Google has long used its personalized homepage, iGoogle, as a launching point for its foray into social-networking applications. Any developer who builds an OpenSocial app, for instance, can make it work as a widget (er, gadget) on iGoogle. So far, it’s been more of a personal home page. But now iGoogle is taking another step towards becoming a full-fledged social network in its own right.
It is a tiny step, but could be indicative of the direction iGoogle is going to take. Google has opened up a sandbox for developers where they can try building some new types of iGoogle apps not available to the general iGoogle user population. Most significantly, they can add activity streams (i.e., updates) and friends lists in new navigation panes on the page. Any change in a third-party iGoogle widget will be able to be reflected in the updates pane. (This has actually been a long time coming, since adding activity streams was always part of the OpenSocial plan). And they can also play around with larger “canvas” pages that users can click through to from each widget for a full-page experience. How very Facebook of them.
Again, Google is only making these features available to developers to see what they come up with, and is not yet announcing their roll-out to the “general population.” But you can see the writing on the wall.
Here’s more info on the iGoogle APIs. And here’s a video explaining some of the new features.
Blah blah Google blah. Whenever Yahoo! does this – and they’re going to – they’re going to drop the bomb on the market. Y! has more traffic, more people, more content, and more to wrap a network around.
And like all other things Google other than search and ads, it will be a half-assed effort.
Just buy Yahoo, Google.
Zuckerberg look-alike
Natural evolution…
@ The hater. wow, I’m a bit of hater too, but your the first person I’ve heard cheering for Yahoo. LOL
Looks like Google really wants to do everything .. they should just focus on Search and make it even a better job… They will earn even more respect for doing that.. Furthermore, any new comer in search (e.g semantic search) will take advantage of their lack of focus…. It could be the reason for their downfall (assuming it will ever happen)
Google is the most amazing, innovative company in the world. Oh my goodness, I love them and every time something happens at Google I have to write about it.
Considering 20% of people start their Google sessions from iGoogle it makes a lot of sense to head in this direction. Between this, Universal Search, and Search in Search they are doing everything they can to keep the user on their own network for longer.
if you cant beat google join them
btw how do you create api program?
what programming languages java, php etc… do i need to learn?
google has not really developed any killer app after it’s “search” !
it’s time for google to really innovate and rediscover itself!
I agree w/Paul J. Why not leverage the iGoogle starting page so it is more useful to whoever want to take advantage of widgets from other players that are part of OpenSocial.
Maybe Google will stop add openid login to this ?
Doubt it….That would be giving you some control of your data….Google your stance on Open is pathetic. Stop pretending to be open and admit that you are the new Microsoft
Maybe Google will add openid login to this ?
Doubt it….That would be giving you some control of your data….Google your stance on Open is pathetic. Stop pretending to be open and admit that you are the new Microsoft
Google is slow and retarded! I told Adam Lasnik 6 month ago to do this, but they just care about penalizing Websites for link selling.
No thanks, will stick with MyBlogLog. I hope Yahoo will start integrating applications into MyBlogLog control panel.
I just do not trust Evil Google!
Going social is the next logical step in custom homepages. It’s how Pageflakes attempted to stay relevant and it’s the competitive advantage our customizable homepage start-up, ClutterMe, has over its competitors.
http://www.clutterme.com
Mark
Founder and CEO ClutterMe Inc.
Cool, it seems to work well with OpenSocial apps. If you’ve activated the sandbox feel free to check out Hypercube running in iGoogle by adding this URL:
http://www.amne...g_hypercube.xml
-Danny@Mesa
This is a good thing for Google.
Another half-baked idea from Google. Naff Visuals and Naff Gadgets.
If there is one company that can really create the ultimate Web Start Page, then it has to be Apple.
Imagine Apple taking their O/S Dashboard onto a Web Browser and letting everyone create the most stunning Web Start Pages around.
Not only would this idea promote Apple’s iMacs, but it could also help Apple develop Social Networking Applications that could bury Facebook and MySpace.
As expected.
We’ll be looking at how we can work with Google to leverage these new features.
@16: When will you people learn that commenting like that and linking to your crapass site will only bring you scorn and mockery? I can’t believe that you honestly believe what you wrote.
interesting move, igoogle is copying one of the netvibes coolest features introduced in their latest version ginger.
after Pageflakes death, sorry aquisition, it’s going to be fun to see how google and netvibes are fighting to be the most innovative in the startpage market.
Throw in Google Docs and Calendar, not to mention Apps for you Domain, and this is potentially extremely powerful. Expect them to aim squarely for enterprise.
not falling for old tricks.
Definitely an interesting move. Will have to see what happens. Lots of potential, social networking is definitely on the rise. (I’m especially thinking of Forrester’s report about Enterprise 2.0 that sees big social networking spending coming up.)
Erick, I know you’re a busy man, but I’m interested in what you (and TechCrunch readers in general) think of this post I wrote about iGoogle going social.
I think it is the another step by Google in a direction I’m calling “scaled automation.” Hope you get a few seconds to check it out.
Jarred
http://tropophilia.com
YOU ALL ARE FREAKIN COMPUTER NERDS!!!!! GOD, SHUT THE HELL UP PLEASE!!!!!!!!