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iGoogle - Dashboard to Your Digital Life

By Craig Daniels

Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

April 20, 2011 06:58 AM

I recently wrote a post outlining 21 Google Tools that most of us love to use. I will write follow-up articles detailing and highlighting these tools in more detail. Today, I want to highlight the iGoogle web page. Think of it as a dashboard to your digital life!

In the screenshot below you will see my main page on iGoogle. This web page is entirely customized according to your needs. You define the "gadgets" that you want to see and then you arrange them into three columns on your page. If you have too many gadgets for one page, then you add tabs (along the left-hand side of the screen) and then you can group your gadgets into categories.

Google tools make up a many of the gadgets on my main page. I have gmail, and google reader (for my RSS feeds), google calendar, google chat is down on the bottom of the left sidebar. Beside these gadgets, I have weather (I like to watch four different cities) and my Facebook Feed. Also, I have a Breaking News gadget to keep up with current headlines.

Your gadgets and tab groupings can be whatever you want. I just show you mine so you get the idea of what you can do.

Below is a quick video that also talks about setting up your gadgets

You'll need a free Google ID and you'll need to be signed in
(getting a google account is quick and easy, but I know you have one already!)

Enjoy! www.google.com/ig

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Ken Cash

CB Select Real Estate at Lake Tahoe - 775.691.3855 - - Incline Village, NV

Lake Tahoe Lake Front Homes, Luxury Homes, Condomi

I use iGoogle and found this information very useable. Thanks. My problem is as usually, too much information, too much to do and when do I get to that stuff? I am after all the last time I stepped back and took my own picture, a real estate professional who generates income by listing and selling real property. I can spend as much time trying to do this stuff myself as when I hire someone else to do it. Technology is overwhelming....

Apr 20, 2011 09:45 AM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Thx Craig. I'll bookmark to look into in a month or two...right now, I have too many distractions going on. Suggested.

Apr 20, 2011 10:06 AM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Craig,

Wow I'm book marking this post and suggesting it!! Thank you for the great information. I'm with Ken technology is overwhelming!!

Apr 20, 2011 10:18 AM

Craig Daniels

Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY

Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Larry - glad you will give it a try

Torgie - nice thing it is one of those 'cloud' things - whatever settings you had made in past goes with you wherever you sign in on in the future (you don't have to start from scratch)

Ken - it can be overwhelming... which is actually why I appreciate igoogle the more - it consolidates info for you so you don't have to bounce to 10 different sites

Debbie - you'll know where to find it when you say "I remember Craig said... " :)

Dorie - happy to see your visit! thanks! :)

Apr 20, 2011 10:40 AM

Conrad Allen

Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA

Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Craig - I am a dinosaur still stuck with AOL(: I have got to try your approach. Thanks.

Apr 20, 2011 11:48 AM

Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC

Selling the Upstate since 1989

I have an igoogle acct but havent done much with it... google has really become the "thing" on the internet huh?

Apr 20, 2011 01:35 PM

Barbara Hensley

RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX

Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Craig - more great information! We have a team meeting in the morning and i will be sharing this with them. So much to learn, so much to do, and always great help from you. THANKS!

Apr 20, 2011 02:07 PM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I've been using iGoogle as my home page for what seems like forever. But even still, I've learned something new today as a result of this post. Thank you sir.

Apr 20, 2011 03:23 PM

Craig Daniels

Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY

Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Conrad - willing to try something new? great!

Sheila - their stuff is really quite good, I'm constantly surprised with yet another useful tool coming from the big G

Barbara - say hello to the Rockwall team! :)

Craig - very happy when you come and visit - cool if I can help even with spark of an idea to add to your toolset, thanks!

Apr 20, 2011 03:47 PM

Larry Story ALC

Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC

Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Craig,

I always have iGoogle up and running on one of my windows. I do love reading your posts and finding all new tools to add to my tool belt!

Apr 20, 2011 04:06 PM

Jane Peters

Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Great tips, Craig. I have a bunch of nonsense on my Google page. Now I know what to put there.

Apr 20, 2011 05:40 PM

Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS

ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group - Worcester, MA

'Helping You Make the Best Move"

Good morning Craig,

I've got to try this out!

Thank you and have a good day!

Apr 21, 2011 12:11 AM

FN LN

Toronto, ON

Hi Craig - A great introduction to iGoogle, a product which I have not yet explored.

Apr 21, 2011 12:25 AM

Andre R. Aragon

Greater Tampa Real Estate Photographer - Tampa, FL

Real Estate Photographer

Thank you for this awesome information Ambassador. This Rocks!

Apr 21, 2011 04:53 AM

Bill & Cyndi Daves

Hiawassee, Young Harris, Blairsville, Hayesville, Murphy and Beyond! - Hiawassee, GA

TeamDAVES - Your REALTORS In the GA/NC Mountains!

Thank you Craig! Had a speaker at our Company Expo last week presenting on the Google Universe. Man there's so much there to learn!!!

Apr 21, 2011 09:45 AM

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Craig ... These are the blog posts that make my eyes light up, the heart to pick up an extra lub dub. Like when the mailman drops off your favorite monthly magazine. Lots of time goes in to them, much comes out we can use on the technical side. Thanks for the recent show case on our end too. It is neat to have quality writers NOT just reblogging articles that it does not sound like they even read but rent down through in succession to hit the 10 daily tally and off, flit away. These are the meat and potato blogs!

Apr 21, 2011 11:50 AM

C. Lloyd McKenzie

Living Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM

Living Albuquerque

Craig,

Just wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy Easter

Apr 23, 2011 06:00 PM

Sidney Kutchuk

Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA

Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

Good information,I love most all things Google.

Apr 26, 2011 11:38 AM

Hrisco & Associates

Hrisco & Associates - Roanoke, TX

Roanoke Homes for Sale - Roanoke Neighborhoods

Hi Craig, yet another great post with great info....you the man....looks like my comment should make this post a feature one, correct?...keep them coming.

May 15, 2011 06:03 PM

Michael Hobbs

PahRoo Appraisal & Consultancy - Chicago, IL

SRA, LEED GA, RAA

Craig,

thank you again for sharing some great insights on tech. Just recently upgraded to a new phone which is on the android platform not no longer with Blackberry...it takes a bit to get used to...but Google sure does seem to have great products out there make life easier.

thank you for pointing out iGoogle...I wasn't familiar with it.

Michael

Jul 10, 2011 07:47 AM