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New iGoogle gets wider, more integrated with Reader/GMail
By Dominic J. Litten | October 16, 2008
After stepping away for a few meetings, I came back to my laptop and noticed my iGoogle page had changed visually. The most obvious change was that the tabs normally at the top, had been moved to left-hand side, much like the “canvas view” utilized by Google Reader.
But why?
According to Mashable’s Adam Ostrow, Google wants us to view the Google applications and some outside websites’ content in full within the iGoogle interface (and never leave).
Essentially, the canvas view gadgets are like iFrames on steroids, allowing you to access a whole bunch of services without ever leaving iGoogle. Compared to links that pop open stories in new windows, the user experience is certainly more enjoyable, and for companies that are able to become highlighted partners, it should be a way to gain more traffic.
But which gadgets/widgets will have that functionality besides Google’s services?
According to Tech Crunch, there will be some serious gadget integration with partners such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and more:
Partners that are launching with expanded gadgets include the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, TV Guide, iLike, CurrentTV, and Go Comics. Google itself has created extra-wide gadgets for Google Reader, Gmail, Google Finance, and YouTube.
Still wondering how (and why) to navigate a new iGoogle? Visit the Official Google Blog and view the entry “What’s new with iGoogle?“. They also give you a list of gadgets that will have the improved functionality.
And if you’re in the US and your iGoogle hasn’t changed yet, it should do so by the end of the day. Not that anyone checks their iGoogle page during the workday…
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October 16th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
OK, the more I use it, the more I don’t like it. Additionally, most links aren’t hyperlinked in my email anymore.
That’s annoying.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Forget iGoogle. Move on with Netvibes http://www.netvibes.com with a how-to-migrate
October 17th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I read about a site on John Chow today called http://www.43marks.com - its like Igoogle but better cuz you can add you own bookmarks and the bookmarks can be websites not just gadgets and RSS feeds although you can upload your favorite RSS feeds too. Its free and totally customizable. Plus you don’t have to login to see your bookmars and RSS feeds