iGadget recommendation

Also: consider to enable Chat in iGoogle settings.

Google fundamentals

• Gmail: small preview of your inbox.
• Google Calendar: mini calendar and event list.
• Google Docs: list most-recently active documents
• To-do list -- either (or both) of:
• Simple/independent To-Do List.
• Google Tasks: if you've already utilised this service through Google mail and/or calendar.
• Sticky Note

Google more

• News -- either or both of:
• Google Reader: in case you've used this service.
• Google News: in case you don't experience much of RSS/ATOM yet.
• Compound gadget: useful when you want to collect some rare-used gadgets into one gadget box, giving you cleaner page.
• Google Translate: it may not give us perfect result, but a very-handy interim.

Social networking -- depending on what services are we using:

• Twitter: use AnyScreen
  
• Facebook
• FriendFeed
• Blogger: post message to your Blogger sites right from your homepage.

Miscellaneous

• Google Map Search: find places with Google Maps without leaving your homepage.
  

GCal practical guide

These are some suggestions for GCal usage considerably unique from other email systems.
This post is still under ongoing revision, any suggestion/feedback please leave as comment -- thank you :)

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Current limitations

Feature	Workaround
Ability to specify different time zone than local when schedule an event.	Do not complete an event at first time (e.g., add guests) but adjust it again using [1] additional time-zone in week view, or [2] labs feature "world clock".

How to add a shared calendar

Method	What sender does	What recipient does
HTML	Send link location obtained from [HTML] label.	Open the HTML link, the calendar is displayed as a read-only view. Click the button [+ Google Calendar] located at bottom-right corner.
ICAL	Send link location obtained from [ICAL] label (the link ends with ".ics").	At "Other calendars" widget, select [Add |Add by URL] command. Input the given ICAL link.
Calendar ID	Send calendar ID obtained from "Calendar Address" section.	Input the ID into "Add a coworker's calendar" field of "Other calendars" widget.

Remarks

1. [ICAL][HTML] labels and calendar ID are available at "Calendar Address" section in "Calendar Details" tab of "Calendar settings" of each particular calendar (pull-down menu after each calendar name, not "Settings" menu at the top panel of GCal's window.
2. "Other calendars" widget is next under "My calendar" list on the left pane of GCal window.
3. Each calendar can be individually renamed: i.e., a calendar can have different names among users.

How to respond meeting invitation

Decline meeting with some comment:  Do either of:-

• Reply "No" with note.
• Use [Email guests] to notify participants first before respond "No".
• Reply the email copy of the meeting invitation (in GMail).