The irony.

Add in a few more subdomains to cover the other Google apps (docs and mail are the most important ones to me) and I'll probably switch over to your plugin instead (I mean who needs configuration options?). Also be sure to add 'all_frames' to 'content_scripts' or it won't work in Gmail.

I made a Safari extension that hides the notification area on www.google.com too.

https://github.com/benatkin/quietgsearch

Like the google one, it didn't involve writing any JavaScript. I just had to specify the name of the css file in the metadata.

Google tries to get developers to put their extensions, no matter how trivial, in the Chrome Web Store. Apple, on the other hand, requires developers to sign up for the Safari Developer Program, get a digital certificate, and sign their extensions. Apple does have a Safari Extension Gallery, but their approach is different:

> Safari Developer Program members can submit their Safari extensions to be considered for the Safari Extensions Gallery.

There are a lot of Google TLDs ;-)

I implemented a more minimal version of this extension that doesn't have the flicker issue.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/elkedplmbnnbofcldj...

Yes there is. My own extension that does this, BlockPlus, actually blocks the HTTP requests rather than just hiding the elements on the page:

http://nikcub.appspot.com/blockplus-a-browser-extension-to-b...

It already has over 5k installs and is working well. I am adding options to let the user refine which is blocked where.

It definitely solves a problem - it'd be nice to see a version that simply toned down the notification a little though, so that it's less distracting. That way you can still use the integration when you want to.

It would be much nicer if google implemented it as an option, which should be the default.