Long gone are the days of browsing (aka waiting for the page to load) on Internet Explorer. Look around during lecture or the next time you hit the library, and you’ll see—Google Chrome has taken over. And if you haven’t already caught on to using the thousands of Chrome extensions available, you’re definitely missing out. Extensions are free programs that you can download from the Chrome Web Store to personalize your Internet experience. Say adios to boring browsing, collegiettes! We found the coolest, craziest and most helpful Google Chrome extensions for you to try.
1. Hey Girl
Admit it: your Pinterest boards are already teeming with photos of this hottie with a body, so why not make things a little easier for yourself? When you download Hey Girl and press the heart at the top of your screen, every image on the site you’re browsing will magically turn into one of Ryan Gosling (no complaints here). Are you tired of seeing couple-y photos on Facebook? Wish they would just go away? Hey Girl can fix that. One review claims, “Not bad, but there is still not enough Gosling on my pages.” The truth is, we can never get enough Ryan Gosling, but hopefully this will suffice for now.
2. 3Dnator
Instead of paying outrageous amounts of money to see a 3D movie (that barely looks anything like anything 3D), you can now turn any image into a three-dimensional masterpiece right from your own desk. Unfortunately, 3Dnator isn’t compatible with videos (yet), but it’s still worth the download for study procrastination! 3D glasses are not included, so you may have to snag a pair from the movie theater anyways. According to the Chrome Store, more than 85,000 people have downloaded this boredom-relieving extension to date.
3. Snow
Staring at a screen during hour-long study sessions can get tiring, so sometimes it’s fun to switch it up. If it’s time to spruce up your browsing, or if you’re just in need of entertainment, Snow is a great extension to try. When you download this extension, your computer will transform into your own personal winter wonderland just with the click of a button! For those collegiettes who can’t wait for wintertime to roll around, you can let it “Snow” any time and anywhere.
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4. Pocket
With the plethora of content available online, some things are bound to get lost and forgotten in the mix. But have no fear; Pocket is here! When you see something you like and want to return to later, you can store it in your virtual Pocket. Hillary Frazier, the senior social media specialist for the University of Michigan, says she uses Pocket because it is convenient and hassle-free. “I like it because it syncs wirelessly with my phone and iPad, so I can read all of the articles I didn’t have time to read during the day while I’m on the go,” she says. Her content is able to sync between her several devices because she uses the Pocket app along with the extension.
She also says she prefers using Pocket instead of simply bookmarking the sites. “It’s more organized than bookmarking everything, which I eventually forget about,” she says. “It makes it super easy to share interesting things that I’ve read on to social networks.”
5. Do It (Tomorrow)
It’s perfectly normal to procrastinate every once in a while. Eventually, you’ll have to get it done, right? Instead of putting something off and completely forgetting about it, you can now set reminders onto your browser, thanks to Do It (Tomorrow). Just add new tasks to your to-do list and check back when you’re ready to be productive. It’s always possible to jot down notes and reminders on your own, but it’s nice having a to-do list somewhere that is readily available and won’t get lost. Plus, how many times do you use your computer a day? Enough to check Do It (Tomorrow)!
6. AdBlock
With more than 10,000,000 users (according to the Chrome Web Store), AdBlock is the most popular extension today. It does exactly what it says: it blocks those annoying ads from popping up on any site that you visit. Janine Ko, a senior at Phillips Academy and an editorial intern for HC, says that AdBlock is the one extension she can’t live without. “It is fantastic; it blocks any and all ads on any page that I go [to],” she says. “It doesn’t take up a lot of hardware space or processing speed, and is very minimalistic. [It is] definitely worth it.” Take Janine’s word for it and give it a try!
From productive extensions to fun extensions, there is something for everyone at the Chrome Web Store. Comment below if you agree with our selections or if you have other cool extensions to share!