Now Google Chrome is up to version 3 (3.0.195.38 at the moment), it is shaping up to be a fast and useful browser, the preview window homepage adds to its charm and its simplicity, especially bookmarking, makes it extremely user friendly.

The new version of Google Chrome, currently in beta (v4.0.249.43), allows its own functionality to be enhanced through extensions, visit the Google Chrome Beta site to get the beta (but only if you are happy running software that has not been officially released into production yet).

Image Credit: Google

Once you really get into using it you might want to consider adding extensions to enhance your productivity, in this article we will be looking at six of the most useful ones to get you started.

Adding an extension is as simple as finding the one you want from the Google Chrome Extensions website and clicking the install button. To remove or disable an extension go into the Spanner icon, click Extensions and click Disable or Uninstall next to the appropriate extension.

Google Mail Checker

If you have a Google Mail account the mail checker is probably one of the first extensions you should consider adding, it is also the most popular extension on the extensions website. Once installed head into the Spanner icon, then Extension, click the Option button next to Google Mail Checker, complete the URL for your domain then sign into your account. The number of unread mail will now be shown in the toolbar and clicking on the icon will launch Google Mail. Get Google Mail Checker.

Currency Converter

Need to be able to quickly convert between monetary units? Once installed Currency Converter sits in the toolbar and when clicked brings up options to enter a financial value and then converts it into your chosen currency (multiple currencies are catered for) using information from Google Finance. Get Currency Converter.

Drag N Go

Drag N Go does what it says on the tin. It is customisable so, once you have highlighted some text, you can drag with the mouse to act on the information. You can tell Drag N Go what to do if you drag Down (default Google Search), Up (default Wikipedia Search), Control and Drag Down (Default YouTube search), or Control and Drag Up (default Bing Search). Get Drag N Go.

FlashBlock

Fed up of annoying Flash based advertisements distracting you? Install FlashBlock to automatically block all Flash content any webpage. When installed FlashBlock adds an icon to the address bar where you can choose to allow Flash on a particular web page. It also has a built-in white list manager to manage Flash blocking. Get FlashBlock.

Google Similar Pages

If you are trying to find related information the Google Similar Pages extension should prove handy. Once installed, simply clicking on the icon in the toolbar will popup previews of other web pages similar in content to the one you are looking at. Get Google Similar Pages.

Aviary Screen Capture

Being able to capture a screenshot of a webpage, edit it online (using the aviary.com website), then save the result back to your own computer is a big time saver and something Aviary Screen Capture does well. Get Aviary Screen Capture. A number of other options are available in from the Aviary Screen Capture icon including a color editor, vector editor, and

To obtain Google Chrome extensions visit the Google Chrome Extensions website.