from what i see,
google still has a much better reputation in the market with respect to privacy and safety when compared to facebook.
facebook might be cool with kids and teenagers. but grownups are more likely to stay away from facebook and their complicated policies of data sharing.
google already has a massive user base with gmail and other services. they just need to provide a social layer that does not look like a brand new product that requires too much effort to manage.
managing ones facebook profile is a headache. especially if you are just starting with one. if you are an existing user of google, you are likely to have enough data already (photos, mails, buzz status updates). they just need to make the entire environment more connected with each other.
the best part would be if they integrate Circles into Chrome through a browser extension. or do the unexpected... make chrome an integral part of the entire google ecosystem.
they are already nearing turning Chrome into something like Chrome OS. you open up chrome... login in using your google account... and all your passwords, and settings, and themes, and extensions are synced.
as the reports have said... google's social layer would be powered by the top bar that is available through all of their services. that is something very powerful. its on google search, its on gmail, missing on youtube currently.
should be fun to see what they do with it.
one thing is for sure... google is not going to release anything half baked. some of the top minds at google are working on this project. and some media personals claims to have already seen it.
http://twitter.com/timoreilly/status/46954058329763840
---------- Post added at 11:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:49 AM ----------
i like what they have done with google profiles. buzz and picasaweb are already integrated.