Google Bringing Extensions To Chrome [Web Chrome Getting Customizable Extensions, like Firefox]

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Sources within Google are reporting to blog TechCruch that Google will unveil a Firefox-like extension feature to the Chrome web browser, ideally at Add-on-Con 09, an extremely niche tech conference that deals with browser add-ons. While Chrome already supports custom themes, developer support for Extensions was only released a few weeks ago.

Google’s Chrome OS already supports a few Google-made extensions, like ones relating to Gmail, but Chrome lacks support for third-party ones. Such third-party extensions have made Mozilla’s Firefox the most popular (non-Internet Explorer) web browser. Two weeks ago, Google allowed developers to upload extensions to the gallery, but Chrome users were unable to apply them to their browsers.

Chrome users have been able to add hundreds of extensions onto Chrome with a hack and without Google’s support, but some of the more popular extensions have already ported their software to Google’s official gallery.

At first, only the Windows version of Chrome will support extensions, although I don’t imagine this will last long. TechCrunch expects Google to unwrap this feature this week – and to add fuel to the rumor fire, they’re a major sponsor of the Add-on-Con where they are expected to show it off.