Google+ now has an addition of a small YouTube icon, which is always displayed next to the scrollbar. The clever integration appears which the user moves the mouse over the icon. Once the mouse is over the icon, a search box appears and a question pops up asking, “what would you like to play?”. The user has to type in a query and the social networking site opens a pop-up window, which runs a list of around 20 search results. It is basically a playlist, wherein the videos start playing automatically. Google choses the videos algorithmically.
The user has an option to +1 a video they like or even share it amongst their circles. When a video is shared on Google+, Google even makes an addition of a link of related videos to the playlist. Google has made it convenient for the user as they can anytime minimize the pop-up window and still have the option to be able to pause a video. They can even go to the next video directly from Google+. The option would however be more suitable in case of music.
Google’s Vic Gundotra mentioned, “It’s no secret that YouTube is filled with tons of great content (from inspiring speeches to music videos to honey badgers). We wanted to bring YouTube directly into Google+ — as well as make it easier to watch and share your favorites — so we’re launching a YouTube ‘slider’ in the stream.”
Google, in a sense is trying to unify the user requirements on Google+ with its efforts. YouTube’s permanent presence on Google+ could mean a lot for the progress of Google+ as watching videos on YouTube earns one in the highest traffic, looking at the properties of Google.
Additionally, the search engine giant is even rolling out a few exciting features to extend the reach of Google+ as well as its presence. This is with the note of the two new extensions for the Chrome browser.
One of them gives users a portable +1 button, with which they can tag any Web page as such and share that with people in their Google+ contacts. Noting the effectiveness of the other extension of Chrome, users get an option to check their Google+ notifications while they are elsewhere on the Web. Google notes that the said facility is provided for the non-Chrome users even as similar functionalities have been added to the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer.
Google now has integrated almost each and every service in Google+ as already the social network is integrated with Picasa Web, Blogger, Reader, Google Apps and the +1 button.
Google’s main aim is to irk the activeness on Google+, which is the most important factor to keep itself competitive against the likes of Facebook and Twitter.