Why Browse When You could Extension? (Say, What Now??)

I think I’m offended by term browsing.  Oh are you browsing the Internet? No!  I’m getting things done!  I realize using a “browser” like GoogleChrome for “browsing,” is an actual thing that people do.  Me, I suck at browsing.  My eyes get tired my head starts to hurt and next thing you know I’m sleeping.

The closest I can get to browsing is on-line shopping or reading the news.  But still, I’ll go to Amazon.com to search for something I need, or want, and by the 5^th product I’m like, “Oh geez make it stop and just tell which one is the best for the best price!”  Thank God for filters or I’d never buy anything.  I need to see only Prime, only 4 star or higher reviews and under a specific price.  Only then can I attempt to scroll.

When it comes to reading the news, it’s even worse.  I love news.  I need a daily dose.  I currently rely on The Huffington Post app for much of it.  But if I open a story and takes me to a lengthy magazine article.  Click.  Window closed.  I cannot look into the light long enough to absorb the information being transmitted.  Believe it or not I was a journalism major. So it’s even more shameful that I can’t read an in-depth article.  But I was taught to get the main point or at least the hook in the first paragraph of your article to keep them reading.  Well that hasn’t happened in this post.  So I guess, I’m just the pot calling the kettle black.  “Hey Kettle!  Looking good!”

So right, I can’t browse.  I use my browser for work.  That could be business work, family work, household work, whatevs.  I don’t have to worry about being distracted by Facebook because after a few scrolls, I’d have to click away to stay awake.  Instead, I make use of a great feature of Chrome, it’s called extensions.  Hopefully, you are using them as well.  If not, today is your lucky day. 

If you are like me, and you just want tools to help you browse more efficiently then extensions are for you.  If you are not like me, and you want to have more fun things to do online, then extensions are also for you.  So what are they and how do you get them?

What are they?

Per Google, Chrome Extensions are, “small programs that add new features to your browser and personalize your browsing experience."

For example my favorite extension is Honey.  Honey says, “Oh, I see you are shopping.  Would you like me to enter all possible discount codes for this site before you checkout?”  Um, heck yeah I would.  My newest extension is from Ebates, the site that lets you earn money from the things you are already buying.  Instead of logging into Ebates and looking to see if the store you want is offering an Ebate, just go directly to the store site and the extension will pop up to ask you if you like to activate the savings.  Again, yes please! Amazon also has an extension that lets you see the price of the item on Amazon while you’re shopping at another store’s site. Or you can add a non-Amazon item to your Amazon wishlist.  Me likey.  It sucks to buy something online and then discover there was a coupon code in your email box you overlooked.  These extensions help to avoid that problem.

 

I’ve also got extensions that work with Google applications.  Like one that opens documents from Google Drive in their respective office program (i.e. Google Slides opens in Power Point).  Another allows me to quickly send whatever is on my browser to my Chromecast connected to my TV. Google Hangouts so I can chat with all my lovelies with just the click of a button. Google Keep so I can add whatever is on my screen to my to do list.  And of course my Google Music in case I need a little Lemonade ;-)

I have a few more, but there are a lot less boring ones you could have too.  Would you like to see a beautiful background every time you open a new tab, you can (Earth View extension).  Or you could see cats (Tabby Cats extension).  Your choice.  I’m not judging (but I am).  Or you can watch Netflix online with friends (still trying really hard not to judge … failing).

How do you get it?

Ok back in the judgement free zone it’s so easy to get an extension.  Open Chrome and go here.  Bam!  Browse away, filter by category or search.  Find something interesting and click.  Then chose add to chrome.  Most extensions are free.  I only know about free, because it’s for me.  That’s it you’ve got your extension now.  

You can see it in the upper right hand corner of the Chrome browser window.  You can also view them in the settings menu on the extensions tab.  Here you can enable/disable or delete them.  You can also search for more extensions from the settings/extensions area.

Well, I’ll leave you to your cats then.  Just please don’t drag any of their hair over here.  Thanks.  I have to go not browse.  Talk soon … BMK

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Oh Something New From Google! (And it involves travel)

It’s no secret that I love travel planning almost as much as traveling.  And it’s also no secret that I love apps. Plus, you may well know I’m a devoted Googlite/Googlist/Google Aficionado/Googliever aka Google lover.  So when I read this article about a new Google App for travel planning, I was like, “Awesome Sauce!” (Because I mostly speak 6 year old)

It’s called Destinations by Google.  It’s designed for use on smart phones but also works on the computer.  The good news is you most likely don’t need to download anything, especially if you have an Android phone.  But even if you pray to the Apple gods, you only need the regular Google App, which you likely already have. 

To start you open the app or simply type in the Google Search bar on your phone. Then you have a few options:

1.      You have an idea of a destination but not a specific city, type in the area + destinations.  For example: Italy destinations

2.      You know where you want to go type in city + vacation.  For example: Seattle vacation

3.      You want to go to multiple destination type in place + travel or place + vacation. For example: Ireland Travel.  (You will see travel guides for multiple cities and Google maps can give you walking, driving and public transportation directions.

I would like to go see my beloved Seahawks in person, so I can congratulate Russell Wilson on his engagement.  (Surely, he will answer the door when I come a knocking.)  I’d like to take a trip in November when school is out for two days, for goodness knows what. So I picked up my phone and typed into the Google bar: Seattle vacation.

Here’s what popped up:

I was given a quick overview of Seattle and why one might want to visit.  Below that was weather info followed by hotel and flight pricing.  I clicked through to see flight options first.  

I was able to input my November 9 – 13^th desired dates and adjusted my departure airport.  Then I was presented first with what Google determined were the best options (this appears to be based on the best priced non-stop flights).  Below that were additional options (more expensive or requiring multiple flights).  Outbound flights are displayed first, once one is selected a return flight can be selected.  Pricing stays on the screen through each selection.  Once my flights were selected, I was given a phone number and link for United, which I could use to book the flights.  In reality, I would not have clicked the link for this itinerary because one flight was on United, the other on Alaska Airlines.  In my experience its best to book directly with each airline unless you are using miles.

Next, I back tracked to get to hotels (though it would have been quicker to just Google “Seattle vacations” again.  Once I clicked through, I was shown the links to several hotel booking sites. But also the prices of several hotels, their star ratings and their photos.  I was able to adjust the travel dates to see accurate rates.  Only one problem, the hotel calendar maxes out at 6 months in the future.  So I could not put in my November travel dates.  So if I wanted to continue planning, I’d have to go back to one of the hotel booking site links instead of continuing in the Google displays. 

Lastly, I checked out the travel guides.  The original “Seattle vacation” results include photos and links to a few points of interest.  The drop down for the travel guide, displays several itineraries from which to choose.  For example, 48 hours in Seattle.  I never follow them, but I do love to view an itinerary and pick and choose what I like. 

Overall it’s a neat tool, which allows people like me to view lots of details for travel planning, all in one place.  Before, I’d go from site to site or app to app trying to piece it all together and ultimately wait to put it all together until I could do it more comfortably from my computer.  Now, I have something to do while waiting in the doctor’s office, watching swim lessons or zoning out when Hubby is watching another reality show about cars, hunting or outdoor living in some inconvenient place for no good reason!

Ummmm, wish I had a flight to catch right now.  But soon enough, I’ll be flying the friendly skies. So I better get packing or Duckie will have my head (She likes to pack as far in advance as humanly possible).  Talk soon.  - BMK