10 reasons why Netvibes is better than Google Homepage

I love Netvibes, and I also love and use many Google free services, so I was troubled when I had to make the choice between the two as they basically offer the same functionality. After some tinkering with both, I’ve easily switched to Netvibes because it’s, simply, better. Here’s why

1. Nicer looking interface

Possibly not the most important of features to some u, but just look at beautiful Netvibes boxes compared to Google’s bland ones. Also, you can change their color (you have 6 colors to choose from) by clicking “edit” in the upper right corner.

2. Visual Customization

Google Homepage is designed to simply work without much hassle. However, if you’re a customization freak like me, you’ll love Netvibes’ advanced options. First, get the Netvibes Customize module here. You can now set a background wallpaper for your page, set opacity options for your modules, plus some other minor options. Better yet, you can change this stuff all at once, using themes (there are a few available under Settings).

3. Number of Columns

In Google Homepage you’re doomed to use a maximum three columns. However, in Netvibes you can change the number of columns from 1 to 4. Personally, I use 4 columns and I certainly think people with bigger screens and resolutions will appreciate the extra column. Better yet, you can change the number of columns for each tab, which is explained in…

4. Tabs

Yes, Google Homepage also supports tabs. However, in Netvibes they’re much more advanced. Click the little arrow on the tab, and you get tab options. You can change the number of columns, add a little icon (you can even add your own icon by pointing to its URL), and you can publish this entire tab on the Netvibes Ecosystem. That means, if you create a super-duper tab showing all possible info on, for example, upcoming movies, you can simply share it with your friends and everyone else.

5. Netvibes ecosystem

And this brings us to the Netvibes Ecosystem, which really is more than a fancy name for a bunch of feeds. The Ecosystem consists of modules, feeds, podcasts, events and tabs. We’ve explained what tabs are, and you probably know what feeds and podcasts are. Modules are advanced little programs which can do almost anything - from showing the weather to displaying your bookmarks. Events are little calendar apps which show certain dates - basically, they’re public Google calendars, but a nice thing to have. On top of all this, the Ecosystem is well organized, easy to browse and search, and from it you can add modules to your page with a single click.

6. Filtering

One of the new Netvibes features is filtering. It works simple - you have a little text box on the top of your screen. Type a keyword, and all modules not containing the keyword will shrink, while those that do contain the word will have it highlighted. Nice, fast, and handy.

7. Digital Life Assistants

Recently the Netvibes crew created a couple of new, advanced modules called Digital Life Assistants. Basically, these are search modules but with many convenient options - for example, video search with full screen viewing. Find more about these here.

8. Keyboard controls

I don’t personally use this (I find it hard to get used to keyboard shortcuts in general), but it might be handy for some users.
For this to work you need to enable it in Settings. Your focus also must be in the right place - click somewhere inside the Netvibes window before using keyboard shortcuts. You can find the list of all available shortcuts here.

9. Calendar

This calendar module is just one module, but it’s so much better done for Netvibes than the Gcal for Google. It has several views and generally looks much nicer, as you can see in the picture. It also supports everything in iCal format.

10. Name for your page

Not really a dealbreaker, but it’s nice to be able to see TechShrine or something cool like that above your page (it also appears in the page title). You guessed it - Netvibes can do it, Google can’t.

*By the way, if you’re interested in an alternative to Netvibes, you can always try Pageflakes, also a very nice service of the same kind.

37 Responses to “10 reasons why Netvibes is better than Google Homepage”

  1. Anonymous Says:

    10 reasons why Netvibes is better than Google Homepage…

    I love Netvibes, and I also love and use many Google free services, so I was troubled when I had to make the choice between the two as they basically offer the same functionality. After some tinkering with both, I’ve easily switched to Netvibes becau…

  2. Dabert Says:

    Has anyone heard new news about the rumored Wicked movie?

  3. قصص جنسية Says:

    sry i just know how to write my name in arabic :)) i dnot think that i understand .. i hate english itis very difcult . thanks

  4. scar repair cosmetic surgery Says:

    contrast furniture pompano beach cosmetic denstistry bloomington il

  5. ???? ????* ???? ?? ???? ????? ? ????? ???? Says:

    ???? ????? ????.????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????.??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???????

  6. www.18sal.com ???? ????* ???? ???? Says:

    ??? ???***????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????..???? ???? ???..?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????..???? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ????..????? ?? ????? ???

  7. Sabrina Fies Says:

    Hi my name is Sabrina. I was surfing and found your blog, which I liked very much, which is quite pleasant to read. I return next week to read you again. Greetings Sabrina

  8. breast reduction surgery Says:

    I searched on google and I had a hard time located the right info….until I found your blog.

  9. Kayaniolo Says:

    Alohi. Mi zer novazo. http://jestormani.net

  10. Detrick Says:

    im going to run my keywords from my Yahoo campaigns on my Adwords campaigns as well. I think it will be just as successful what do you guys think? gragg advertising

  11. Schoff Says:

    im going to run my keywords from my Yahoo campaigns on my Adwords campaigns as well. I think it will be just as successful what do you guys think? gragg advertising

  12. Lorinda Loarca Says:

    Hi, first I want to say nice blog. I don’t always agree with your opinion but it’s always a great read.

  13. Dennis Shooler Says:

    See the latest Movies Online Free at Fly34.com

  14. Vern Mclcean Says:

    All The Latest Movies In Theaters can be seen for free at Fly75.com

  15. Debbi Gegenheimer Says:

    Contrary to some sentiments, good researched articles still bring in readers like me. You presented complete understanding of the matter matter and my opinions are now complete after reading your post. Please hold up the authentic work and i will subscribe to your rss feed to be advised of any potential postings.

  16. Brandon mchoa Says:

    See the latest Movies Online Free at MoviesWatch.info

  17. "movies Online Free" Says:

    hey guys, about paranormal activity movie.. I was so disappointed, I didn’t think it was scary at all. Everyone else in the movie theater was going crazy.. tell me your opinions..

  18. Arabic Movies Says:

    Very interesting blog post I love your blog keep up the good posts

  19. Barbar Sutherlin Says:

    Awesome article! I’m really curious about this. I’m anxious to see what happens. I look forward to reading more of your upcoming blog posts.Hey, have you seen any new movies lately? Don’t wait, Watch Iron Man 2 Online today!

  20. Rubin Pallotto Says:

    Awesome article! I’m really surprised about this. I can’t wait to see what happens. I look forward to reading more of your upcoming blog posts.By the way, have you seen any new movies lately? Don’t wait, Watch Iron Man 2 Online today!

  21. Google Search Trends Says:

    Im using twitter trends for my blog and my research led me to this blog post…your rss is now added to my reader and hopefully you will take an interest in my blog.

  22. replacement windows Kennett Square Pa Says:

    Hey mate, thanks 4 posting but this post is hard to read in Firefox it is is overlapping.

  23. Sc32AMY Says:

    Did you utilize support of a custom sociology essays service for your famous data? I think that you have got good comparison contrast essay writing ability. Thanks for this!

  24. Paul D. Knowles Says:

    Many people like myself have searched for several years to find a cheap affordable solution using solar panels for your residential home. Unfortunately the cost has always outweighed the benefit of being off grid. The upfront capital investment in solar panels would take 20 years to succesfully pay off and maybe more. Deep cycle batteries …

  25. Jani Says:

    Watch the latest Movies Online Free at WatchFullMovieNow.com

  26. Teofila Gwen Says:

    Watch The Latest Movies Online For FREE
    at
    WatchFullMovieNow.com

  27. pool chaise lounge chairs Says:

    How-do-you-do, just wanted you to know I have added your site to my Google bookmarks because of your extraordinary blog layout. But in earnest, I think your site has one of the freshest theme I’ve came across. It really helps make reading your blog a lot simpler.

  28. ocljlwijlmcds Says:

    ocljlwijlmcds

  29. Raven Aragones Says:

    hi i really enjoyed your post and i will be sure to read through the rest of your blog… I really appreciate the way in which you look at this subject, looking at this in a new light as they say.. bookmarked!

  30. watch movies online Says:

    there are many sites out there to watch movies but I found one I particularly like, it’s called Films43, something like that

  31. Green Data Centre Says:

    Thanks!

  32. Bette Tagliente Says:

    So not really on the same topic as your post, but I found this today and I just can’t resist sharing. Mrs. Agathe?s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told him, ?I?ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I?ll mail you the check. Oh, and by the way?don?t worry about my Doberman. He won?t bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT under ANY circumstances talk to my parrot!? When the repairman arrived at Mrs. Agathe?s apartment the next day, he discovered the biggest and meanest looking Doberman he had ever seen. But just as she had said, the dog simply laid there on the carpet, watching the repairman go about his business. However, the whole time the parrot drove him nuts with his incessant cursing, yelling and name-calling. Finally the repairman couldn?t contain himself any longer and yelled, ?Shut up, you stupid ugly bird!? To which the parrot replied, ?Get him, Spike!?

  33. Ivory Scouten Says:

    Hi I believe the selective information published on your website is epic, I have bookmarked you =D

  34. Leopoldo Soito Says:

    Hi, just today found this blog and I have to state that it looks great. I absolutely concur with your post. Have a nice day, keep up the nice effort and I’ll surely keep reading.

  35. Albert Zeimetz Says:

    Cool submit! How much stuff did you must lookup with a purpose to write this one? I can let you know put some work in.

  36. Ali Dillashaw Says:

    Hi - It’s great to find such topical writing on the Web as I have been able to discover here. I agree with most of what is written here and I’ll be coming back to this website again. Thanks again for posting such great reading material!!

  37. Wilson Lamon Says:

    uhm yeah i can digg it

Leave a Reply