Google+ is better with browser add-ons

So far, Google+ has garnered favorable reviews -- though that has plenty to do with the fact that early adopters and invite-seekers are already fans of the Big G's services. But the positive response is also the result of Google's design decisions and its attention to how people want to share information online and with whom they want to share it.

If you're among those fortunate enough to have secured an invite and are using Google+ right now, ambitious independent developers have already been busy crafting browser add-ons that make an already good service even better. I've collected a few of my favorites here, and each will probably work in your web browser of choice. Google Chrome and Opera should be ready to rock as-is, Firefox users might need to install Greasemonkey(Opens in a new window) and Stylish(Opens in a new window), and Safari users should take a look at GreaseKit(Opens in a new window). As for Internet Explorer users, Userscripts and Userstyles are a bit of a pain to get going -- if you can get them at all -- but you won't be totally left out.

One feature Google die-hards love about their myriad web apps is that Google -- being a fairly geeky bunch -- loves to build in keyboard controls. Apps like Gmail and Reader are bursting a the seams with hotkeys, yet Google+ launched with only a handful of basic options for scrolling, jumping between posts, commenting, and chatting.

The Google+ Commander takes things a step further, letting you jump between pages (home, profile, photos, and Circles), share, +1 items and comment on them, and display the notification menu.

Since the toolbar already looks and acts so much like a taskbar, why not add in one more piece of taskbar functionality? Header Hider flips the autohide switch, tucking the nav bar out of view when you don't need it. Hover over it with your mouse pointer, and it pops back in. This works anywhere the bar shows up, including Google, Gmail, and Google Reader.

There are a few other missed opportunities in the toolbar apart from autohide. For example, while a badge displays new Google+ activities that warrant your attention, the Google app labels at the left side are just boring old text. Pop in this Userscript, however, and you'll also start seeing unread counts for Gmail, Calendar, and Reader!

A good number of the users who beat a path to the Google+ invite page were thrilled beyond words that Google had finally outed its "Facebook alternative." Many couldn't wait to cut the Zucker-cord immediately, but there are those who want to stay active on Facebook while testing the Google+ waters. For them, there's the Google+ Facebook add-on, which drops into Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

Once it's installed, you'll see a new icon next to the Google+ default pages (photos, circles, etc.): the trademark white f on a blue background. Click it, and your Facebook feed pops into view without whisking you away from Google+.

The toolbar offers plenty of useful functionality, but unlike Mary's little lamb it simply doesn't follow us everywhere we go. Pop the Surplus extension into Google Chrome, and you'll have access to your notifications no matter where you are. Surplus also lets you utilize the Google+ sharing functions even when the bar is MIA.