Top 5 Map Apps for Firefox

1: Quick Maps

Quick Maps has 4 stars out of 5 from 38 user reviews in Firefox's add-ons library. The add-on has a total of 45,048 users.

This app from Mapify adds in-page Google Map frames to website street address listings. Just hover your mouse over or highlight and right-click on the physical street address listing on a Web page within Firefox and an elegant Google Maps frame will embed on the Web page with the map and location label.

It also provides a highlight and one right-click Google search based on the address highlighted. Pretty.

2: Google Shortcuts - All Google Services at a Glance

Google Shortcuts has 4 stars out of 5 from 311 user reviews in Firefox's add-ons library. The add-on has a total of 124,912 users.

Soeren Rinne's Google Shortcuts app simply adds Google services buttons, including one for Maps, next to the address bar on the Firefox browser.

The default setting is to create multiple buttons, including ones for Maps, Gmail, the now defunct Google Reader, Calendar and so on. However, from the app's settings icon, remove the ones you don't use. Retaining the Maps button only provides a speedy one-click Google Maps launch.

 3: Bing Maps powered by Microsoft Silverlight

Bing Maps Powered by Silverlight has 5 stars out of 5 from one user review in Firefox's add-ons library. The add-on has 70 weekly downloads.

If you're a little bored with Google Maps, BillVo's Bing Maps for Silverlight may make a welcome change. This app simply adds a Bing Maps SL option in the Firefox Search dropdown next to the address bar. Choose it to generate fluid map results from an alternative provider.

Both Microsoft's Bing Maps and Google's Maps use their own, unique aerial shots, so you'll see subtle detail differences, including clarity related to lighting based on time of day and other variables.

4: Google Maps Terrain View

Google Maps Terrain View is not yet rated and has no user reviews in Firefox's add-ons library. The add-on has seven weekly downloads.

This app offers functionality similar to that delivered by our No. 3 spot, Bing Maps Powered by Silverlight, except that this is a Google Maps Terrain option for the Firefox Search dropdown.

Simply choose the option to have the search engine default to Terrain rather than Satellite or Map. It's a useful solution if you're performing multiple searches for locations for the purposes of outdoors activities in which hills are important.

 5: Locator - Locate on Google Map

Locator has 4 stars out of 5 from 32 user review in Firefox's add-ons library. The add-on has 7,672 users.

Here's an alternative to our No. 1 position Quick Maps that uses a highlight-and-right-click selection method rather than hover-over. It also produces a pop-out map in a new window rather than a map in an embedded frame.

It's a slightly less elegant solution, which is why it's in a runner-up position. At the same time, however, the new-window functionality does allow for map re-positioning on the screen and is consequently good for the screen real-estate-challenged.

5 Best Weather Apps for Google Chrome

1: Full Screen Weather

Full Screen Weather has 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 2,533 reviewers in the Chrome Web Store. The app has 952,524 users.

Without a doubt, this app offers the best-looking weather maps out there for desktop, even if it is a little peculiar to navigate.

This Wunderground crowdsourced app is simply a straight mash-up of Google Maps along with satellite or terrain detail -- and superimposed radar, satellite weather or reporting weather station data. Thousands of data sources are included, such as hobbyist stations and remote automated stations perched on mountaintops. Drill-down for super-local observations.

 2: Rain Alarm

Rain Alarm has 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 304 reviewers in the Chrome Web Store. The app has 81,331 users.

This app warns you of precipitation headed your way. Set your location and some parameters, like a search radius, and the app will alert you. You may have to adjust sensitivity and search interval, but it does usually work.

Alternatives include looking out of the window.

 3: WeatherBug

WeatherBug has 4 stars out of a possible 5 from 3,016 reviewers in the Chrome Web Store. The app has 608,449 users.

A good, solid, all-round weather extension with animated graphics. A close-by weather cam will display in the animated window if available. An additional add-on for Windows gives you severe weather alerts in your taskbar.

Detailed observations include must-haves like humidity, monthly rain and an interesting rain rate for the day. All useful stuff.

 4: Uber Weather

Uber Weather has 4 stars out of a possible 5 from six reviewers in the Chrome Web Store. The app has 3,490 users.

Here's a Google-driven weather map that includes layers like ski resorts, driving directions and traffic. It's not quite as elegant as the other apps we've included, hence its runner's-up position. Still, it is remarkably interesting to see traffic snarl-ups created by weather, and it's a tool you can use to pick alternate freeway commute routes based on rain-dumping weather cells.

 5: YoWindow Weather

YoWindow Weather has 5 stars out of a possible 5 from 4,467 reviewers in the Chrome Web Store. The app has 190,747 users.

"Quirky" would be a good one-word description for this very popular extension. Clicking on a button adjacent to the address bar creates an animated "living landscape" that reflects the weather.

Choose from weather layer-superimposed pastoral scenes, cityscapes and other scenes -- or make your own with any photo -- and the weather animates in real-time, a bit like looking out of a virtual window. A time scroll lets you project a forecast graphically. Fun, if you've got time on your hands.