Thing 19: Create your own iGoogle home page - customise, add gadgets, choose a theme ...
- Open iGoogle then click Sign In. If you already use any Google tools (e.g., Gmail) which require a sign-in you already have an account. If not, click on Create an Account. It's very simple and your email address address will be your iGoogle username.
- When you're in your iGoogle page, start setting it up. Use the Add Stuff link at the right, where you can browse for gadgets under the categories on the left, or search for some Some recommended gadgets: a calendar or date-and-time gadget; Google Bookmarks (store links to frequently used web sites); Google Reader (so you can keep up with what's happening in the Web 2.0 Potluck blog).
Click on this image to enlarge it - you'll see some features on the Web 2.0 Potluck's iGoogle page, then have a look at the next video to see how it's done.Thing 20: Play with Google Maps - get down to street level and go for a walk.
- The Maps link is included in the list of links at the top left on both the Google search screen and any iGoogle page.
- You can be specific about where you want to go. Our search for Hillcrest Road Hamilton New Zealand gave the result shown here.
- Open this image to see the features on offer.
- To take a walk (in the web version, not this one!) double click the photo in the speech bubble, then single-click the arrows to move along the street. You can grab the street and do a complete 360!
- Drag the person image across from the map's zoom tool on the left and drop it anywhere on the map, as long as it's a street / road - the person doesn't like walking in parks or shopping malls!
- Read the Wikipedia description of GB - it's better than Google's description! The iGoogle links list at the top includes Books, and you can use your iGoogle username to sign in. GB provides previews only, ranging from random pages to just a brief outline of the content.
- You can add books to your library, or locate a copy to borrow by using the Find in a Library option, which takes you to WorldCat. If you're on campus you may also see the Find@Waikato option lower down on the screen. Or you can buy a copy through one of the online vendor links.
Check out Google Docs (when you're in Google, go to the menu at the top left, click on More. On the Docs page there's a short video which explains what they are, how they work, benefits, etc.
Don't try this at work- Google Earth
Have a play with Google Earth - you'll need to download it first though.
Blog points
If you've already used some of these Google tools tell us about them. What other Google tools have you used? Do you find iGoogle easy to use? Why / why not?
Posts
A quick note - the iGoogle referred to here is part of your personal Google account and can't be accessed through your staff account. The staff Google Apps has what it call a 'Start Page' although it isn't as rich as iGoogle.
ReplyDeleteTwo other applications similar to iGoogle that might interest people are NetVibes http://www.netvibes.com/ and PageFlakes http://www.pageflakes.com/.