Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy and use Google’s personalized iGoogle? I don’t think about iGoogle much, because it is simply there and convenient. But I have learned in the past few months, that just because I have made something “my own” and it is  “selbstverständlich” for me (German for “self evident” or it “goes without saying”) that does not mean that someone else might not benefit from reading about it. They might see something that they have not seen or heard about.

As you can see from the screenshot (taken with Jing), I have several widgets on my main page of iGoogle. When I go to Google.com and I am signed in, that is the page that will load. No matter if I am on my laptop, my desktop (at home or at school) or at an Internet Cafe in China, Egypt, Germany or Argentina. You can personalize how your page will look by selecting a theme. I chose the skyline of Hong Kong, that changes according to my local time. Sunrise, daylight, dusk, sunset, night sky, etc…. You can also “Add Stuff”, which are gadgets that you add to your iGoogle page. There are literally thousands available from Jokes of the Day, Spanish words of the Day, the weather, cute puppy pictures, Stock quotes, and on and on. Just browse in many different categories (news, tools, communication, fun & games, finance, sports, lifestyle, technology, politics) or create your own gadgets.

Once you have chosen a gadget it will get added to your page. It is a matter of drag and drop to place it on a certain area of real estate on your page. If you run out of space, simply create a new tab and clutter it up with more gadgets .

I have found out, that I am happier if I only have one page to deal with. I seldom go and look at my second tab. On my main page, I have my G-mail, Google Docs, Google Reader, Notebook and Calendar displayed. Each gadget is directly accessible from the links. I can start composing mail, open up a new spreadsheet, browse my Reader feeds or add an event to my calendar.

Other gadgets that I have added and am enjoying is the Event Countdown. Hey only 6 months and 13 days left, until I leave for Argentina!!!

I have a great To-Do list displayed that I use on a daily bases, when I am thinking of something to do, but don’t want to write down those pesky notes on paper, that always mysteriously disappear inside my purse between home and school.

Recently I added the Jott gadget to my front page. It displays the latest Jotts that I have received.

All in all, the iGoogle page has centralized a lot of the tools and information that I use and depend on a daily basis AND made it accessible from any computer. Do you use your iGoogle page for something exciting or for better productivity that you couldn’t live without? Please share…

Posted: 23. December, 2007 at 1:03 am. Filed under: Uncategorized.
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