Chrome is more than just a browser--it's an ecosystem that can help make your day a bit more productive. And with the help of these extensions, it can deliver an extra boost of efficiency to your daily grind.
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| Image: Jack Wallen |
If you're a Chrome user, you know well how the extension architecture
can expand functionality and make Chrome more than just a browser. In
fact, with the right collection of extensions, Chrome can become a means
to a very productive end. Don't believe me? Just take a gander at the Productivity category
on the Chrome Web Store. But which of the plethora of extensions are
best suited for getting your life in order and your work done? Of
course, this will depend upon what exactly you need to accomplish, but
certain extensions can help just about anyone. Let's take a look at 10
of them and see if they appeal to your needs.
1: Buffer
Buffer is one of those tools you don't realize you need until you try it. Buffer is all about scheduled tweets, retweets, and Facebook posts. If you (or your company) works with either Twitter or Facebook to market a product or service, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. Not only can you schedule your tweets (or retweets), you can also get insight into what tweets are getting the most traction and even rebuffer those to keep them bubbling up to the top. You can sign up for a free account (which allows you 10 tweets in your buffer) or pay $10.00 USD/month for an "awesome" upgrade and get 100 tweets in your buffer.2: QuickDrop
QuickDrop
is one of the best tools for interacting with Dropbox from within
Chrome. With this extension you can navigate through your Dropbox
account (with a single click on the extension button), upload images
directly to your Dropbox account (through a right-click context menu),
and much more. You can also create a special upload folder from within
the QuickDrop settings so all uploaded files can be found there.
3: StayFocused
StayFocused is the extension you need if you tend to waste too much time on websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and want a third party to control your usage. If you restrict your Facebook usage to one hour a day, that's all you'll get. StayFocused can block specific pages, entire domains, and even apps and games. With the help of this extension, you'll stay more focused and get more work done.4: Dayboard
Dayboard
replaces your new tab page with a daily to-do list. You can view these
tasks in what's called Focus Mode, which displays the tasks in your
to-do list one at a time. Dayboard will also give you a history of your
completed tasks, allows you to connect teams to your lists, and keep
your tasks in sync with all your devices. The developers are always
working on new features (such as the coming-soon ability to archive
tasks and turn off reminders when the workday is over).
5: Auto Text Expander
Auto Text Expander is an extension focused on saving you time on phrases you repetitively type. You simply add shortcuts for text snippets. Every time you type the shortcut, Auto Text Expander will automatically insert the text associated with it. Not only will you save time, but you'll save the extra work associated with typos. Auto Text Expander allows you to import and export your shortcuts (which you should always do, to be safe).6: Save to Pocket
Save to Pocket
offers an efficient way to save articles or bookmarks for later
viewing. Instead of creating a Temp folder on your Bookmark bar, just
add this extension and be done with it. Save to Pocket offers one-click
saving from the toolbar, from a context menu, and from a keyboard
shortcut. Everything you save will appear in your Pocket account and be
synced across all of your devices.
7: OneTab
OneTab is the extension for anyone who keeps too many tabs open at one time. When this happens, those tabs can become so small, you have no idea which tab is associated with what page. OneTab provides a single tab that lists all your currently open pages. This will also help save memory on your PC (as all of those tabs have been reduced to a single instance). When you need access to a tab, you can either restore them individually or all at once.8: Authy
Authy
is an extension for setting up two-factor authentication (which
everyone should be using). With Authy, you won't have to constantly grab
for your mobile device to retrieve a six-digit PIN (to gain entrance to
those sites you have protected with two-factor authentication). This
extension functions in the same way as the mobile app—which means it's
very easy to use.
9: LastPass
LastPass is a free password manager that should be considered a must-have for anyone who needs to remember passwords across devices. If you are concerned about security (and you should be), those passwords shouldn't be easy to memorize. So you want a good password manager to take on the task. You can't go wrong with LastPass.10: Note Board
Note Board
is a corkboard for your computer screen. Yes, it's a bit cheesy. But if
you prefer to work by visuals (as opposed to lists), this tool will
help you keep your cluttered mind a bit less cluttered. With Note Board
you can drag and drop content from other tabs or images from your local
file manager onto a board. You can also create popups with notes and
even have public boards.
Other favorites?
The list of productivity extensions for Chrome seems to be never-ending... and somewhat overwhelming. If you don't know where to start, give some of these a try and see if your daily grind is a bit less grindy.
Do you have a favorite productivity extension that's not on this list?
Share your recommendations with fellow TechRepublic members.
~ Jack Wallen
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