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Google adding 'social layer' to its services, doesn't call it Google Me yet
Eric Schmidt's been doing a bit of socializing at yesterday's Zeitgeist event and today we're hearing his tiny little web outfit is planning on adding new "social layers" to its core services this fall. Rather than attempting to conquer the social sphere with one flagship product, Google will start rolling out more social networking features in an effort to enhance and enrich its present offerings. This will be done by keeping up a steady flow of acquisitions, says Schmidt. Hey, it might not be the big gun we expected El Goog to bring to this fight, but then a Zerg rush of small additions might be just what the Facebook-hating doctor would recommend here.
Google Me to be the Googlish answer to Facebook?
Kevin Rose, the dude who started Digg, got the Twitterverse all aflutter yesterday by suggesting that Google is working on a bona fide Facebook competitor -- to be called Google Me, according to his "very credible source." All such rumors ought to be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism, but today there's been some corroboration from one Adam D'Angelo, Facebook's former CTO. Adam, again citing reliable sources, tells us Google Me is a real project, with significant resources invested in it, and an indication that "Buzz wasn't enough" to counter the social site's growing presence. Another former Facebook exec, Richard Cooperstein, makes the astute observation that what Google's really trying to do is reclaim time that the ''book has stolen away; he notes that time spent on Facebook relative to Google search and YouTube continues to grow, and the Mountain View outfit has to retaliate to keep itself ahead. You'll find the K-Rose tweet after the break -- he deleted the original, but Google Cache can be a cruel mistress.
