As one of the three powerhouse browsers on the market, Google Chrome is always finding ways to keep its users happy. One of its best features is its gigantic library of extensions, designed to enhance the online experience in an unlimited number of ways.
Chrome extensions range from games and social media functions to developer tools and apps that increase productivity. It certainly makes sense then that there would be a wealth of available Gmail Chrome extensions that make your experience on the incredibly popular client that much better.
We’ve compiled five of our favorite Gmail extensions below – if you’re an avid user of it, you’ll definitely want to check them out.
Google Chrome 21 broke the installation process for developers like Brand Thunder who host their own downloads. While we were working toward a fix for their August 15 release date – they pushed early resulting in downloads not working as of now.
Update: Installer for Windows Available
If you’re on a Windows PC, you’ll download a .EXE file. Save that file to your computer and double click to start the installation of your theme.
Mac & Linux Users:
Providing an installer actually increases the amount of work you. Because of that, please follow the instructions we originally posted below:
The manual steps you need to take are the type of experience we strive to provide our users. Until Google allows for a different option, the video is a good summary but text instructions also follow. This 50 second video from the fine people at Blogsolute offers a nice visual of what will be described below.
The debate continues over whether it’s better to have a closed system for distributing apps or a more open one. You see it a lot in comparing Apple’s App Store to Google’s Android Marketplace. Apple reviews and approves every app before launch. You’re ensured a certain level of product quality, integrity and safety because of that pre-approval. Android – buyer beware. It’s easy for anyone to upload an app, and while it’s a waste of time when you download a poorly designed and functioning app, it’s harmful when that app carries malicious code with it.
The battle is also fought in the browser space. Firefox has a “sandbox” that all extensions must enter to be reviewed by one of the Mozilla community volunteers before it’s ultimately released into the public. The Google Chrome Web Store is like the Android Marketplace in that anything and everything loaded is immediately available for public consumption.
Most, if not all of us, can remember a time when a web browser simply was what it was and if you wanted a new feature, or a certain bug drove you completely insane, all you could do was hope that it would be fixed in the next update – and who knew when that would be! Thankfully, we don’t live in that time anymore. As a result of years of user feedback and fierce competition between companies like Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Microsoft, user experience and browser speed have become the litmus test of any web browser. After all, the average web user has evolved more complex and customized needs. It’s only natural that the developers of your browser would take that into account and make it easy for you to customize your browsing experience in order to meet those specific needs and desires. That’s where Google Chrome Extensions come in.
How often does your ego get in the way because you say to yourself “I can do it all”? The ego has its role. It probably inspired a lot of entrepreneurial ventures because you believe you can do “it” better. But, does it also give you free reign to do what’s right for the business?
As a start up, we have some notion that we simply can’t do it all and one aspect of that is reaching all client prospects as rapidly as we’d like. So, to broaden Brand Thunder’s business development, we’ve talked with a number of agencies since they’re already representing brand marketers and are used to pitching emerging media opportunities. Coolfire Media offered all that, plus brought an added dimension. Their existing interactive division provided the technical expertise to allow them to extend the browser functionality beyond the portfolio of offerings Brand Thunder currently provides.
This distribution strategy really required setting the ego aside. Aren’t interactive agencies and Brand Thunder both in the business of providing creative, technical solutions to brand marketers? But, there is no one true path for creativity or execution. Each company will offer its own strengths and perspectives. And, that’s why we pursued this path.
We are also confident in platform we’ve created for custom browsers. This gives a company, like Coolfire Media, the foundation against which to develop while still giving them the functional creativity to add more than visual appeal to a browser. They don’t have to recreate the wheel, they just have to enhance the vehicle. And, together we hope to sell more cars (or custom browsers actually, wanted to clarify in case the metaphorical ramblings were getting too vague).
As one of the three powerhouse browsers on the market, Google Chrome is always finding ways to keep its users happy. One of its best features is its gigantic library of extensions, designed to enhance the online experience in an unlimited number of ways.
Most, if not all of us, can remember a time when a web browser simply was what it was and if you wanted a new feature, or a certain bug drove you completely insane, all you could do was hope that it would be fixed in the next update – and who knew when that would be! Thankfully, we don’t live in that time anymore. As a result of years of user feedback and fierce competition between companies like Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Microsoft, user experience and browser speed have become the litmus test of any web browser. After all, the average web user has evolved more complex and customized needs. It’s only natural that the developers of your browser would take that into account and make it easy for you to customize your browsing experience in order to meet those specific needs and desires. That’s where Google Chrome Extensions come in. 
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