keep using Firefox, until Google makes their browser passable.
Multi-threading my ass.
Thanks for sharing this.. I only need a couple of add-ons. Both for bookmarks - google and del.icio.us
Forgot about the del.icio.us one
@gunakkunru - try viewing this through the blog post itself and not gReader. Mine didn't work from there either..
Posted by: jezarnold.myopenid.com
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January 3, 2009 7:28 AM
Thanks for a useful compilation of bookmarklets. Really appreciate this!!
But without add-ons Chrome is handicapped!!
Thanks for a useful compilation of bookmarklets
Hi.
check out my google bookmarks bookmarklet:
Google Bookmarks Page bookmarklet for google chrome
Thanks for a useful compilation of bookmarklets. Really appreciate this!!
hanks for sharing this.. I only need a couple of add-ons. Both for bookmarks - google and http://ideainfohcluk.blogspot.com/
BigTweet also works with Google Chrome.
It's a bookmarklet that lets you post to Twitter while you surf the Web. Includes ability to shorten URLs, auto add links & titles, capture highlighted text and choose a 140 or 240 character limit. You can also add special Unicode character (smiley faces, hearts, etc.)
http://bigtweet.com/
http://www.freshlap.com/