Google Gadget Center Launched

Google quietly launched a Gadget Center for its gadget developers that would "guide you through all the steps needed to make your gadget a success".

iGoogle Compound Gadget Fixed

Over the past few weeks, users of the iGoogle compound gadget has reported instances where child gadgets within disappears. The problem is now fixed and the developer behind even improved the gadget so that you could actually edit the settings and rename tabs of child gadgets by clicking on the drop down menu in each tab. Add it back to iGoogle:

Also, iGoogle launched a theme directory and opened up a Themes API that lets you create your own customized designs for iGoogle. Here are some program policies that you might want to keep in mind before designing a new theme:

1. The search box and related links may not be moved or removed from the iGoogle page.
2. Don’t mimic or resemble Windows/Mac/Unix dialogue boxes or error messages.

10 Reasons to Use Gmail

When you click on the 'About Gmail' link in the Gmail homepage, you will noticed top ten reasons why (Google thinks) you should use Gmail. Some of these reasons have been (are) featured on the homepage already (marked in *):

1. You don't like spam. Neither do we.*

Don't waste time with junk mail and unwanted messages. Gmail blocks spam before it gets to your inbox. If an unwanted message ever finds its way through, you can fight back by reporting it and help make our spam filters even better. Learn more

Watch a video to see how we combat spam.

2. Search your mail instantly*

Use Google search within Gmail to find the exact message you want, no matter when it was sent or received. You don't have to spend time sorting your email, just search for a message when you need it and we'll find it for you.

3. Organize replies into conversations

With Gmail, each message you send is grouped with all the responses you receive. This conversation view continues to grow as new replies arrive, so you can always see your messages in context.

4. Chat is built right in*

With just one click, you can chat in Gmail with the people you already email. You can even reply to an email by chat. And Gmail can archive all of your chats, making them searchable, so you never lose any valuable information.

5. Labels, filters, and stars...oh my!

Gmail uses labels to help you organize with more flexibility. A conversation can have several labels, so you're not forced to choose one particular folder for messages. You can also create filters to automatically manage incoming mail. Starring messages is another way you can organize your inbox. Plus, it looks pretty.

6. Get your mail on the go*

The days of needing your computer to get to your inbox are long gone. You can now use Gmail on your mobile device to access your email from anywhere.

7. Lots of space (and counting)*

We're always working to increase the amount of free storage we offer in Gmail, and if you want even more, you can always purchase additional space. With all that space, you can archive instead of deleting messages, so they won't clutter your inbox but will remain searchable in case you ever need them again.

8. We have ads, but only the good kind

With Gmail, you'll never see pop-ups or untargeted banner ads. Instead we display text ads and related links you might find useful and interesting. Learn more about how seriously we protect your privacy.

9. Save time

Take advantage of Quick Contacts and Keyboard Shortcuts in Gmail to get through your email even faster. And don't forget that you can quickly find messages using Gmail's search feature powered by Google search technology.

10. All this is free?

Yep.

Gmail has been testing with different homepage designs recently and spam prevention has been the most stressed feature replacing the 'infinity + 1' storage that used to make Gmail stands out.

Related Posts:
Gmail Colored Labels - Color-code your labels in Gmail
Gmail Paper - Print your emails on paper! [April's Fool]
View as Slideshow in Gmail - View PowerPoint attachments without leaving your browser

Real Time Flight Status

Google's flight stats search feature now delivers real time status and information in the search result OneBox. Just type the name of the airline and flight number (e.g. American 123, ua226) into the search box and you shall see something like this:
The information is provided by FlightStats.com which uses data feeds from the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI). I have tested it with some flights departing from Hong Kong and it works fine so I guess it is available for all international flights.

Google Soon To Enter Online Encyclopedia Market

Screenshot of the entire sample knol

Google is privately testing an online encyclopedia called Google Knol. Here are a few fast facts that differentiates it from Wikipedia (by far one of the most popular free encyclopedia on the web):

1. One author, one wiki. Users no longer collaborate to produce one page, rather, each author posts his own page. Google says: "We hope that knols will include the opinions and points of view of the authors who will put their reputation on the line. Anyone will be free to write. For many topics, there will likely be competing knols on the same subject. Competition of ideas is a good thing."
2. More community features. Google says: "Knols will include strong community tools. People will be able to submit comments, questions, edits, additional content, and so on. Anyone will be able to rate a knol or write a review of it."
3. Revenue-share with authors. Google says: "At the discretion of the author, a knol may include ads. If an author chooses to include ads, Google will provide the author with substantial revenue share from the proceeds of those ads."

[Via Official Google Blog]

YouTube Updates Videos Page

Back in October, YouTube let its users to preview the upcoming Videos page which aroused a number of negative feedback.

Image Credit: Googlified

In November, they rolled out an updated version which took away the shinning red and popup AJAX menus. And recently, they further updated it by adding in related videos for 'spotlight' videos and allows you to go back and forth with AJAX buttons:
The updated Videos page is running across all local versions of YouTube though only the US version shows spotlight videos.

Update: You will also see a Add to Google button () at the bottom of each page right next to the search box at the very bottom.

Saint Lucia Day Doodle in Sweeden

Saint Lucy's Day is the Church feast day holiday dedicated to St. Lucy and is observed on December 13. It marks ... the beginning of the Christmas season. ... In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucy typically comes as a young woman with lights and sweets. [Wikipedia]

I just felt that Google should not restrict doodles to countries that has a certain festival so that people from other parts of the world can learn more about festivals in other countries. What a good way to learn. Maybe call it ... doodling.

AdSense to Open in New Window in China

According to the Official Google China AdSense Blog , ads of Chinese AdSense publishers will open in new window starting from today. This is in respond to the overwhelming request from publishers and to improve user experience of Chinese web surfers. This is what the rest of the post said:

The Chinese market and the demands of Chinese publishers is very important to Google AdSense network. We hope to being better experience to users, more revenue to publishers and more earnings to advertisers through constant improvement of our products. By this, we could achieve four-win situation: users win, publishers win, advertisers win, Google wins.

Currently, worldwide publishers cannot alter their AdSense codes to open ads in new window according to the AdSense Help Center.

Related: Google has been testing out toggle ads. Read more ...

YouTube Toggle Ads

Update: Apparently this is not a YouTube experiment, rather, it is an AdSense experiment.

YouTube is testing toggle ads in its Hong Kong version. You can toggle up or down by clicking on the arrows. There are five 'sets' of ads that you can toggle around. It is interesting enough to see if this actually increases CTR.
Here is a video of the toggle ads in action:

Google Customized for iPhone

Google has done a lot of customization to make its online applications look good on iPhone. Gmail supported IMAP. Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Reader made its interface iPhone-friendly. According to TechCrunch, they now integrate all these apps into one page if you visit Google.com in your iPhone:
Maybe a lot of Googlers are using iPhone themselves ...