Google Chrome extensions can be truly handy, but there's at least one feature power users have been clamoring for since the beginning: the ability to hide an extension's browser action button. Good news, Chrome Geeks: the Canary build now lets you hide extension buttons.

Just right-click the icon you want to disappear and select hide button, and it's gone. If you should happen to get removal remorse, just head to chrome://extensions and you'll find a show button link next to any extension you've previously hidden.

Yes, you could already drag-to-resize the entire browser actions area to hide any buttons which happened to be on the right-hand side -- but now you've got full control over which extensions get space on your toolbar and which don't.

At last, extensions which you can call from the context menu or invoke with a hotkey don't have to chew up valuable toolbar real estate in Google Chrome.

Continue reading Google Chrome adds option to hide any extension's button

Since the release of the Firefox 4 beta, I've been happily using it as my default Web browser once again. Google Chrome had been my primary browser for quite some time, but Firefox 4's improved speed and the fact that it can do three things I've wished Chrome could do for ages have won me back.

The three things? A real download manager (plus great add-on options like DownThemAll and Automatic Save Folder), being able to right click an image and set it as my wallpaper, and the euphoria-inducing ability to copy and paste in our CMS once more (with Chrome, you have to right click, paste, paste into a pop-up window, then click OK -- it's a security thing, supposedly, but rather cumbersome).

One thing I don't like about Firefox 4 is that big, orange button and all the wasted space it creates along the top. I like Chrome's minimalist UI -- and with Firefox's awesome array of customization options it's easy enough to mimic without a theme or addon!

All I did was add a few lines to my userchrome.css -- using Sebastian's ugly button removal code as a starting point. Here's my code:

#appmenu-button-container {
width: 92px;
position: fixed !important;
}
#appmenu-button {
padding: 3px 8px 3px 8px !important;
margin-top:0px !important;
background-color: rgba(200, 200, 200, 0.4) !important;
}
#navigator-toolbox[tabsontop="true"] #TabsToolbar {
padding-left: 95px !important;
}
#navigator-toolbox[tabsontop="true"] #TabsToolbar {
padding-left: 98px !important;
padding-top:1px !important;
padding-right:98px !important;
}

.tabbrowser-tab {
height: 20px !important;
padding-right: 4px !important;
}
.tabbrowser-strip {
height: 20px !important;
}

Basically, I've trimmed a few pixels here and there and made two adjustments via customize > toolbar layout. To the right side of the tab bar, I added a flexible space -- to keep the Windows minimize/restore/close buttons from overlapping any of Firefox's UI elements.

Got your own clever userchrome hacks? Share 'em in the comments, we'd love to see them!

So, you want to change the look of Google Chrome, but you're not happy with the options available in the official Themes Gallery? Well, I've got good news for you: there are plenty of good themes available elsewhere.

In fact, there are loads of themes in the Google Chrome Extensions Gallery. Wait, what? Yes, I know -- a theme is not an extension. Sure, they're the same file type (.CRX), but that's pretty much where the similarities end. Still, the Extensions Gallery is the only official place that designers can upload themes right now; hopefully, Google will add a "user created" tab to the Themes Gallery someday.

There are other sites where you can find themes as well -- deviantART and ChromeThemes.org, for example. Take the jump and have a look at a few of the better ones I've found. Taste is subjective, of course, so feel free to link your own favorites in the comments!

Robot Theme
Normally, a single theme doesn't warrant its own post, but Robot Theme was just too cool not to share. It remains one of the most popular Google Chrome themes in the Gallery.

Foxy Theme
Drawing inspiration from the Firefox 4 UI, Foxy is the perfect theme for those of you who love your Aero transparency. It's difficult to notice the effect on inactive tabs if you have your Chrome window maximized, though.

The Simpsons Theme
MMmmmm ... yellow. Yes, it's loud, and it might not be your favorite color, but you've got to love the disgruntled Homer in the corner of the new tab page.

BioShock 2
The fan page at Bioshock2.org actually has two themes available for download, and they're both super-grungy and dark, which is pretty much exactly what you'd expect for a Bioshock theme. You can also find a couple more over at deviantART.

XP Royale Blue and Zune Themes
If you're still running XP, chances are good that you're using one of the nice Royale themes. StudioJanck's Zune (black) and Royale Blue themes are nicely done and match the updated, glossy XP look.

Muku
Yes, there are people out there who like wood themes, and Muku is a nice one for Chrome.

Elegante
Chrome themes don't have to be complicated to be good; there's not really a heck of a lot to see, after all. Elegante imparts a nice, simple grayscale look.

Green Day: Warning
I'm not sure what it is about the green-on-stone gray look in this theme, but I like it. If you're not a Green Day fan but still like the look, just throw in a new tab extension like Incredible Start Page to replace the default. (note: if you're not a fan of SendSpace, download this theme from here.)

Nightmare Before Christmas and Alice In Wonderland
If you're a fan of Tim Burton's animated classic or his more recent Alice remake, these two are definitely worth a look.

Runescape
I'm not a RuneScape player, but I actually kinda like this theme. It's well done, and it's readable, which is one important characteristic that a lot of themes seem to forget about.