I don't known if this is really fresh news, i just opened www.google.com today and i get an link to what they call iGoogle http://www.google.com/ig?hl=en what do you think?! seems like google don't want just an logo , an input type text field and a submit button anymore. at first look you may think they like to copy the lycos,yahoo,msn idea... but it's rather looking as an Windows Vista design now .... Maybe they want to implement an WEB 2 , an more interactive Google.
It's actually been around for a few months. Google wants to give you the ability to personalize your page and also to provide you with personalized results.
Not sure why they named it igoogle, but it's your personalized google home page. Ask.com is now starting to copy the idea.
because G can't modify their homepage, they put those links, advertisement, news, information, etc, anything you want to see on your page, on interactive personalized way...