One of the slicker features in Google’s Chrome OS is referred to as Panels. They’re the pop-in panes you see in some Chrome OS screenshots for things like the file browser, download shelf, and Google Talk. Those native features are pretty slick in panel form, but wouldn’t it be cool if you put your favorite web apps in a panel, too?
It turns out you can — by installing the Panelize extension for Google Chrome. Panelize works by creating a special bookmark folder (which it hides in Chrome’s Other Bookmarks) and forcing links inside that folder to open in a panel instead of a new tab or window. A handful of popular web apps are included, like Gmail, Google Voice, Google Tasks, and Google Reader. The mobile versions are used, because they’re nicely sized for panel use.
To add any page you’re viewing to your list of panels, just click the Panlize icon and specify the desired height and width. If you’re doing this for one-time use, just make sure to uncheck the ‘add to default panel collection’ box.
Right now, this extension is only useful on Chrome OS or Chromium OS. Google is working on introducing Panels in the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions of Chrome, but progress has been slow — not much has changed since the switch first landed in the Chromium source code back in February of 2011.
via Chrome Story and Download Squad