Posts Tagged With: igoogle
· October 1, 2007 at 6:11 am · Online Tools
Tags: battle, browsers, igoogle, netvibes, start-pages
I have been playing with a number of start pages these days, and I have to say I am about ready to make a switch. It seems like over time iGoogle seems to be getting slower to load. I don’t have many things on it - maybe four thingies, widgets, gadgets.
So now I am looking at some of the competition and I have to say only one has impressed me thus far.
Netvibes is becoming king of the start pages, if you like customization, speed and cool tools to use. Now I don’t need a lot to get going - but it is nice to see they have tons of tools to add.
What does Netvibes Have that iGoogle Does Not?
- More Customization Options for the Web Page
- Quicker Loading Times Overall
Only reason I can see for using iGoogle is to use their specialty gadgets for Gmail and Google Reader. So am I making the right choice? Is there one that even blows Netvibes out of the water?
· July 3, 2007 at 5:00 am · Hot Web Topics, Personal
Tags: Google, Google-Reader, igoogle, RSS, shared, tips
I use Google Reader’s shared items to bookmark links I like or would like to share.
It makes it a quick an easy process to output this to something the public (yes, that would be you) can enjoy. I want an easier way to view my shared items though without having to visit my web site. I’d like to put my shared items on my iGoogle web page actually.
How can I do that?
1. Login to Google Reader and click on the “Shared Items” link.
2. Grab the RSS output link that it gives you from the web page. It should be close to the top as long as you have “shared” a few things.
3. Visit the “Add Stuff” page on iGoogle and click on the link to “add by URL”
4. Paste the RSS feed you grabbed earlier into this box. Click the “Add” button.
Your done! Now it should be on your iGoogle web page and you can customize how it is displayed from there.
· May 18, 2007 at 7:30 am · Hot Web Topics, Online Tools
Tags: igoogle, organize, personalize, popular, productive, start-pages, tips
I don’t like to have to scroll when looking at my start page. If I make a really long one and have to keep going down and down to view it - chances are I’m not. This is a page I look quickly at when I want to go somewhere else. It should be small - yet easy to quickly navigate through.
Get the Basic Gadgets Out of the Way First
Your first tab should have all of the gadgets on it that you actually get some use out of. I like the weather one along with the Google Reader one the most. You might also put other application based gadgets here so that you can get good use out of them.
Here are a few good “basic” gadgets to get you started:
Easy Way to Gather Gadgets Based on Topic
Now every tab after that should be based around things the interest you. You can create them very simply by naming the new tab after your interest. For me I would type in “Web Hosting” and then make sure the check mark for “I’m feeling lucky. Automatically add stuff based on the tab name” is selected.
From the suggestions they give you - you can cut out the ones you really don’t like and add a few it might have forgotten.
Should You Create a Popular Tab?
Now there are a lot of social link popularity Web sites out there as well. Digg, Reddit, Delicious and a boat load of others. You might try to gather all the ones you can and put them on their own tab. This way you can see what is the most popular set of links at any given moment.
Need suggestions on which ones you should be tracking? Visit popurls for a long list of these sort of Web sites. Visit each one, grab the RSS link and take it to you own iGoogle start page.
Is That It? Do You Have More to Share?
There you have it. That might have taken a whole five minutes to configure! Now you have a need focused start page that will help you keep up to date with what you need to stay informed with. If you know of any other iGoogle optimization tips feel free to drop in a comment and let me know.
· May 11, 2007 at 10:33 am · Online Tools
Tags: Firefox, Google, homepage, igoogle, links, personalized, styles, tips
I have been using iGoogle since it’s launch of gadgets and I have to say it is the best of the start pages out there (at least for me). A few things about iGoogle’s style kind of bug me though so I thought I might share a few of my favorite style hacks. The first two need the Stylish Firefox extension installed (or another workaround alternative) but the last one can be done without any special extra tools.
Transparency Effects for iGoogle - This user style makes the search bar fade into the background a ‘bit more on the themed iGoogle Web pages. Sticks out less and makes for a better visual experience.
Collapse iGoogle’s Top Section - This one is pretty neat. After installing it, you hide the top Google search box and pretty much everything else over the iGoogle tabs. To see that stuff again, just move your mouse to the top of the Web page layout.
Add More iGoogle Tabs - Reach your tab limit on iGoogle? To add more all you have to do is copy and paste this to the address bar, while you are on iGoogle, then press enter.
javascript:_renameTab(); _dlsetp(’at=’)
More help on this tip can be found at Googlified.com!
Want to have more fun with iGoogle? Get a Few More Style Customizations at Mashable! That list there inspired me to write about some of my favorites here.
