iGoogle Guide
by David Mume
You have a Google account, and even perhaps use Gmail, but do not know much about the account, and what you can do. Maybe you do know...but either way, this guide is for you.
Have you tried out iGoogle yet? if not, it's quite simple. Go to www.google.com and log in to your account. Once you have done that, you will see an "iGoogle" link next to your account's user name. Once you click it, a page will come up with multiple menus on it, bearing such names as "Calender", "Date and Time", and more. These are iGoogle applications that are compatible with the iGoogle page. In the middle of the current page, you will see a "Welcome to your Google Home Page". Next to that, you will see a "Make it your own" link. Once you click it, you'll be taken to a sampling page where you are required to choose some additions to your Google Home Page. Select the "gadgets" that interest you and ones that you will find useful or fun. Once you have check-marked the boxes with the wanted gadgets, you will click on the link that let's you see how you home page looks. After doing this, you can re-arrange, delete, or add new stuff!
This is only the beginning! Once you have your draft home page, now it's time to add some REALLY cool stuff. You can do this by clicking the "Add stuff »" link. This will move you to the Home Page Content Directory. This is where you can choose more gadgets to put on your iGoogle page! The first page is the popular stuff, but you can also choose a different heading by clicking some of the tabs on the left where you can find categories of different stuff to add. The #1 feature is the Google search engine provided that lets you type in keywords and find a wanted addition to your iGoogle. There are thousands and thousands of things you can add, so put some stuff that interests you in the search engines, and expect results!
Here are some of the recommended iGoogle additions by me:
Weather
Time and Date
Google Calender
Sticky Note/To-Do-List (make more than one!)
Google News/CNN.com (either one...or both!)
Gmail (a Gmail Notifier)
Google Talk (if you have a Gmail account, this is useful)
Google Note Book
Here are some optional fun additions:
Customizable Google Logo
Dictionary
YouTube search
Wiki search
eBay search
Frogger
Asteroids
There are so many possible combinations out there. Like jokes? Try the daily joke gadget. There are things from Brain Teasers, to language translators, from a Disney Character per day, to a Google Calculator, Horoscopes, Discover News, Random posters, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. There is a lot out there, and it's all for YOU. You can use these gadgets for many useful things like checking email. In fact, even if you don't use Gmail as your primary email service, there are also Hotmail notifiers, Yahoo mail notifiers, and AOL mail notifiers. Google isn't the only one making these gadgets, you know! It is also suggested that you make multiple tabs for your iGoogle page, so that it doesn't get cluttered: making it hard to use. If you make a new tab (located near your "Home" page tab), your content will not only be evened out, but you can organize and categorize your content and gadgets, too.
How does your home page look? Are you satisfied? There are always new gadgets being made all the time! As time passes, there will eventually be new gadgets and tools to add to your iGoogle. You have probably forgotten that the primary reason you use Google is because of it's search engine! That is also automatically added on your iGoogle.
Now that you have some of your primary stuff on your iGoogle, maybe it's time to start thinking about making your iGoogle your home page. Or even just Google, so all you have to do is sign in, and presto! Everything you need; right in front of you. A smart tactic is to keep your iGoogle on hand whenever you're online, so you can always refer to it when you need it. If there's an important business note you have to remember, use the Sticky Note gadget. If there's an important website you must remember or want to go to again, add it to your Bookmarks gadget.
And about the bookmarks gadget, you may be thinking, "why should I use bookmarks on iGoogle if I can just use them on my web browser?". Well, let's think about this logically. If you want to use your bookmarks wherever you go, the smartest way to save them online, rather than your web browser. If you were using a friend's computer, where do you look for finding your way around the net? Your personalized iGoogle bookmarks. Still enjoy the functionality of the toolbar bookmarks? Can also be done! If you download the Google toolbar, you can use the bookmarks from your iGoogle.
Well I hope you consider what I've said about iGoogle. And believe me...it will make your life easier, not to mention more fun. And remember, if you don't have a Google account yet, you can sign up for one, or I'll gladly give you an invitation to Gmail, which is shared with Google accounts. My email address is stealthlinkscontact@gmail.com, so email me if you'd like an invitation. Thanks!
by David Mume
You have a Google account, and even perhaps use Gmail, but do not know much about the account, and what you can do. Maybe you do know...but either way, this guide is for you.
Have you tried out iGoogle yet? if not, it's quite simple. Go to www.google.com and log in to your account. Once you have done that, you will see an "iGoogle" link next to your account's user name. Once you click it, a page will come up with multiple menus on it, bearing such names as "Calender", "Date and Time", and more. These are iGoogle applications that are compatible with the iGoogle page. In the middle of the current page, you will see a "Welcome to your Google Home Page". Next to that, you will see a "Make it your own" link. Once you click it, you'll be taken to a sampling page where you are required to choose some additions to your Google Home Page. Select the "gadgets" that interest you and ones that you will find useful or fun. Once you have check-marked the boxes with the wanted gadgets, you will click on the link that let's you see how you home page looks. After doing this, you can re-arrange, delete, or add new stuff!
This is only the beginning! Once you have your draft home page, now it's time to add some REALLY cool stuff. You can do this by clicking the "Add stuff »" link. This will move you to the Home Page Content Directory. This is where you can choose more gadgets to put on your iGoogle page! The first page is the popular stuff, but you can also choose a different heading by clicking some of the tabs on the left where you can find categories of different stuff to add. The #1 feature is the Google search engine provided that lets you type in keywords and find a wanted addition to your iGoogle. There are thousands and thousands of things you can add, so put some stuff that interests you in the search engines, and expect results!
Here are some of the recommended iGoogle additions by me:
Weather
Time and Date
Google Calender
Sticky Note/To-Do-List (make more than one!)
Google News/CNN.com (either one...or both!)
Gmail (a Gmail Notifier)
Google Talk (if you have a Gmail account, this is useful)
Google Note Book
Here are some optional fun additions:
Customizable Google Logo
Dictionary
YouTube search
Wiki search
eBay search
Frogger
Asteroids
There are so many possible combinations out there. Like jokes? Try the daily joke gadget. There are things from Brain Teasers, to language translators, from a Disney Character per day, to a Google Calculator, Horoscopes, Discover News, Random posters, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. There is a lot out there, and it's all for YOU. You can use these gadgets for many useful things like checking email. In fact, even if you don't use Gmail as your primary email service, there are also Hotmail notifiers, Yahoo mail notifiers, and AOL mail notifiers. Google isn't the only one making these gadgets, you know! It is also suggested that you make multiple tabs for your iGoogle page, so that it doesn't get cluttered: making it hard to use. If you make a new tab (located near your "Home" page tab), your content will not only be evened out, but you can organize and categorize your content and gadgets, too.
How does your home page look? Are you satisfied? There are always new gadgets being made all the time! As time passes, there will eventually be new gadgets and tools to add to your iGoogle. You have probably forgotten that the primary reason you use Google is because of it's search engine! That is also automatically added on your iGoogle.
Now that you have some of your primary stuff on your iGoogle, maybe it's time to start thinking about making your iGoogle your home page. Or even just Google, so all you have to do is sign in, and presto! Everything you need; right in front of you. A smart tactic is to keep your iGoogle on hand whenever you're online, so you can always refer to it when you need it. If there's an important business note you have to remember, use the Sticky Note gadget. If there's an important website you must remember or want to go to again, add it to your Bookmarks gadget.
And about the bookmarks gadget, you may be thinking, "why should I use bookmarks on iGoogle if I can just use them on my web browser?". Well, let's think about this logically. If you want to use your bookmarks wherever you go, the smartest way to save them online, rather than your web browser. If you were using a friend's computer, where do you look for finding your way around the net? Your personalized iGoogle bookmarks. Still enjoy the functionality of the toolbar bookmarks? Can also be done! If you download the Google toolbar, you can use the bookmarks from your iGoogle.
Well I hope you consider what I've said about iGoogle. And believe me...it will make your life easier, not to mention more fun. And remember, if you don't have a Google account yet, you can sign up for one, or I'll gladly give you an invitation to Gmail, which is shared with Google accounts. My email address is stealthlinkscontact@gmail.com, so email me if you'd like an invitation. Thanks!
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