Google’s start page is rolling out a sidebar chat tool, which uses Gmail users’ existing chat settings if they have them but can also chat between iGoogle users without Gmail (all 12 of them?) We kid, we kid. iGoogle’s chat works almost exactly like Gmail, offering the same status options, providing mouse-over details on contacts and quick links to email, chat, and choose their appearance frequency in your list. If you want to invite a non-Gmail friend to chat, you can do that from the “Add friends” link—they’ll have to sign up for iGoogle, but after that, you’re both inside Google Talk/Chat. The two noticeable drawbacks to iGoogle chat are the lack of Gmail’s AIM support, and no pop-out options for the chat windows that pop up from the lower-right corner. If you use iGoogle to get things done and don’t want any chats, you can sign out and minimise the chat bar to a single line. It’s a US-English-only thing for now, but “coming soon” for other languages and countries. Does Google Talk make your iGoogle page a better all-in-one home page, or is it feature overload? What features would you like to see installed? Trade your takes in the comments.
Chatting away on iGoogle… [Official Google Blog]The Feed Reader gadget for Gmail displays items from any RSS feed in your inbox sidebar, giving you easy access to your most important feed. Adding the gadget requires first enabling the “Add any gadget” feature under the experimental Labs section of Gmail’s settings panel, which will add a
Google Maps has added a friend-finding, location-aware feature for mobile phones and iGoogle that tells selected friends and contacts where you are, updates through Google Talk, and claims lots of privacy features. Head to google.com/latitude from your Android, Blackberry, Symbian S60, or Windows Mobile phone, or in your desktop browser, to activate Latitude (iPhone support is on the way, the big G says). Both mobile phones running the Latitude app and browser with Google Gears installed can automatically update your location using Maps’ My Location feature, but you can set up, contact-by-contact, who sees your live updates, who doesn’t, and even set up status messages for individuals—so, perhaps, the boss only sees that you’re at your desk, nowhere else, not even thinking about sneaking out for coffee. The app and iGoogle gadget launch today with availability in 27 countries and 42 languages. Check out an overview of how Latitude works, and its privacy features, in this video:
A week after it was originally announced, Google rolls out a tool to “create iGoogle themes.” It can’t do everything we’d hope for, but check out what you can accomplish in the screenshots below.
Google Operating System runs down how to get rid of the intrusive and slow to load chat box that sometimes appears on Google’s customised iGoogle pages (I can’t say it’s showed up on mine). It’s a slightly fiddly fix (involving editing XML files), but worth it if you don’t want screen clutter or have to work with a slow connection. How to Remove iGoogle’s Chat Box [Google Operating System]
43Marks is yet another customisable start page ala iGoogle or Netvibes which includes a prominent search box for Google or Yahoo, category buckets for favourite bookmarks, and boxes to display a handful of RSS feeds. What it doesn’t have is the variety of features and widgets iGoogle or My Yahoo offers, but it’s just as free with registration—and you don’t have to sign in to see your page once it’s set up. Of course, that means if someone knows your username, they can check out your homepage, too—so much for adding a “Porn” category. Thanks, SristiCaban!
43 MarksNot everybody’s a fan of the just-changed full-screen, canvas view iGoogle start page Web PR consultant Steve Rubel notes, however, that canvas view does improve a few things, including the usefulness of Google Notbeook. By keeping the Notebook widget full-sized, you can quickly start a note and tag it, send it over to Google Docs or Gmail, and quickly get to Google Reader or your email if you need to reference it. In other words, it’s a universal capture tool you can keep in a tab. Rubel offers two other canvas-view conveniences—let’s hear about your own full-screen findings in the comments. Three Ways to Rock the New iGoogle [Micro Persuasion]
Firefox with Greasemonkey: The iGoogle Sidebar Collapse Greasemonkey script toggles the visibility of the new iGoogle sidebar with the click of your mouse or with a user-defined keyboard shortcut. We gave you a closer look at the new iGoogle with canvas view yesterday, but many people aren’t happy with it. You main complaint: The new sidebar eats up a substantial chunk of screen real estate. iGoogle Sidebar Collapse reclaims that stolen space, collapsing and expanding the sidebar at your will. Thanks Nicholas! Rockmaster’s iGoogle Sidebar Collapse [Userscripts.org]
We previewed the new iGoogle with support for full-screen gadgets months ago and showed you what full-screen Gmail looks like, but now Google has officially rolled out the new and improved iGoogle to regular old accounts. The new full-screen feature—called canvas view—lets you toggle between viewing your gadgets in collapsed or full-screen form. Not every gadget has canvas support yet, but Google does offer up some of the best:
Trying to track down the cheapest petrol price in your area? Google’s new iGoogle Petrol Price Tracker lets you select your preferred petrol type and brand, and offers twice-daily price updates by postcode (sourced from MotorMouth). Google claims to cover 50% of major metropolitan areas; I found a few holes on a quick search of Melbourne, but if your suburb is covered, it’s a useful way to check prices before heading out the door. [Google Australia Blog]
