Unless you've been under a rock you know that Google recently opened up their Friend Connect service to the world. Friend Connect allows site builders to add a number of social features via widgets that Google calls gadgets. There are three main widgets currently available whose features I've summarized below.

1. Members (pictured at right below) gives people the opportunity to join your site and displays pictures of users which link to the person's Google profile. This widget also allows people to "invite" other people to the site via email and a number of social bookmarking services.
2. Wall adds comment functionality with the ability to link to Yo
3. Review/Rate (pictured at left below) allows people to add star ratings along with comments to the site.

Friend Connect and Drupal

Friend Connect can easily be implemented on a Drupal site. All you have to do is cut and past ethe code provided by Google in order to add the functionality. See the video embedded below for a tutorial that shows me implementing FriendConnect on a WordPress site.

I don't think that the rating or wall features will be too helpful to Drupal site builders as that functionality is readily available via modules like Fivestar and Guestbook. If you're using Drupal as more of a blog without turning on the core sign-up and profile features then the members widget could be useful in building a soft community and adding to the viral nature of the site. I'm trying it out on the front page here.

Friend Connect Tutorial

Friend Connect Images
Ratings Widget	Members Widget

In my previous drop I pointed out the great features afforded by Drupal blocks. One of the great features I mentioned was the ability to add widgets (which are basically mini applications) from other sites in order to add nice functionality to your Drupal site. Rather than simply tease you with that notion I figured I would follow up with a list of places where I've found useful widgets to spruce up my Drupal sites.