14 DAY TRIAL // Google's social plans are getting a bit more fleshed out. The fact that the company is working on integrating some type of social features and interactions into each of its products is well known and has been confirmed by Google, but there have been few details about the actual implementation, until now.
A leaked screenshot shows what Google Me, also known as Emerald Sea and more recently as Google +1, currently looks like for the ones testing it internally.
The feature is built into the Google top navigation bar, the one with links to Search, Gmail and various other products as well as to the account settings. The bar is getting a visual revamp and versions of the redesign have been in testing for some time now.
But it now looks like it's getting more than just a visual refresh, Google Me will be built into it. The top bar in the screenshot features a Share button as well as what looks like a profile image, next to the account settings.
In this case, it's on top of Google News, but it should look pretty much the same in all services, something that has been confirmed by Google.
Another interesting addition is the "Loop" link on the left side just after the Web search one. Apparently, Loops are what Google calls groups so this should be the where you would connect with and manage your friends.
Google, as expected, wouldn't comment on the screenshot. "We’re always experimenting with new ways to improve our products, and we have already confirmed that we are focused on incorporating social elements across Google. But we have nothing new to announce at this time," a Google spokesperson said.
It remains to be seen what Google has cooking or whether it will manage to break the string of failures in the social web space. From the looks of it, Google may be off to a bad start since just tacking on a Share button and a friends list to Google News or other products is not going to be a challenge to Facebook, but maybe there is more to it than meets the eye.
