:Google literally just launched the beta of a personalized home page that integrates all Google products. Users still have the option of the tradtional clean Google front or they can create their own personal version.
Initally planned for a June 30 launch, the new home page option, part of an internal project called “Fusion” aimed at better integrating Google’s various products, was pushed up for launch during Google’s “Factory Tour” for the press now taking place. As a result, universal RSS support is still a week or two away. In the meantime, a few sources are getting a boost as the only news/info options beside Google News: Wired News, Slashdot, the New York Times, BBC News. Google exec Marissa Mayer, who introduced the product, said the company had been in touch with some news organizations about it and they are “quite pleased with it.” Users can see up to nine selections from each.
It sounds like RSS support will be basic; a question from Steve Gillmor about whether enclosures would be supported, thus enabling podcasts among other things,brought a quizical response followed by a question from Google CEO Eric Schmidt asking Steve if his data showed that people are using enclosures. Gillmor replied that 50,000 listeners download Adam Curry (think he was referring to Daily Source Code)and that he himself has 10,000 listeners.(His new Gillmor Daily Show launched today.) Mayer stepped in to say she thought that support would be coming in the next couple of months and that the company would be listening to feedback.
Initial react: People who already rely on Google for a variety of activities will like it on the surface, particularly those who use Gmail, which is one of the options for the desktop; anyone who’s used to a more robust home page — with a sophisticated stock tool, for instance — will not give it up for this.
Update: During the closing q-and-a, Mayer said the personalized page isn’t intended to increase stickiness (my word). “I don’t use the number of minutes spent on the site as a metric,” she said. “That’s not really one of our goals.” She said during the intro that the goal is still to send people away from Google.
Mayer has posted to Google’s blog.
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