In Google’s move and mood to shed unecessary, unneeded, and unproductive online projects Google is intent to follow through on previously announced plans to shutter iGoogle. This is like going to the barber and he cuts it too close and you don’t have enough left to modify it.
It is true the days of web portals has surely passed but Google can put on their thinking caps and reshape iGoogle into a good Social play.
iGoogle will be retired in 16 months, on November 1, 2013. The mobile version will be retired on July 31, 2012.so there still is time for new users to experimenrt with and experience iGoogle as a good browser start page. The end date or iGoogle is scheduled to be deep into 2013, so there is time to export your data and for us to ween ourselves over to other services.
Hopefully by the iGoogle drop-dead date in 2013 Google will realize what an useful asset they already have in iGoogle and can build it up and promote it better.
There is even a “Save iGoogle” petition campaign out here hoping to convince Google to change their mind if nothing else through sheer numbers.
Here is what Google has posted regarding the iGoogle move.
How did you come to this decision?
We originally launched iGoogle in 2005 before anyone could fully imagine the ways that today’s web and mobile apps would put personalized, real-time information at your fingertips. With modern apps that run on platforms like Chrome and Android, the need for something like iGoogle has eroded over time, so we’ll be winding down iGoogle on November 1, 2013, giving you a full 16 months to adjust or easily export your iGoogle data.
All of your personal data stored in other Google products will continue to be available via those products, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Finance, Google Docs (now Google Drive), Google Bookmarks, and Google Tasks. Other gadgets, like the to-do list, allow you to export your data – look for the “Download all” option under the drop-down menu tied to the title of your list. Most iGoogle gadgets are created and maintained by third-party developers. If you’d like to export your data, you should contact the gadget creator directly.
Are there other alternatives?
On your mobile device, Google Play offers applications ranging from games to news readers to home screen widgets.
If you’re a fan of Google Chrome, the Chrome Web Store provides a similar range of options like productivity tools and applications to check the weather. In addition, just like iGoogle, you can personalize Chrome with a theme.