I wanted to read note more comfortably, so I created a dedicated Chrome extension called 'Note Reader Enhancer'
Introduction
Note has so many wonderful articles posted every day that I often lose track of time reading them. But don't you ever find that your eyes get tired from staring at a white screen late at night, or that you bookmark things in your browser to 'read later' and then just forget about them?
It's great to have so much information, but because you can save an infinite amount, I've always struggled with the tendency to just stock things up and feel satisfied, turning it into a dumping ground for information.
I want to relax more and immerse myself in the text in front of me. And I want to carefully select and keep only the information that is truly important to me. With that in mind, I created a Chrome extension called 'Note Reader Enhancer' that slightly modifies the note screen into a comfortable space dedicated to reading.
You can download it from below.
※Although the version is the same, I have added an initialization function to revert font sizes, etc., so if that is not working for you, please download it again.
In this article, I will talk about what this extension can do, how to use it, and how to install it on your computer, in that order.
3 things you can do with this tool
Once you install this extension, you will be able to do the following:
Use a 'Dark Mode' to darken the screen and rest your eyes, and adjust the text size to your liking 'Dark Mode' and adjust the text size to your liking
Quickly 'bookmark' articles on the spot while reading without opening another screen 'Bookmark' on the spot while reading without opening another screen
Develop a habit of keeping only truly important articles by limiting the number you can save to 'a maximum of 30' 'a maximum of 30' by limiting the number you can save
I will explain each function and how to operate them in detail.
1. Create your own reading environment (customizing readability)
The pure white background of a computer screen can be quite harsh on the eyes if you look at it for a long time, right?
Once you install this extension, a new 'crescent moon' icon will be added to the top right of the note screen (next to the search icon, etc.). Please try clicking this crescent moon.
In an instant, the entire screen will switch to a dark mode that is easy on the eyes. It's not just about making it black; I've adjusted it so that the colors of photos and videos still look beautiful.
Furthermore, when you open the extension's menu screen, you can freely adjust the font (Mincho, Gothic, etc.), text size, and line spacing by moving the sliders.
When reading essays with a cup of coffee on a day off, use a smaller 'Mincho' font for atmosphere. When you want to quickly read a how-to article during work, use a larger 'Gothic' font for quick readability.
Just like adjusting the lighting in your room or the height of your chair to suit your mood that day, you can create a 'dedicated reading environment' that is most comfortable for you.
2. Save on the spot without interrupting your reading (in-page bookmarking)
When you find a good article, how do you usually save it? Many people probably open their browser's bookmark function or copy and paste the URL into another note-taking app. But that small effort of opening another screen interrupts the focus you've built up for reading.
This extension eliminates that tedious process.
Next to the crescent moon mark mentioned earlier, a bookmark icon will be added. When you click this, a bookmark list panel will gently appear over the article you are currently reading without the screen switching.
By simply pressing the Save this page button inside that panel, the title, URL, and the first 100 characters of the article you are looking at will be automatically saved as a quick note.
It feels very smooth, like placing a sticky note directly on a page that caught your interest while reading a book. If you click the text Uncategorized inside the panel, you can directly assign your own preferred category names like Business or Hobbies on the spot.
Please enjoy the pleasure of being able to quickly save and organize without stopping your reading.
3. The reason for intentionally setting a limit of 30 items (Information Detox)
The thing I was most particular about with this extension is the rule that you can only save a maximum of 30 articles.
When you open the panel, a number like Current saved items: 12 / 30 is displayed in the upper right. In this day and age, it is taken for granted that you can save anything without limits, but I dared to do the opposite.
This is because if humans have a large storage closet where they can store things infinitely, they will just throw everything in, thinking, 'I might use this someday.' As a result, a chaotic space is created where you don't know what is where.
With the slight inconvenience of having only 30 slots to save, you will stop and think, Is this article worth using one of my precious 30 slots?. And when the limit is reached, in order to save something new, you will look back at your past list and delete articles you think 'I won't read this anymore' to free up space.
This process of reviewing and discarding is very important.
Your bookmark list will be reborn from a temporary storage place into a small bookshelf where only the first-string knowledge that is truly necessary for you now and that you want to read over and over again is neatly lined up. I would be happy if you could use it as a partner not just for collecting, but for carefully selecting and using information.
(Though, to be honest, it's a secret that I set a limit because, considering the browser's memory capacity, I can't let it store too large a volume.)
■ How to install (How to add to Chrome)
It might look difficult, but you can easily add it to your Google Chrome in a few minutes by following the four steps below.
Step 1: Prepare the files
Download the folder containing the extension program being distributed (for example, a folder named NoteReaderEnhancer) and place it in an easy-to-find location, such as your computer's desktop. (*If you downloaded it as a compressed file, please be sure to right-click and select 'Extract All' or 'Unzip' to keep it in a normal folder state.)
Step 2: Open the extension management screen
Open the Google Chrome browser. Copy and paste the following text into the input field at the very top of the screen where the URL is always displayed.
chrome://extensions/
Paste it in and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will open the extension management screen.
Step 3: Turn on Developer mode
Look at the top right of the screen that opened. There is a small switch labeled "Developer mode". Click here to turn the switch on (it will become colored). This will allow you to install extensions you have prepared yourself.
Step 4: Load the folder
Once you turn on Developer mode, a button labeled "Load unpacked" will appear in the top left of the screen.
Click this button, select the "NoteReaderEnhancer" folder you prepared in Step 1, and press "Select Folder".
If no red error text appears on the screen and a panel named "Note Reader Enhancer" has been added to the list, the installation is complete.
■ How to install (How to add to Firefox)
Firefox users who value privacy protection and reading experience can also add the features in the same way by following the steps below.
Step 1: Prepare the files
It is exactly the same as for Chrome. Download the folder containing the distributed extension program, unzip it, and place it in an easy-to-find location on your computer.
Step 2: Open the debugging screen (developer screen)
Open the Firefox browser. Copy and paste the following text into the URL bar at the very top of the screen: about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox Press the Enter key, and the developer screen for testing extensions will open.
Step 3: Load as a temporary add-on
On the screen that opens, there is a button labeled "Load Temporary Add-on", so click this.
Step 4: Specify the file
A file selection screen will open. Open the "NoteReaderEnhancer" folder you prepared in Step 1, select the file named "manifest.json" inside it, and press the "Open" button.
This completes the installation for Firefox. You can use the same comfortable reading features as in Chrome until you close Firefox. (*Due to Firefox specifications, the extension will be temporarily disabled when you completely close and restart the browser, so please reload it using these steps if that happens.)
Conclusion
Go ahead and open a note article you usually read. You should see two small icons waiting for you in the top right corner of the screen.
In this age overflowing with information, I believe what matters is not 'how much you can collect,' but 'how well you can engage with quality information.'
If this extension can help eliminate screen glare and tedious operations, making your time with wonderful writing even a little richer, there is nothing that would make me happier as a developer.
Please try creating your own comfortable reading space and a bookshelf filled with 30 carefully selected pieces of knowledge.
I plan to continue developing useful feature extensions and software in the future.
I would be happy if you could give it a ♡ like if you like it.
Also, I would appreciate it if you could support me with a tip.