Google Chrome has finally got extensions! Extensions on Chrome are what add-ons or plugins are on other browsers such as Firefox and Internet Explorer. Chrome is already the fastest browser and the difference in speed vis-à-vis other browsers such as Internet Explorer and Firefox is remarkable. Yet, the main reason why people were not fully shifting to Chrome was the absence of extensions since extensions were not supported on Chrome. Now, Google Chrome has started supporting extensions. To begin with, about 300+ extensions are already available for download and install. Moreover, the number of extensions is likely to increase drastically in the near future since as and when developers upload an extension to the Chrome’s extension gallery, it is available to Chrome users immediately, it is only in few cases that a new extension would need manual reviews / restrictions from Google.
At this stage, extensions are available for the Windows version of Chrome as also for the Linux (Beta) version of Chrome (Chrome’s Linux version has just been launched). Extensions for the Mac version of Chrome (just launched) are not available presently and will become available later.
Moreover, to use extensions on the Windows version of Chrome, you’ll have to download the latest Beta version of Chrome. This Beta version of Chrome requires Windows Vista or Windows XP SP2+. Extensions are available at this official extensions gallery.
You can easily install extensions on Chrome. It is just like opening a web page. You don’t need to restart Chrome to install or uninstall an extension. This is a great improvement over Firefox wherein you’ve to restart Firefox each time an add-on is installed or uninstalled. Moreover, in spite of the extensions, the simple or minimalist look of Google Chrome will continue.
One main concern has been the impact of extensions on the speed of the browser. Many people were expecting that with extensions, the lightening speed with which Chrome works will reduce drastically. However, Google states that speed will not be affected by extensions. Yet another issue with extensions is that of safety; however, Google states that Chrome’s multi-process architecture helps it to keep extensions stable and safe. It may be pointed out that Chrome uses a separate process for each tab, therefore, if an extension misbehaves in one tab the browser will still keep functioning.
With extensions being supported in Chrome, it is likely to gain much better market share in the browsers than its existing 3% market share. Initially, it may be at the cost of Firefox, but ultimately Internet Explorer will also likely take a hit.
Watch the following YouTube video from Google that explains certain aspects of extensions for Chrome:
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