Anatomy of an iGoogle Gadget
An iGoogle Gadget has several features that you can use to create a useful and fun gadget. Use this guide to help you understand how these features work together.
- Home View
- Canvas View
- Left Navigation
- Updates gadget
- Messages
- Gadget directory
- About page
- Gadget installation screen
- Add buttons
Home View
The gadget's home view shows content and notifications that are most interesting to users. It’s a good place for summarizing content for the user, displaying updates from friends, and providing a quick way to complete simple tasks.
- Private page for the iGoogle user.
- Gadgets should be flexible in width to accommodate various screen resolutions and maximize space efficiency.
- Recommended minimum width: 260 px (based on a 1024x768 resolution). Note that this is 40 px less space than gadgets had in iGoogle.
- Height can vary. Shorter gadgets tend to be more popular because users sacrifice less space for other gadgets.
- Users can access a gadget’s settings, remove a gadget, or go to canvas view by clicking buttons in a gadget's title bar.
Canvas View
The gadget’s canvas view provides more space to allow for richer content and greater functionality. Take advantage of this view to display full content, show what their friends are doing, and complete complex tasks.
- Private page for the iGoogle user, like home view.
- Gadgets should be flexible in width to accommodate various screen resolutions and maximize space efficiency.
- Recommended minimum width: 800 px (based on a 1024x768 resolution).
- Height can vary. Unlike home view, in canvas view only one gadget is being shown so take advantage of the additional space.
- Gadgets without a canvas view will continue to function. However, we encourage developers to add this ability to their existing gadgets.
- See the FAQ for information on monetization.
Left Navigation
Each gadget's title will appear in the left navigation, linking to the gadget's canvas view.
- The left navigation replaces the horizontal tabs in iGoogle and lists all tabs and gadgets.
- Users can now access any gadget from anywhere in the product.
Updates Gadget
Using the OpenSocial APIs, you can post updates to the updates gadget. Users will be able to see updates generated from their friends' gadgets, encouraging content sharing.
- A gadget will be able to read updates that it posted from friends' iGoogle pages.
- Gadgets have a maximum number of updates it can post each day per user.
- See the FAQ for more details.
Messages
Gadgets can send messages to a user's friend.
- Gadgets have a maximum number of messages it can send each day per user. See the FAQ for details.
- Stay tuned for details.
Gadget Directory
The iGoogle gadget directory provides a listing of all gadgets. Users can sort, narrow by category, and search for gadgets.
- Gadgets added from the directory are displayed on the user's iGoogle page and added to the left navigation.
- Include a thumbnail (120 px wide by 60 px high) and detailed metadata to make a gadget more attractive and easier to find.
About Page
The iGoogle gadget directory includes detailed pages for gadgets. The about page includes ratings and comments from users as well as recommended gadgets.
- Include a screenshot (280 px wide by the gadget's natural height) and detailed metadata to make the gadget more attractive and easier to find.
- Check the about page to read the latest comments from users about your gadget.
Gadget Installation Screen
Social gadgets will have an installation screen so that users can grant permissions to the gadget. Stay tuned for details.
