• March 29, 2007

The New York Times is helping users fill in the blanks--or rather, the blank space on Google's home page. The NYTimes.com's Classic Crossword Widget, announced Wednesday, allows crossword fans to import a rotating collection of crossword puzzles from the Times' archive to the search page, with a new puzzle appearing once a week. Included in the widget is a puzzle information window, with a summary of puzzle subjects and answers, original date of publication, editor and author credits, and advanced functions for making notes on puzzles. Vivian Schiller, senior vice president and general manager, NYTimes.com, remarked: "Our puzzles have a huge following. Now our crossword fans can engage with our puzzles right on their Google home page." --Erik Sass