We just received a screenshot of an iGoogle page, that appears to show a couple interesting new elements of Google’s ever-evolving social blanket. The screenshot supposedly comes from the developer sandbox version of iGoogle (where it tests out new features), and shows options to socially integrate Google widgets. The one shown in the image below is the Google Finance widget, which apparently will be able to access your Google Contacts and place its activity in something called “Updates.”
It’s worth noting that Google just recently rolled out a version of Google Contacts that is wholly separate from Gmail. Why a Google Finance widget would need to access that data, I’m not sure. Perhaps it has some kind of easy-to-use “share this with” functionality. Or more specifically, as our tipster notes, that data may be be used to filter who you share something with in your social sphere. But the more interesting element is the posting to the Updates area. One would have to imagine that this will be a river of information similar to Facebook’s News Feed, that will pipe in new information from you when you update something.
Where such an Updates area resides will be extremely important. I’d guess it will be on your Google Profile, but there needs to be a centralized place for a full contact stream as well — or centralized places. Maybe Google will simply make another widget for all of your contacts’ updates to place on your iGoogle homepage or maybe even in Gmail. That seems like a smart play as it would be taking on Facebook by doing something slightly different than what Facebook is doing — allowing you to choose the area you wish to view the social stream. There would only be a walled garden insomuch as Google itself is a walled garden — a giant walled garden that encircles most of the web. Of course, Facebook is attempting to at least somewhat do this as well by opening its data stream outside of its walls.
I’ve made my distaste for some of Google’s social stumbles very clear. But, if this screenshot is legit, it shows a broader picture that is starting to make some sense. The real question now will be if Google will be able to keep all of this relatively complex tangle of social elements (and the underlying social relationships) simple enough for any user to grasp. Facebook had been really good at that, but it’s getting more complicated. Keep it simple, Google — and it just may pay off.
Update: The iGoogle Developer site has a FAQ which answers more questions about the impending social features.
Here’s the key section:
Who are friends in iGoogle?
For development purposes, you can add friends through the friends manager gadget included with the developer tools. You can only share activities with other friends who have access to the developer sandbox. This is not the final network that will be used in iGoogle. Users will have full control over who their friends are and will be able to easily modify their list of friends. Stay tuned for details.
ProfilesWhat are profiles in iGoogle?
For development purposes, you can modify your profile data (displayname and thumbnail) using the profile gadget included with the developer tools. This is not the final profile or data that will be used in iGoogle. Stay tuned for details.
Updates gadgetHow often can a gadget post an activity to the Updates gadget?
A gadget can post up to 5 activities per user per day. For gadget development and testing purposes, these limits are not implemented in the sandbox. Posting activities requires explicit permission from the user granted during the installation of a social gadget.
And here’s another screenshot:
[thanks David]
This is a terrific step forward. The advent of Google’s standalone contact manager was curious, I thought. But now it all makes sense. If the contacts manager truly becomes portable, and integrates seamlessly with various google services and then becomes widely accepted (like Plaxo wanted to be) then Google as social hub becomes interesting. (Difficult to imagine facebook jumping in here, but…)
Not to be a negative Nelly but I have just never seen iGoogle or Google reader as useful applications.
I wish Google would just buy some Social Startup and let their engineers do what they do best.
Daniel
https://Spideroak.com – Online Backup and Sync
yep. you said it. “I” domain names are out too. Everything is “my, my, my”. Why not “MyGoogle”? were waiting. Why is Googl playing hard to get? everyone else has added the “my” prefix. why wont it let users bond to the “MyGoogle” channel? So far they have been scared to say it.
They appear to be scared to make commitments to harness social users? Is it because they make 65% of their income from the adsenz syndicate network and they dont want to harness people when they can harness clicks from others peoples sites and still win the game?
EngineerLocator.com – develop yourself
annoyinglocator.com
“annoy everyone”
i appreciate my ignorant follower. i dont discriminate. i am here to help the weak. I want everyone to succeed. time to go to school.
http://www.yout...h?v=Xm-DNJtFomo
Looks pretty cool. Threatening for “social stream” sites out there, like Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed, et al.
This could also have social implications for mobile applications, since GoogleSync includes Google contacts.
Good point.
Exactly what I was thinking, perhaps eventually push financial info, weather, etc. to BlackBerry.
It’s so easy for Google to hace access to all our information. “One who controls information, controls the internet”.
Most things take a few iterations until they become great. This is a great step forward for Google. Just hold on to the ball and run with it!
Google understands that it’s not the particular site that drives users, but rather the connections, the relationships, the content and the tools that work in harmony with each other that makes a network more plentiful. They understand that you must build tools that work in succinct with the internet (and internet ready devices) as a whole. They understand the mistakes made before them by MySpace, Facebook, etc.
Interesting developments going on at Google. Reminds me of a blog post I wrote last Sept about the possibility of this happening – http://kl.am/c8L
~Bob
In regards to the well-hidden contact manager feature, I find it all very suspicious. As a former salesforce.com employee, I recall all of the past and presumably on-going, courtship of the two consumer and enterprise giants. At the moment, Salesforce and Google Apps has a very tight integration whereby Salesforce even pitches the Google suite. (Even the platform has a high-level of integration – Apps, Sites, etc.)
I wonder what part of the product design and implementation came from the ‘know-how’ of Salesforce and moreover, whether this is an indicator of some merger down the road.
Hmmmm.
We’re starting to see Google put all it’s ducks in a row in terms of turning all their products into social apps, I’m just wondering if Gmail wouldn’t be a better location for managing your contacts, and to be your social hub, that iGoogle and a seperate contacts manager!
Very cool
I’ve had this feature for days in the Google Latitude gadget settings (but the "learn more" link doesn’t work). I don’t see any "news" here. There are lots of information about what they plan to do with this Update feature (http://code.goo...de.html#updates).
I am so tired of this gossip site. I know you probably laugh at these posts, but it is seriously peterbing to read these amountless accounts of technology news.
Also, Im gay
Google seems to be indexing a social stream at the moment.
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but if you add your Friendfeed account link to your Google Profile, it pulls all the related accounts (Digg/Disqus/seesmic/etc).
I wouldn’t be surprised if Google launches a service resembling Friendfeed within the next month.
A profile of your social circle could help Google rank your search results.
Google’ has defintely made some clunky attempts at introducing social elements to some services, however, when they aqu-hired jyri engstorm (via jaiku) and put him in charge of their social/sharing model, things have been coming together much better…
I am become a huge fan of Google’s widgets just because I always seem to be logged on Google, so it’s easier to use whatever they offer than constantly log in and out of all other sites for each spesific purpose.. It’s nice to have it all in one place!
This was added to the iGoogle Sandbox back in January: http://igoogled...l-features.html
The standalone contact manager has been around for a while too, though it got a friendlier URL recently. These contacts are available through the Portable Contacts API:
http://googleso...s-with-you.html
Continuing support for the Open Stack standards that make up OpenSocial.
Well you’re welcome to tip us and send us non developers (who can’t see these features) screenshots as well Kevin!
If you’re doing what I think you’re doing with iGoogle though, seems like a smart play. Nice work.
I don’t know man. I think Google will rule the entire universe one day. The earth might be bought by Google and renamed Planet Google… =)