Firefox Extensions for Google Users

It seems 39% of GoogleTutor.com readers are browsing with Mozilla Firefox, with a dwindling 49% on Internet Explorer. In light of this, I thought it would be useful to list all the Firefox extensions I could find that perform some sort of function relating to Google. I couldn’t find a category for this on the extensions page, so I had to compile the list by searching around; if I’ve missed any, please let me know in a comment.

All but one of these are found on the Mozilla Update Firefox Extensions page. For the most part, I’ve used the descriptions from the extension authors themselves and may or may not have tried the extension myself.

Googlebar

This Firefox extension is the granddaddy of all Firefox extensions made for Google users! The Googlebar project was initially created to address the widespread desire in the Mozilla community for the Google Toolbar to support the Netscape 7, Mozilla, and Firefox web browsers. Googlebar emulates all of the basic search functionality of the Google Toolbar, allowing users to easily access almost all of Google’s specialty searches (some of which are not yet supported by the original Google Toolbar!) from one convenient toolbar.

If you use Firefox and Google, this is a MUST HAVE extension.

Search Status

One thing that Googlebar (above) does not do that Google Toolbar does is display PageRank info (read why here). This extension fills that hole and more. It will display the Google PageRank and Alexa popularity anywhere in your browser, along with options for backward/related/category links, Alexa info and more.

Google PageRank Status

This extension fills the same need as explained in Search Status (above). But, I much prefer the Search Status extension because of its Alexa rank and its considerably more options.

Gmail Notifier

Allows checking for new Gmail messages directly from the browser’s UI. A status bar item will show once installed, and a toolbar item can be added by customizing the toolbar. However, you may not want to use this considering Google has a notifer that resides in the system tray.

Better Search

This extension adds thumbnails to search engine listings to help you better make a selection. It enhances Google, MSN Search, Yahoo Search, A9, AllTheWeb, del.icio.us bookmarks and Simpy.com by adding previews (thumbnails) and Amazon product images and info (type, price, rating) as well as “Open in New Window”, “Site Info” and “Wayback Machine” links to the search results. Supports anonymization of all Alexa.com thumbnail calls. Also see Search Preview (below).

Google Preview

In the same manner as Better Search (above), this extension inserts thumbnails of web sites, Amazon products and stock charts into the Google and yahoo.com search results pages.

Define Word

Look up the definition of selected text on Google. You might not really need this though, since Googlebar (above) has a dictionary definition function built-in. Also, you can use the Google Dictionary function, especially combined with the Google Deskbar.

Gcache

Allows you to check the cached version of the page you are browsing in Google. This can be handy if the server is down or the page is changed. However, Googlebar (above) has this function built-in.

Google Scholar OpenURLs

The purpose is to enable users at an institution that has an OpenURL link-resolver to use that resolver to locate the full text of articles found in Google Scholar, instead of relying on the links to publishers’ websites provided by Google. This is important because it solves the “appropriate copy problem”: the link to a publisher’s site is useless if you don’t have a subscription that lets you into that site, and your library may provide access to the same article in an aggregator’s package or elsewhere. I haven’t used this, but it sounds like a great idea.

Google Adbar

Displays Google ads related to pages you view. Mozilla’s editorial comment: If you miss Opera’s text ads, or are just wondering what ads Google has decided are related to the sites you view, this is the extension for you! Supports toolbar customization, unlike the Opera equivalent. This extension was written as a joke, and the ads it displays do not generate revenue for Google, the Mozilla Foundation, or the extension author. My comment: More ads? Yeah, right–that’s what I want it!