Google+ gets YouTube and Chrome integrations, deeper ties with Google itself

Google+ is getting Googled-out with new support for YouTube as well as integration into the company’s Chrome browser, according to an official blog post.

Undoubtedly, Google has a lot of great products to offer outside of Google+. Larry Page realized this and explained in a post after Google’s third quarter earnings call that the team feels like it’s delivered the “+,” and now it’s time to deliver the Google. Page explained Google has grand visions for what Google+ will become, and the individual product launches are only stepping stones to get there.

“Our ultimate ambition is to transform the overall Google experience–making it beautifully simple, almost automagical, because we understand what you want and can deliver it instantly” said Page in the Google+ post.

But the features themselves are what will make the product whole, and it continues with YouTube.

Google+ now sports a “YouTube slider,” which appears when a visitor mouses over the new YouTube icon at the top right of their Google+ screen. The icon will unfold in a separate pop up window and ask what to play. You can then search for, watch, and share the video to your circles inside the social network. But you’re not limited to Google+. If you close your other Google+ windows, the pop up will continue to play whatever video topics you choose.

Once you’ve chosen a video, Google+ will automatically queue up a list of related videos and begin playing them. When you share a video, the same queuing action will occur, attached directly to your post.

As the screenshots denote, this will be particularly useful for listening to music on Google+, as well as sharing your tastes with your circles. There seemingly aren’t very many avenues for self-expression in Google+ other than photos and posts. This element of YouTube adds another element.

Chrome users will also have added extensions for easy Google+ access. Your browser window now sports a notification button, so you can see and respond to people adding you, responding to your comments and more in real-time. You will also be able to +1 different websites directly from the Chrome browser.