iGoogle

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iGoogle

logo
iGoogle screenshot

iGoogle in Mozilla Firefox
Basic data

developer Google
Current  version Final
(April 2007)
operating system any
category Web 2.0
License usable free of charge; Google account required to save
German speaking Yes
www.google.de/ig

iGoogle was the successor to the personalized homepage on the Google search engine and was published on April 30, 2007. Google Inc. started the personalized start page in May 2005. Updates made it possible to add web feeds and widgets (so-called Google gadgets ), for example the Google Reader could be integrated into iGoogle.

On November 1, 2013, iGoogle was discontinued.

Functions

Users could insert widgets from a special directory and move them to their iGoogle page in real time and change settings, similar to the Windows Vista Sidebar or Google Desktop . You could add multiple gadgets such as: B. the time or the weather. On July 25, 2009 the layout was fundamentally changed. A chat field and the function to maximize gadgets have been added. The tabs have also been moved to the left.

Creating gadgets

The service also enabled the user to create and publish his own gadgets. Almost completely changeable gadgets were:

  • Photo with frame
  • GoogleGrams
  • My news
  • Free format
  • YouTube channel
  • countdown
  • Personal list

Tabs

Google allowed its users to create tabs on the page. Initially these were limited to six. This limit was lifted in June 2007. It is also possible to move posts back and forth between the tabs.

Themes

Since March 2007 it has been possible to choose from a growing number of predefined "backgrounds" ( themes ). The background image, icons and color schemes change depending on the theme chosen. Within a theme, the background image usually changes according to the time of day (sometimes also according to the day of the week, the current weather situation, etc.). In January 2008 an API was released for the themes , which should allow the creation of your own themes.

Availability

iGoogle was available for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Australia, India, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, China, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Russia and Brazil until November 1, 2013.

System requirements

iGoogle worked with the following web browsers :

In addition, JavaScript had to be active in order to be able to use all functions.

attitude

On July 4, 2012, Google announced that it would discontinue the service with effect from November 1, 2013. Google cited the reason that the service was no longer up-to-date in the age of apps based on Chrome or Android.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Saying Goodbye to iGoogle. In: iGoogle Developer Blog. November 1, 2013, accessed November 1, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Make your own gadget
  3. ↑ Google Watch Blog
  4. ↑ http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/igoogle-themes-api.html
  5. ↑ heise online: Spring cleaning: Google discontinues iGoogle and Google Video