Chrome: Adding extra features to Gmail isn't a new idea, but Minimalist Gmail for Chrome is the best tweaker yet: You can hide items, add row highlights, and even change the five Google links at the top of the page.
We've been pretty big proponents of extensions like previously mentioned Better Gmail for Chrome, but Minimalist Gmail adds even more tweaks to our favorite mail client. Don't be fooled by its name—while you can remove a lot of Gmail's interface elements, you can also make it more powerful.
It has a lot of the features we've come to know and love, like removing ads, hiding chat, adding unread counts to the favicon, use different sets of attachment icons, and adding row highlights. However, it also adds some brand new features that are really neat, like being able to change the five Google links at the top. If you don't use Google Docs, for example, you can replace it with Google Voice instead. It doesn't have to be a Google link, either—you could even use it as a little bookmark bar if you want (or just hide it altogether). It also uses Chrome's ability to display desktop notifications, if you'd like your attention called to new messages. If you're a heavy Gmail user, this is a must have extension.
Minimalist Gmail is a free download, works wherever Google Chrome does.
