Cleeki - The World One Click Away

Since early this year, Cleeki has provided its unique "select-n-go" features for both IE (6.0+) and Firefox (1.5+). Starting from version 1.6.0, Cleeki now supports Google Chrome. For those who are not familiar with Cleeki, you can consider Cleeki as an alternative to IE8 accelerators, only superior. Just select some text, and Cleeki can search/share/publish the content and preview the results immediately. I have another article introducing Cleeki for Google Chrome: At First Glance. And here is an example:

The following is an instruction on how to make Cleeki working on your Chrome. Since Chrome is still under active development and has very limited support for add-ons, the steps below includes configuring your system environment. If you have already done so (i.e., subscribing to the dev channel of Google Chrome), you can simply skip such steps.

Install Google Chrome

In order to enjoy Cleeki in Chrome, you first need to have a Google Chrome installed. Obviously, right? Not really: you need to have a Chrome subscribing to the "development channel". In plain English, that means you need to have the latest released version (2.0.174.0 and above) installed. There is an excellent guide online at:

http://dev.chromium.org/getting-involved/dev-channel

You can read inside if you are curious to know more details, or here is a quick overview:

1. Install Google Chrome from http://www.google.com/chrome.
2. Download the Chrome Channel Switcher.
3. Launch the channel switcher, and subscribe to the dev channel. See below:

You might be scared seeing "dev" not marked as "stable". Don't worry, in my experience, the dev channel is as stable as (or as unstable as) the official release for your everyday surfing.

Now please ensure you have the minimum required version (2.0.174.0) installed. Start your Chrome, and type "about:version" in the address bar to check the version. If the version is lower than the minimum, here is how to get the latest verion:

Click on the menu located right most to the address bar, and select "About Google Chrome":

The about dialog will help you check and update to the latest version automatically.

Enabling extension

The next step is to enable the extension system in Chrome by adding a command line parameter to Chrome's shortcuts. By default Chrome installs three shortcuts: one in the startmenu, one in the quick launch menu, and one one your desktop. The following instruction applies to all of them.

1. Locate a Chrome shortcut, right click on it, and choose "Properties" from the contextual menu.
2. Locate the "Target" item in the Properties dialog
3. Attach " --enable-extensions" to the end of the string in the "Target" item. Now it should look sth. like:

"C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --enable-extensions

[User Name] is the account name you are using. According to Google's document, this step is only needed for now, and will be eliminated in the formal release.

Here is an illustration:

Now you can ready to download and install Cleeki's addon for Google Chrome. Note later on if you want to install/reinstall Cleeki or other addons, you don't need to repeat the aforementioned steps again. Your Chrome is ready to rock in the extension world. Congrats!

Install Cleeki for Chrome

Here are the quick steps to install Cleeki:

1. Download the addon package
   
2. You can either use Chrome to open it directly, or drag it to Chrome after it is downloaded.
3. You will be propmted whether to install it. Say "Yes, I Do", or click "OK":
   

After you restart Google Chrome, you should have Cleeki already working in Chrome. For a quick test, just select any text, and you should be able to view a launching icon (Note: Cleeki might not work in your first opened page, usually your homepage. This is a confirmed bug in current Chrome. Just navigate to some other pages):

Click on the launching icon will bring a channel menu on your screen. And you can now enjoy the unique convenience Cleeki brings to you. Here is an example:

Last but not least

One last thing I want to mention is that current version is quite a beta release, just as the status of the dev channel of Google Chrome. Specifically the following are confirmed limitations in current Chrome:

1. Cleeki might not work in the very first page (usually your homepage) when you launch your Chrome
2. Although everything in Cleeki is customizable (channel, size, skin, behavior, etc.), you can't do it yet because Chrome lacks an offocial user preference system. There is a hacking way to customize it, and I might introduce that later on.

Here are some additional resources:

1. Cleeki's homepage: http://www.cleeki.com
2. Cleeki's Firefox add-on page, including additional instructions and screenshots, which also apply to Chrome: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7750

Here are a quick list of the links used in the article:

1. Install Google Chrome from http://www.google.com/chrome.
2. Download the Chrome Channel Switcher.
3. Download the addon package

Should you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to leave a message, or write to me at contact AT cleeki.com.

I hope you enjoy the unique experience Cleeki brings to Google Chrome. In another blog, I give a quick overview introducing Cleeki for Google Chrome: At First Glance. And you are welcome to give a shot.

You might have heard about or tried the new feature "accelerators" that appears in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8. It is a very nice feature to help boost web search efficiency without frequent switches between different web sites. Actually Cleeki contains add-ons, called Select-n-Go, for both Internet Explorer and Firefox, which accomplish the same function, only faster, easier, and more powerful.

Compared with IE8 accelerators, Cleeki's Select-n-Go provides better experience in that:

1) It works for both Internet Explorer 6.0+ and Firefox 1.5+, which covers ~90% web browsers nowadays. As a comparison, Internet Explorer 8's up-to-date market share is 0.37%.

2) The preview page is with richer amount of information and interaction. e.g., you can feel free to edit the keywords before search to match your intension perfectly.

3) You can customize your own search channel easily. One example is that you can create a channel to search only .pdf files.

Here is a screenshot about how the add-on looks like when it is active:

More information about Cleeki's add-ons for Internet Explorer and Firefox can be found at:

http://www.cleeki.com/firefor.html

http://www.cleeki.com/ieplugin.html

The bottom line: it doesn't hurt to have one more choice, isn't it?

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Cleeki - The World One Click Away
Instant Internet Access anytime, anywhere, from any programs
http://www.cleeki.com