June 1, 2009

Google Notebook's Extension URL

Now that Google Notebook is no longer actively developed, Google decided to hide the link to the Firefox extension and to remove the Notebook support from Google Toolbar. It's probably a wise decision, since new users can't sign up for Google Notebook and Google won't be able to make sure that the add-ons will be compatible with the future versions of Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The only alternative to the Notebook add-ons is a bookmarklet, but it's too basic and the confirmation message is annoying. Google Notebook's integration with the browser is what made the service very powerful: you could copy the text from a web page in a notebook with one click.

I don't know for how long you'll still be able to download the Firefox extension from Google, but here's the download link:

http://dl.google.com/firefox/google-notebook.xpi


If you use a beta version of Firefox 3.5, here's a way to install the extension:

* save the extension to your computer: right-click and select "save link as".
* download 7-zip, an excellent open-source software for archiving files, and install it.
* right-click on the extension (google-notebook.xpi), click on "7-zip" and then on "open archive". Right-click on "install.rdf", select "Edit" and replace "3.0.*" with "4.0.*". Save the file, close Notepad and update the archive.
* now you can drag the .xpi file to your browser and install the extension.

Internet Explorer users that want to download the Google Notebook add-on can try this link:

http://dl.google.com/notebook/GoogleNotebookSetup.exe
at

69 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 1, 2009 at 4:35 PM

    Thanks dude!

    ReplyDelete
  2. StalkerNOVAJune 1, 2009 at 4:43 PM

    With FF Beta I would recommend to use also one of these extensions (to load outdated extensions):
    1. MR Tech Toolkit
    2. Nightly Tester Tool

    ReplyDelete
  3. Guy DeridetJune 1, 2009 at 8:24 PM

    The best alternative to Notebook is Evernote. They even provide on their site a bookmarklet which works great on Google Chrome.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ZFTJune 2, 2009 at 1:04 AM

    i think Zoho.com's Zoho Notebook is better then evernote

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 1:55 AM

    My migration to evernote has been painless since and I actually am glad notebook decided to fold otherwise i probably wouldn't have made the jump.
    I'm now completely paperless thanks to the OCR function. Not looking back. (Im not affiliated with evernote btw)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alex ChituJune 2, 2009 at 2:18 AM

    I really don't like Evernote's web interface and the Firefox extension is less functional than Google Notebook's extension. For example, you can't view your notebooks using the extension, you can't edit the notes, there's no option to create a new notebook etc.

    Evernote's desktop software is great, but the web service is not.

    ReplyDelete
  7. domagramJune 2, 2009 at 2:51 AM

    Apart from the extension - which someone will probably make - I think Google Tasks is basically a useful replacement to Google Notebook; it has better Gmail and Google Calendar integration and a mobile interface for iPhone and Android

    ReplyDelete
  8. HunnterJune 2, 2009 at 3:28 AM

    Why oh why oh why won't they port the code to Docs?
    It is a trivial thing to do surely?

    Someone (good at making plugins) should download it, decompile and rebuild it to send requests to docs instead, if Google aren't going to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. MihaiJune 2, 2009 at 5:08 AM

    About making the extension Firefox 3.5 compatible:
    - if you're getting a
    "Firefox could not install the file at [...]
    because: Signing could not be verified.-260"
    - delete the zigbert.rsa file in the extension's META-INF folder.

    ReplyDelete
  10. NickJune 2, 2009 at 7:40 AM

    Is it just me or does it seem like Google Wave will be a nice follow-up Google notebook. It will just have better sharing capabilities.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM

    I think that Zoho Notebook is the best option to switch to, it comes with a very similar extension for Firefox and it accepts migration from Google Notebook.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownJune 2, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    google notebook was perfect for making very fast searches on the web. Yes google tasks is very good at keeping track of tasks... but google notebook was not for tasks or for creating docs... it was the best way to create a structured library of bookmarks!
    There are two types of bookmarks: bookmarks of sites we frequently read and bookmarks of pages we saw once and we need to keep somewhere in order to find again in the future. If I am looking for tutorials about the use of linux rsync the page I found will not be a place where I will go back very often but I need them to be saved somewhere with my notes and everything put together in a easy to find and re-read way. The search wiki and google bookmarks are two different services which are unable to give something nearly comparable to the notebook experience, it seems all notebook users understood this, but not people at google, it is something I really cannot understand. Maybe it was a service too expensive to give without any charge... but why not putting some publicity as they did with gmail?
    I am really unable to understand why they did that... yes maybe now wave will absorb also that functionality, it depends if they will provide some interface similar to that of notebook... maybe someone will write an extension of wave which will do that... let's hope...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jigar shahJune 2, 2009 at 11:33 PM

    Seriously need google notebook. Its like a scratchpad for me. Very fast web analysis and research. Google's explanation that it has overlapping with docs is halfway truth. Yes it does but it has totally different purpose. Its an intermediate scratch for final documnent. I hope google really understands why we need it. May be they have something better in waiting. Its good that at least they not asked us to move our notes and stop creating new ones. Thanks Google..!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jay KhimaniJune 10, 2009 at 11:35 PM

    This is awesome man. When I downloaded 3.5 and saw no google notebook, I was in a catch 22 situation. Want to use 3.5 and also google notebook extension. This blog save my life ;-)

    I guess if Google does not want to develop/support notebook anymore, can atleast make Notebook and Notebook extension opensource.

    Cheers !!!
    - Jay

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alex ChituJune 11, 2009 at 12:24 AM

    @Jay:
    You already have access to the source and you can easily change it, but I'm not sure if the license allows you to do that.

    ReplyDelete
  16. theoJune 12, 2009 at 6:47 PM

    Thanks VERY MUCH

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yeast InfectionJune 12, 2009 at 10:52 PM

    Well Google notebook was perfect for making very fast searches on the web.google tasks is very good at keeping track of tasks... but google notebook was not for tasks or for creating docs... it was the best way to create a structured library of bookmarks

    ReplyDelete
  18. fynali iladijasJune 15, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    I really think Google should integrate Google Notebook into #GoogleDocs; it is simply a natural fit there.

    Loved #GoogleNotebook.

    @fynali (on twitter)

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousJune 18, 2009 at 7:51 AM

    Thanks! Think google will mind if I host the updated extension file somewhere?

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousJune 25, 2009 at 5:25 PM

    Google.. A lot of your tools are great.. I love my GMail, and the Task list.. and I like the new (though limited) Google Sites.. but WHY OH WHY did you have to stop supporting Notebook?? It's the most unique and best of all the tools.. Thank God you're "allowing" us to keep using it.. but what will I do when I buy my new laptop?? I really need it keep ideas and snippets for my websites. Not a smart move on your part.

    ReplyDelete
  21. RamJune 25, 2009 at 10:03 PM

    Thanks a bunch, you saved by day, i was worried that I may never find the extension.

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousJune 30, 2009 at 6:47 AM

    a bunch of thanks for the article. Now i could use google notebook in Firefox3.5

    ReplyDelete
  23. TrevorJune 30, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    Does this work with OS X? I use firefox, want to upgrade to 3.5, but I still have google notebook and don't want to lose it!

    ReplyDelete
  24. MArt RodJuly 1, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    Another bunch of thanks. Works perfectly!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousJuly 2, 2009 at 5:11 AM

    Lifesaver! I love Google Notebooks and I don't want to trust my private data to either of the other two contenders. Google Docs is not a substitute. I need to make many small easily organized notes in the course of my "research" and Google Notebook wa a perfect fit. It is one of my favorite Google tools. Not a great fan of Google Docs. Far too clumsy and inconvenient. Documents are not the key element that I want to access from anywhere, and for my work-related activities, I don't trust Google with my documents.

    ReplyDelete
  26. pmlgrnJuly 2, 2009 at 7:52 AM

    Wow, thanks for this tip.
    I also was a happy user Notebook since it was released, and was pretty desperate since I installed FF3.5 yesterday.
    But since the end of Google Notebook seems neigh anyway, it is about time to think about a good replacement.
    I've been using Evernote myself the last few months, am happy about it, but it's not as fast as Google Notebook.
    Any good alternatives? Tips and links are welcome!

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownJuly 4, 2009 at 7:22 PM

    Thank you! I think you should give instruction of how to do it on linux as well. I just did it - created a .jar file with the modified files and renamed the .jar to .xpi and opened it with FF3.5.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousJuly 5, 2009 at 10:52 PM

    Thank you so much for giving me back my Notebook.

    Bad Google, Bad.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Phil de SomersetJuly 8, 2009 at 4:44 AM

    I can also confirm this technique works perfectly in the release version of FF 3.5.

    I wonder if Google are going to take notice now that Yahoo! have launched their SearchPad application : http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/search/searchpad/

    ReplyDelete
  30. MaluviaJuly 8, 2009 at 7:57 PM

    Wow, I was just desperately searching for this! Thank you so much! Going to upload this to Box.net and make it public. 8-0

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousJuly 10, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    This was a big big mistake by Google to stop Notebook in its tracks. It actually took me 3 days searching (I emailed google w/ no Response) for a way to get the Firefox extension for my 3rd computer (the point of this isn't it)... The Link on the Google site itself went no where.. but moreover, this causes a lack of trust. Is everything on Google prone to abrupt discontinuation? I was using google Notes to replace the Palm Notes that crashed abruptly when I upgraded my Treo, then I found that this too is an uncertain future.

    Rethink this process please!

    ReplyDelete
  32. KarenJuly 18, 2009 at 6:43 PM

    Woohoo. I love you googlesystem! Your trick worked like a charm =)

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousJuly 21, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Agghhhh... doesn't work with FF 3.5.1

    ReplyDelete
  34. paulus pessoaJuly 22, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    It works very well with FF 3.5.1; replace with 3.5 ( if you replace with 3.5.1, it doesn't work ).

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousJuly 23, 2009 at 8:20 PM

    Thanks for the clear directions on how to get to work with Firefox 3.5 and the download link!

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousJuly 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    For Firefox 3.5.1 you will need to edit the file to read "3.6"

    ReplyDelete
  37. Alex ChituJuly 24, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    @Anonymous:

    No, 3.5.* is enough to cover all the minor versions of Firefox 3.5.

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousJuly 25, 2009 at 2:51 PM

    Thank you so much for posting this. I just got a new PC and was horrified when I couldn't get the notebook extension for firefox. Was able to get it working with 3.5.1 just fine.

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousJuly 29, 2009 at 3:44 AM

    It doenst works with FF 3.5.1

    ReplyDelete
  40. Alex ChituJuly 29, 2009 at 4:15 AM

    Of course it works in Firefox 3.5.1. Most likely, you replaced 3.0.* with 3.5 instead of 3.5.* (the asterisk has a purpose).

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousJuly 30, 2009 at 3:27 AM

    Yesterday I have posted "It doenst works with FF 3.5.1". Now i found the solution.

    1. to about:config add two boolean keys
    extensions.checkCompatibility;false
    extensions.checkUpdateSecurity;false

    2. from XPI archive remove folder *META* and save xpi

    As late as you will able to install local and plugins from HDD where the signing will not be checked!

    ReplyDelete
  42. JacoboAugust 1, 2009 at 12:34 PM

    Thanks!. Mil gracias

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousAugust 4, 2009 at 12:18 PM

    The solution posted by "Anonymous" for FF 3.5.1 compatibility works by just following step (2) - deleting the META-INF folder and without setting the boolean keys.
    No reason to compromise security.
    Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  44. AnonymousAugust 5, 2009 at 12:04 AM

    Hi, not so true. When plugin is downloaded to HDD and changed, was not be able to install coz FF said eg "plugin could not be verified" and instalation has stopped. Therefore the security was workarouded.

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousAugust 5, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    Sadly it's not compatible with firefox 3.5.2. Anyone know a work-around?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Alex ChituAugust 5, 2009 at 11:02 PM

    If you follow the directions from this post and you save the extension to your computer, it will work in Firefox 3.5 and in all 3.5.* minor versions. I've just tested this in a freshly downloaded Firefox 3.5.2.

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousAugust 16, 2009 at 8:28 AM

    I just did this on a mac. The steps are pretty much the same using Stuffit Expander to turn the .xpi into a folder, taco to edit install.rdf, and the default OS X compression software to compress. When compressing the updated file, do so from inside the folder (select all files, compress) and rename Archive.zip google-notebook.xpi and drag to the browser. Charm!

    ReplyDelete
  48. TuAugust 18, 2009 at 10:08 AM

    Thank you X 10 times for your kind post.. I really missed the functionality of Google notebook on the now firefox 3.5

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousAugust 19, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    Thank you! Thank you and Thank you again!

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousAugust 20, 2009 at 1:46 AM

    Very cool. Thanks or the 3.5 migration.

    Now, how do we get new folks to be able to sign up for Notebook even though it was discontinued? Must be a way, but not sure the path.

    ReplyDelete
  51. GérardAugust 29, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    @Allison
    I've tried your process on a Mac, but I get stuck : Firefox tells me that "no information on style seems to be associated to th XML file" (my translation from French).
    I edited install.rdf with TextEdit, is this right?
    Thanks in advance
    G

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousSeptember 2, 2009 at 5:45 PM

    Thanks soooooo much!! I loved my notebook extension and that is just fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete
  53. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2009 at 2:43 AM

    Firefox could not install the file at

    file:///Drive/notebook/google-notebook.xpi

    because: Signing could not be verified.
    -260

    I was getting the above error, is there a way to resolve it.

    ReplyDelete
  54. ImTiaZSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:53 PM

    thanks a lot man. I was missing it

    - Imtiaz

    ReplyDelete
  55. Aire PuroOctober 6, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    Hi, thanx this trick really saved my google notebook, i wanted actually to change to Zoho notebook, but since i installed extension on firefox 3.5 i all keep google notebook.

    A last question, do you guys think that google notebook is going to be around even if Google forgot about it, cause i am afraid of loosing all my notes if Google suddenly decides to close this service.
    thanx
    andres

    ReplyDelete
  56. AnonymousOctober 23, 2009 at 2:16 AM

    Thanks a lot

    ReplyDelete
  57. BillyOctober 26, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    Thank you so much for these links. All of the ones on the site redirect to the page notifying users of the stop in development. This post is a huge help!

    ReplyDelete
  58. CitizentoniOctober 26, 2009 at 10:58 AM

    Thank you Google Operating System, I re-installed it and it works like a charm. Google shouldn't have discontinued it. Thank you a lot.

    And special credit to @Allison for Mac Os X aid. I just want to add that in Mac Os x if you don't have Taco you can use Smultron which is free (http://smultron.sourceforge.net).

    ReplyDelete
  59. DaveOctober 30, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    Thanks for this...

    and to Mihai for the "Signing could not be verified" issue
    - delete the zigbert.rsa file in the extension's META-INF folder.

    Easy to do with Ubuntu, Archive manager did the deed without complaint.

    ReplyDelete
  60. AnonymousNovember 16, 2009 at 2:02 PM

    Doesn't work for 3.6 anymore! Crap!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Alex ChituNovember 16, 2009 at 2:29 PM

    @mdm-adph:

    Of course that it doesn't work in Firefox 3.6. You've edited install.rdf so that Firefox 3.5.* is the biggest version in which you can use the extension. Instead of replacing 3.0.* with 3.5.*, you can replace with 4.0.* or any other version that will be released in the future.

    I've updated the post.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Alex ChituNovember 18, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    Apparently, the extension no longer works in Firefox 3.6 beta. The main problem is that clicking on the small Notebook window has no effect. That's strange, as you can open the same page in a new tab:

    http://www.google.com/notebook/onpage?client=gnotesff&v=1.0.0.22

    If someone manages to find the bug, please let us know.

    ReplyDelete
  63. irisclaraJanuary 13, 2010 at 6:20 PM

    Worked like a charm. I'll be saving my modified file for future reinstalls. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  64. lbecqueFebruary 1, 2010 at 10:21 AM

    Apparently the problems with FF 3.6 beta have been fixed in the production release, it works for me using the modified maxversion value in the extension.

    ReplyDelete
  65. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2010 at 8:41 AM

    This approach worked fine for me in FF 3.6 Production:

    * save the extension to your computer: right-click and select "save link as".
    * download 7-zip, an excellent open-source software for archiving files, and install it.
    * right-click on the extension (google-notebook.xpi), click on "7-zip" and then on "open archive". Right-click on "install.rdf", select "Edit" and replace "3.0.*" with "4.0.*". Save the file, close Notepad and update the archive.
    * now you can drag the .xpi file to your browser and install the extension.

    ReplyDelete
  66. BernhardAugust 9, 2010 at 3:20 AM

    Thank you for the help.

    ReplyDelete
  67. UnknownDecember 14, 2010 at 5:26 PM

    Thank you..I am glad this extension is still working and with 3.6 Mozilla. I can't believe Google ditched notebook! what were they thinking?

    ReplyDelete
  68. AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Works on firefox (Iceweasel) 3.6.8 on debian linux with Gnome.
    Clicking on the .xpi with File Browser will open the archive tool. Extract the install.rdf only. Don't close the archive. Edit the extracted install.rdf according to above description, save the file. In the archive tool, select install.rdf and delete it. Then add the modified install.rdf with the Add Files button. Now the .xpi can be dragged and dropped into a running session of the browser.
    Thanks for the description. It is so easy when you only know....

    ReplyDelete
  69. Bersih 2.0July 12, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    I've tried evernote and their extension but they still come a bit short.

    You cannot create new notebook in Evernote's FF extension; you have to clip, drop it in an existing notebook,go to the website, create a new notebook and move the clipping.

    I held out for ~2 years for Google to revive notebook extensions but finally had to moved on to FF5.x this year. :(

    ReplyDelete

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