I *wish* Google Chrome had . . .

Integrated Web Search.  The one feature I wish Google Chrome – or an extension for it – offered is Integrated Web Search.  Or at least, that’s the term Firefox uses for the feature.  At this point, I have not found an extension that provides the same feature; if you happen to know of one, please let me know.  Why is it all that important or useful, you ask? 

The Firefox site describes it, “Searching the Web is a breeze with the search box inline, just to the right of your location bar. Select the search engine of your choice and type what you want to find directly into the box. The width is adjustable so you can make it bigger if you need more space.”

Basically, it provides access to any number of search engines – all over the web – immediately to the right of the URL address bar.  That’s useful, but the way I use it is the Keyword shortcut for the search engines.  As shown in the image, you can designate a keyword for a search engine; I happen to use mostly single letters.  Typing into the URL address bar the keyword for the search engine followed by the search terms will search the designated search engine.  For me, that means that all I have to do in Firefox to search IMDB is to enter in the address bar – imdb “The Office” – the page returned by the browser is the search results at IMDB for “The Office.”  Similarly, I only need enter – g “computer literacy” – to search Google for that term.  It eliminates 2-3 clicks in order to search.  I use the feature A LOT and sincerely wish there was similar functionality available in Google Chrome.

I have found various plugins that add buttons to the right of the address bar which basically does the trick except that to have the same number of search engines accessible in that manner would require 10-15 buttons to the right.  I don’t want to have to click buttons; I just want to enter my search in the URL address bar.