Incredible to see how many of the top extensions in terms of growth are spam / spyware extensions (ask.com for example). I'm sure it's a game of whack-a-mole for the admins of the Chrome Web Store.
Distribution deals, I am guessing. If you bundle your chrome extension with an installer (Ask Jeeves, when you install Java or Adobe) it's a lot easier to get distribution.
I assume the larger the number of reviews, the higher the engagement of users with the plugin (if they don't think it's part of the browser).
I like how the options are already pre-filled for you. It took me a second to realize I should scroll down, I wasn't sure what to do (if some element was clickable, etc).
I think that Facebook has been so successful because it appeals to stalkerish nature in everyone. They want to browse the site, see what people are doing, and what is going on in their lives. That's why I think it's more powerful than what LinkedIn is doing.
I think people are more interested in changes in their personal life (or friends lives) on a weekly basis than careers on LinkedIn. I agree that LinkedIn is focused on business and someone's career, but I think that there is far more potential in doing the same thing but on a personal level (which handling it carefully, as you suggest).
I think that a heat map of friends is a good idea, but it's a one time element that is useful for you and potentially your friends. I'm thinking that the newsfeed aggregator would be better at getting users to come back into the site on a more frequent basis. Maybe it isn't needed as much because so many of Facebook's users come back to the site on a daily basis.
I'm sure that's right. There are more eyeballs doing searches on Google, and there is an auction between advertisers pay to put their ads in front of users. More advertisers chasing users probably gives them more revenue per search.
We've already had those "wow I'm glad we have this tool" moments, just a couple of months in.