Just a better Internet portal provided by Google

These days existing users of the service iGoogle have noticed some modifications on their personalized homepage. The page looks now more straight and has got some new great features.

Maximize / minimize your gadgets

For several standard Google modules there is a extended mode (canvas view). In maximized mode your are able to get more information about a RSS feed item or you get some “light version” inside your Gmail gadget. In maximized view you get each gadget spread over the whole window.

More Gmail controls

In this new version the gmail gadget has got some improvements. Now it’s possible to maintain messages without visiting your Gmail account, but check yourself how it looks like:

New tab orders and functions

In the past version you need to switch between tabs to use different gadgets located on multiple tabs. In the new iGoogle version you can access them directly. The new “tab” bar is located to the left side and you’re able to (un)collapse the list of gadgets for each tab.

Improved and more advanced controls

In the new settings page for your personalized homepage it’s possible to control you iGoogle homepage with features like share, backup or restore the settings for your iGoogle page or just edit your tabs directly from one screen.

I like the improvements very much, I use some Google Gadgets not every day and this new functions are a big time saver. Thanks Google!

Check also this blog post about the new Canvas Views on the google blog.