Tesco Tech Support Blog

10 of the best Google Chrome add-ons

Posted: 16th May 2012

Google’s Chrome browser is now the most popular in the world. Over 1 in 3 internet users are looking at the web through Chrome, and with good reason. Like all the best of Google’s services, it’s laid out simply, uncluttered and fast.

If Chrome seems a little too simple after some of the more feature-heavy browsers, like Firefox and Internet Explorer, though, don’t worry. There are thousands of lightweight apps, add-ons and extensions that you can install to make it do more than you might expect.

Here are our favourite 10 free add-ons, all available in the Chrome Web Store.

1. Evernote Web Clipper

There’s not a top 10 list of anything that doesn’t include Evernote; the essential note taking app that allows you to keep a record of just about everything and file it safely in their online

Pop the balloons in this classic puzzle game

notebooks. The Web Clipper for Chrome will save the article you’re currently reading for later reference, and you can clip the whole page, just the text or just the address.

2. Poppit!

What’s staggering about Chrome is it’s ability to run complex 3D in a browser window, regardless of the type of PC or Mac you’re running it on. Poppit! is a classic balloon bursting game with bright, colourful graphics and addictive play.

3. Turn Off The Lights

Video on the internet is brilliant, but it’s often too low resolution to watch in full screen mode without losing all detail in the picture. Turn Off The Lights is a genius add-on for people who watch a lot of web video – click the icon and the entire screen will darken and go distraction-free except for the video you want to watch.

4. Clearly

See things more clearly!

A second app from the Evernote team, Clearly will reformat the page you’re currently viewing by stripping out all the ads, comments and menus and leaving just the text and pictures. It makes the web look like a glossy magazine, easier to read and distraction free. When you’re done, you can clip the page to Evernote or return to the main browser view.

5. Tweetdeck

Now owned by Twitter, Tweetdeck is still the best way to take control of your social media. It turns all your feeds from Twitter, Facebook and multiple accounts and makes them simple to follow.

6. Send to Kindle

There are lots of ways of saving long web pages for reading later, but Send to Kindle is the only one that works with Amazon’s popular e-reader. Just click the button, and the main article on the page you’re reading will be sent to your Kindle to enjoy at your pleasure.

7. Instapaper

Send to Kindle is great, but what if you don’t use a Kindle, or want to bookmark pages for later perusal on a tablet or laptop? Instapaper is the ultimate add-on for stopping the web taking over your life and creating your own daily magazine.

8. Bastion

Award winning gaming in your browser

Astonishingly good looking, Bastion matches any traditional PC or console games for looks despite the fact it actually runs in a browser. It’s not just pretty, though, it’s an award winning RPG which will engross you and keep you entertained. Note – it’s free to play, but the full version does cost extra.

9. Ghostery

You’ve probably heard of cookies and the fact that they can be used to track your movements on the web. Ghostery puts you in control of your browser by displaying a list of which cookies are being used by which pages and allowing you to disable them en masse.

10. Autodesk Homestyler

Having a bit of a makeover or can’t decide whether or not that sofa really is right for the lounge? Let Autodesk Homestyler help – it’s a free service that lets you build a virtual model of your home and tinker with it online.

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