This compound gadget allows you to gather multiple gadgets into a single gadget with tabs, saving space and cutting down on load time. Instead of loading 13 gadgets simultaneously, I can now load them as I use them. While you do lose a small amount of width, that’s a small price to pay for what I consider to be its best feature: Compound Canvas Views.

The Canvas is still relatively new, but Google is encouraging igoogle developers to save their gadget meat for this view. The additional space and functionality I like. What I don’t like is all the popping back and forth between Canvas and Home views. The “left nav intrusion” was justified by its giving us one-click access to canvas views from any view or tab. But it’s choppy and awkward. This gadget’s compound canvas view makes this sort of navigation easy and smooth. It’s also reminiscent of the old horizontal tab days.

This gadget will definitely make you rethink your iGoogle layout. You might even find yourself using multiple compound gadgets. Definitely a gadget gem…straight from Google.