An unofficial blog that watches Google's attempts to move your operating system online since 2005. Not affiliated with Google.

Send your tips to gostips@gmail.com.

July 1, 2006

Netvibes - Best Personalized Homepage


Netvibes is a personalized homepage, similar to IGoogle or My Yahoo, that allows you to access your favorite services and read the news relevant to you. Nothing new, you'll say.

Despite being a French startup without too many resources, Netvibes is simply the best personalized homepage. The interface is extremely clean, you can organize your page in tabs, each module can be collapsed, you can import your feeds from an OPML file and manage them using keyboard shortcuts. Another great thing is that you can preview the content of a news by hovering over the link.

The feeds update in real time, so you'll never miss a news. Netvibes' modules take less space and look much better than Google's modules. Netvibes has a directory of modules called ecosystem, where you can find modules to add to your page and even entire tabs (collections of related modules). You can add tags and post comments for each module, to help other users and give feedback to the developers.

What can you add to Netvibes? RSS/Atom feeds, podcasts, iCal calendars, Gmail messages, notes, ToDo lists, search, weather forecast, Writely documents, bookmarks, and user-created modules.

Netvibes stores your settings in a cookie, so you can use it even when you're not registered.

8 comments:

  1. I totally agree.

    I used Google Custom Homepage but it the tabless interface, slow loading time just made it inoperable. I didn't like ditching Google since it was the easy choice, but NetVibes is certainly better.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been using Netvibes for a few month now and I totally agree that it is hands down the best one out there at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Does anyone have an issue with the fact that you are handing over your google account information (login ID & password) to some 3rd party? There is not even SSL protection when you are submitting it. I was jacked up about the interface until I saw that and clicked Back to here to post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Someone said:
    <<Does anyone have an issue with the fact that you are handing over your google account information (login ID & password) to some 3rd party? There is not even SSL protection when you are submitting it.>>

    This will change soon with the new Google Account API.

    I didn't add the Gmail module in Netvibes, but I don't think they would risk losing their users for some Gmail credentials.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Netvibes will never sell, rent or share your personal information, especially your e-mail addresses, with any third parties for marketing purposes without your express permission."

    From their privacy policy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I had Netvibes set up for the clear win..

    until I realized you can't add stocks..?

    anyone know a site with RSS feeds for particular stocks?

    this is a deal breaker for me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I used http://www.asieragos.es/english.html
    it is the best home page i have ever see. quick access to best internet sites and easy search in all of them

    ReplyDelete
  8. http://www.tizit.com is the best startpage hands down. been using it for months with no hiccups. Does more than any other start page out there

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.