Extending the Omnibox
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Labels: extensions
One of the most powerful aspects of Google Chrome is the omnibox, also known as the address bar. You can type URLs and searches into one unified place and it all just works. With the new omnibox API, extension developers can make the omnibox even more powerful.
The omnibox API lets extension developers add their own keyword command to the omnibox. When the user types a query prefixed by this keyword, the extension can suggest potential completions and react to the user's input.
For example, this extension lets you search and switch between your open tabs from the omnibox:
Keep an eye out for cool new extensions as developers get their hands on this API!
12 comments:
p03tic5ickn355 said...
Omnibar = Address Bar (&search) + CLI? I think I like! Developing in chrome just got so much easier.
February 22, 2011 12:42 PM
Damien Brunet said...
In Boss Banana, I use the Omnibox to do real-time translation. Give it a try :)
February 22, 2011 12:58 PM
Mark said...
Love the API, just released one called History Search so you can search through your history from the omnibox.
February 22, 2011 3:01 PM
Thammas said...
The omnibox is very useful and this API is really welcome. But having tried to play with it for my extensions, there is a big limitation in omnibox api for the users and for the developers: the number of results. I'm facing with this lack in the extensions using already the api...
Only 5 results !?
As examples, I use the "doc reference languages" extensions from Michael Safyan. With only 5 results, you must know what you are looking for. The user is really limited by available results in the omnibox.
There was a time when you could increase the number of results using a command line switch. And I don't understand why it has disappeared. To me, this is an option essential and it should be in the omnibox API.
February 22, 2011 3:11 PM
Craig said...
February 22, 2011 3:58 PM
BOB said...
cool info...liked it!
February 22, 2011 4:10 PM
atomic1fire said...
I hate to be the uncool guy in the discussion, but a few of these omnibox extensions are ones that could just as easily be added by the user, since they mostly just search settings added via extension.
Sure this might make yahoo and a few other search companies happy, but I don't see too many extension's doing something interesting or adding search to the extension itself. I got to give the banana extension credit though, it actually adds to chromes translation features.
I'm not saying there are no extensions that use the omnibox api to do something the user can't already do, but many of them are just extra search engines.
I'm just glad they can't change the default search.
February 22, 2011 4:54 PM
Hatem Jarad - SEO & Social media Expert | Jordan said...
Yea very impressive, good work guys, I a big fan for chrome browser & its extensions.
Omnibox enhance the heavy internet users time & experiences.
February 23, 2011 5:09 AM
Hatem Jarad - SEO & Social media Expert | Jordan said...
Yea very impressive, good work guys, I a big fan for chrome browser & its extensions.
Omnibox enhance the heavy internet users time & experiences.
February 23, 2011 5:10 AM
Adam Edwards said...
Fun coincidence, I just published an extension that does some cool stuff with the Omnibar. Right now, it can roll dice, clean up iGoogle, share the current page on Twitter or Facebook, do URL shortening, and execute "I'm Feeling Lucky" searches, but I'm adding features every day. Try it out!
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/jmmdafkdmphpgckbdodelegdmlcnkcam
February 23, 2011 10:55 AM
Edward Gerhold said...
Hey Google! Could you put CSE and Omnibox together? Means, i could assign a CSE id and send a query to the CSE and put the results in the suggestions, or to display them on screen? Using the Omnibox for Search Terms is close to the reality, the Custom Search Engine is the actual and best for user-defined searches, so why not put them both together (syllogistic with this nonsense-formula and real because the sense is obvious)? Could you do something like that and add a CSE ID and a query to the CSE, plus a results structure for use in the suggest function or for displaying, to the Omnibox API? Would like that feature very much.
February 25, 2011 11:49 AM
dfvxc said...
I just made a new one using the omnibox called tab Extractor.
It lets you search for tabs using multiple keywords and moves all matching tabs to a new window.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/iphchnegaodmijmkdlbhbanjhfphhikp
February 25, 2011 1:07 PM
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