Introducing the Ultimate Customizable New Tab Dashboard Extension for Chrome
Are you looking to personalize your browsing experience with a highly customizable and functional new tab page? After nearly four years of development, I’m excited to unveil my latest project: a comprehensive Chrome extension designed to transform your new tab into a productivity hub tailored to your needs.
Initially conceived as a way to remotely control my Philips Hue smart lights, this extension has grown into a versatile dashboard featuring a variety of powerful widgets and tools—all configurable through an intuitive interface. Here’s a breakdown of its core capabilities:
Embed Custom Content with Iframes
Easily display external web content by embedding iframes, with the ability to target specific elements on a page using CSS selectors. For example, I’ve set up widgets to display GitHub issues from a particular repository and real-time Yahoo Finance stock tickers.
Essential Utilities and Personalization
Access useful features such as weather updates, world clocks, bookmarked links, group folders, and sticky notes—adding convenience and organization to your browsing routine.
Smart Smart Home Integration
Control your Philips Hue lighting system directly from your new tab. Manage individual lights or entire groups with scene presets, toggle lights on or off, adjust colors, and switch scenes effortlessly via right-click context menus.
Quick Launch for Gaming and Apps
Launch your favorite Steam games directly from the new tab with dedicated app and game widgets, streamlining your gaming setup.
Powerful Search and Calendar Features
Perform quick searches across multiple search engines, view your recent search history stored locally, and stay organized with integrated Google Calendar access.
Highly Customizable with JSON and CSS
Modify widget configurations using JSON, and customize the appearance with your own CSS to match your style preferences.
Additional Features
– Optional welcome screen upon extension activation
– Configurable widgets for maximum flexibility
This project is entitled “New Tab Widgets” and is currently available for Chromium-based browsers through the Chrome Web Store. You can check it out here:
For more information and updates, visit the official website:
https://newtabwidgets.com
I built this extension primarily for my personal use but am excited to share it with the community. I welcome any feedback or suggestions from fellow developers and users. If you’re interested in customizing your
