8 great Chrome extensions to transform your ‘New Tab’ page

The ‘new tab’ page is something you probably look at for a lot more time than you think every day, so why not put it to work or get it to do something other than just show new tabs?

Here are eight great Chrome New Tab page extensions to beautify, redesign or put your new tab page to work.

Earth View from Google Maps

My personal favorite tab extension at the moment, Earth View simply replaces the new tab page with a random satellite image of the globe from Google Earth.

Many of the images will have you wondering where they were shot, so Google’s put a clickable location on the lower right. You’ll discover new places every day.

➤ Earth View from Google Maps

Momentum

Momentum puts a number of utilities right in your new tab page. Not only do you get a beautiful picture that changes every day, you’re able to enter your focus for the day, get the latest weather, write a to-do list and view an inspirational quote.

You’re also able to search Google directly inside the new tab page, without having to actually leave. Momentum also lets you hide the functionality you don’t want.

If you want something that’s a good combination of utility and visual appeal, Momentum is the perfect new tab extension.

➤ Momentum

Currently

A fan of simplicity and flat design? Currently is perfect for you.

Currently simply shows you the weather conditions where you are (it automatically guesses your location) and the current time. You can customize the colors and enter a location manually, too.

This extension is all about simplicity and looking great, so it doesn’t do much more than that, but it does it incredibly well.

➤ Currently

Modern New Tab

Love the look of Windows 8? Modern New Tab brings that to your browser complete with live tiles.

This extension gives your new tab page a visual overhaul and lets you customize the websites you want to appear there. On top of looking great, it can also fetch RSS feeds from your favorite sites and show the latest news right on the tiles.

Modern New Tab also offers a number of other customizations, such as allowing personalized icons for each website, your own background and selection of color themes.

➤ Modern New Tab

Dayboard

Prefer to just get things done? Dayboard focuses on the five tasks you need to complete today and reminds you to do them every time you open your new tab page. The tasks reset every day and you’re able to drop into focus mode to see a single task you need to work on.

Dayboard also gives you a graph of how many tasks you completed every day and keeps a history of all tasks for you.

➤ Dayboard

iOS 7 New Tab

Can’t get enough of the new iOS look and feel? This extension themes the new tab page just like your iOS home screen.

You can add as many bookmarks as you like and even download some from the “app store” which is a collection of bookmarks that appear to be able to send notifications about new items in RSS feeds.

➤ iOS 7 New Tab

Dream Afar New Tab

This new tab replacement offers a “new adventure every day” with a picture from around the world. Dream Afar shows the weather, most visited sites and a search box for quick Googling.

If you don’t like any of the features, you can hide individual components too.

➤ Dream Afar New Tab

Card Board

Like the Google Now style layout? Card Board replaces your new tab screen with your latest downloads, bookmarks, quick settings and more in Google’s familiar card layout.

You’re able to choose just the ones you want, as well. The only sad thing is that Google Now isn’t integrated into this.

➤ Card Board

Don’t miss: 27 of the best Chrome extensions you should check out today