14 DAY TRIAL // Google just launched a +1 button extension for Google Chrome. The extension enables users to +1 any page on the web, regardless of whether it has an actual +1 button or not.
It's a big example of the advantages of controlling a wide range of platforms and products. But in this case, Google's openness is actually visible, because anyone can build Chrome extensions.
In fact, Facebook also has an official Like button extension. It's a bit uglier than Google's, but there's more functionality.
Yet, Facebook hasn't said anything about it so far and the extension only has some 555 users, at least from what can be gathered from the public stats. The extension's page has more than 1,000 likes and 211 +1's, for that matter.
It's unclear when Facebook debuted the Like button Chrome extension, but the oldest user review dates back to June 24.
The Like button extension works fairly well. It has a counter displaying how many people have already liked a page.
If you decide to like something, an overlay popup shows up where you can click on an actual Like button. You have to be signed in to use it and any page you visit gets sent to Facebook, just like with the +1 button extension and with the regular Facebook Like button.
It also adds a right-click menu entry which enables you to like, share or recommend a page. Interestingly enough, you can also do the same for individual images and HTML5 audio and video.
In terms of functionality, it's rather complete, it has more things than the +1 button extension, but it's lacking in polish.
While the extension is official, it's likely a side-project put together for fun or as a concept rather than an official Facebook product. That said, Facebook could decide to create a fully supported Like button extension for Google Chrome and other browsers, now that Google has done it for its social network.