Google reveals plans for extensions in Chrome browser

Google Chrome was an instant hit when it was introduced three months ago. But everyone complained about the lack of extensions found in other browsers, such as Firefox. Google is responding to those complaints.

Google now wants to add extensions without affecting the main browser speed and design. Google has published a Chrome extensions document and outlined their goals for having extensions in their browser Chrome under their open-source project, Chromium. Aaron Boodman, the Google programmer writes in the document:

Chromium can't be everything to all people...User-created extensions have been proposed to solve these problems: the addition of features that have specific or limited appeal; users coming from other browsers who are used to certain extensions that they can't live without; bundling partners who would like to add features to Chromium specific to their bundle.

Google plans to have the following main extensions in Chrome: • Bookmarking/navigation tools: Del.icio.us Toolbar, Stumbleupon, web-based history, new tab page clipboard accelerators

• Content enhancements: Skype extension (clickable phone numbers), RealPlayer extension (save video), Autolink (generic microformat data - addresses, phone numbers, etc.)

• Content filtering: Adblock, Flashblock, Privacy control, Parental control

• Download helpers: video helpers, download accelerators, DownThemAll, FlashGot

• Features: ForecastFox, FoxyTunes, Web Of Trust, GooglePreview, BugMeNot This is just a starting point and Google said it will add more extensions in the future. The main reason they didn’t have extensions at first so as to keep the browser simple to use and make it run faster than other browsers. Firefox is the best browser to have thousands of extensions.The problems it faced with multiple extensions centred on cramping the speed of the browser and causing the browser to crash frequently. Though everyone who downloaded Chrome enjoyed its simplicity, about 1 in 5 respondents in a CNET News poll said they don’t use Chrome because of lack of extensions. And many users’ main request to Google was to add extensions in Chrome. Google wants to make sure the extensions won’t affect the Chrome browser; they want the extensions to silently update in the background like Chrome is doing it today. They will be making sure it works separately from other extensions and uses only the resources it needs for the extension to work. Another condition is that the extensions should be easy to install with minimum clicks. Google will play a major role in maintaining all the extensions. They will blacklist any malicious or harmful extensions from its main extension download site. They will highlight the highest quality and trustworthy extensions in the front page for their users. Google has not given a timeline yet when the extensions will be available but expect them soon.