According to latest findings, Google Circles, the said social layer added over the top of search, photos, video and Google Maps, and currently in the works, is scheduled to launch at the Google I/O 2011 conference in May (10-11th).
"Google Circles" is indeed the same "Google Me" (codename) that we talked about back in November last year, with the then Google CEO Eric Schmidt (currently Executive Chairman) confirming that a social layer (not actually a social network) is in the making.
Some reports claim that Google Circles will also allow sharing status messages between groups of friends on (different) social networks, also called "social circles"; that, apart from sharing photos, videos, check-ins and more. Some believe Picnik may come into the scene here.
The service that will integrate various social networking elements into its own, and is coming this fall (Sept. – Dec. 2011), a ZDNet report said.
But FYI, Google made some big product launches, including Wave, Chrome Web App Store and Google TV, were made at the Google I/O conference.
