Start+Pages

=Start Pages & Host Sites=

//Add this to... MyYahoo... Google... MySpace...// Have you ever seen these options on a website like what is shown to the right? That's Web 2.0 in action!


 * Start Pages** are the foundation of using Web 2.0 sites efficiently. Remember, one of the advantages of using Web 2.0 technology is so that information can be consolidated for a specific purpose. Rather than a user navigating away various sites to find information, Web 2.0 delivers information to the user. This is a place where you can embed text, images, widgets, RSS Feeds, etc.

There are many, many "Start Pages" but here are a few:

[|iGoogle]- Yes, the king of the internet allows you to create your own virtual desktop. You can add multiple pages and the "widgets" that you can add to your pages is growing exponentially. Like all things Google, it's stable and free (registration required).

Netvibes- This easy to use site steps users through a wizard to initially set up a desktop with relevant widgets based on geographic location, interests, and other parameters. The site is clean and has some useful options.

Pageflakes- Another great choice for assimilating relevant data and widgets is Pageflakes. In addition to creating your own widgets with embedded code from other websites, an increasing number of sites are adding a "Pageflake" button/widget to use.

g.ho.st- This site is truly a virtual desktop. Registered users (free) have access to a virtual desktop that they can access anywhere. Users can access their saved files and built-in, web-based office productivity applications (Google Docs & Zoho) without installing anything! And yes, these are compatible with Microsoft Office!


 * Host Sites** allow you to create your own content by writing, embedding, designing, etc. This may not be used as your "start page" but allows you to get information to your viewers, showcase and share widgets, and more. This is your place on the web, your content, your contribution- but hosted on someone else's server. A host site can be a normal webpage, a blog, a wiki, etc.

Blogs Blogger WordPress Edublogs

Wikis Wikispaces WetPaint