Mar 11, 2011 17:45 GMT  ·  By

It looks like Google's social 'layer' is getting closer, at least according to some new rumors. Not that there has been a lack of rumors and leaks around the projects, yet nothing has materialized so far. But it may soon, Google's revamped profiles may be a clue and so is the new Profile link in the new Google toolbar.

The Next Web is reporting that Google is planning to launch Google Me, or Google +1 or whatever it ends up being called, at this year's I/O developers conference in May.

Google does have a history of announcing big projects at I/O, Wave for example, but other products such as WebM and so on. That said, Google Me was initially supposed to roll out in fall last year.

The fact is, while Google has confirmed that it's working on something and has said that it will be a social layer integrated into all of its products, there aren't that many details at this point.

Google definitely wants to get it right this time, so it's is going to take all the time it needs. However, the more Google waits the more Facebook is distancing itself and embedding itself into the very fabric of the internet.

Whatever Google ends up launching, it looks like Profiles will be tied into it or maybe even be a big part. Very recently, Google Profiles got a revamp. It not only looks better, but there is also a greater emphasis on photos and more information to display.

Very recently, it also started to enable users to link display their public Picasa Web albums in a tab on their profile. The new toolbar, which was rolled out not long ago, will also play a role in Google Me, as some leaked screenshots indicated. The fact that it now links directly to your profile, accessible when you view your account details, adds even more credibility to the rumors.