Customize iGoogle With These Outstanding Gadgets and Themes

If you have read some of my other posts you may realize that I enjoy “decorating” my computer, often by choosing a fun Desktop theme or changing my system icons. In this same vein, I’ve also become a fan of iGoogle (short for interactive Google) which is a customizable homepage that includes lots of different themes and gadgets. Read more to see some of the latest options.

Setting up iGoogle

If you have a Gmail account then it’s very easy to set up an iGoogle homepage. Click here to start. You’ll should see something that looks like this picture.

If you click some of the boxes that are shown, then iGoogle will pre-load your homepage with different gadgets that correspond to your interests. There are many different gadgets available, including news feeds, tools, sports, and leisure items. Here’s a screenshot showing a few of my favorites so you can get an idea of what these gadgets look like once installed on your iGoogle homepage.

Customizable Themes

Another fun feature of iGoogle is that it allows you to select unique themes for your homepage. Some of the themes change with time of day and weather conditions in your area (you’ll be prompted to provide your location upon selecting a theme), and certain themes even include Easter eggs where something special happens in your chosen theme, but this only lasts one minute. For example, at 3:14 am in the Beach theme the Loch Ness Monster appears. I’ve tried to wake up to check out some of these features, but I must enjoy sleep too much because I am never successful.

I like to change my themes as the seasons change, and there are many options from which to choose. You can also create and upload a theme of your very own. Here are a few of my favorite themes, which can be found here.

Beach by Google

Winter Scape by Google

Spring Scape by Google

Live Planet Northern Hemisphere by Sterling Udell

Simplicity is Complex by John Maeda

Earth-light by Yves Behar

I hope you have fun customizing your iGoogle homepage. If you have some of your own favorite gadgets or themes leave me a comment below! If you liked this post be sure to subscribe.