Noticed a new +1 icon in my search results and just saw that the news of this has hit their official blog:

Today we’re taking that a step further, enabling you to share recommendations with the world right in Google’s search results. It’s called +1—the digital shorthand for “this is pretty cool.” To recommend something, all you have to do is click +1 on a webpage or ad you find useful. These +1’s will then start appearing in Google’s search results.
...
Say, for example, you’re planning a winter trip to Tahoe, Calif. When you do a search, you may now see a +1 from your slalom-skiing aunt next to the result for a lodge in the area. Or if you’re looking for a new pasta recipe, we’ll show you +1’s from your culinary genius college roommate. And even if none of your friends are baristas or caffeine addicts, we may still show you how many people across the web have +1’d your local coffee shop.
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So how do we know which +1’s to show you? Like social search, we use many signals to identify the most useful recommendations, including things like the people you are already connected to through Google (your chat buddies and contacts, for example). Soon we may also incorporate other signals, such as your connections on sites like Twitter, to ensure your recommendations are as relevant as possible. If you want to know who you're connected to, and how, visit the “Social Circle and Content” section of the Google Dashboard.

You need a profile (so need to be logged in, I guess) to be able to use this feature.

I am intrigued, although I'm not reallllly connected to that many people via the "Google network" so not sure how well it'll work.

Edit: Also just saw it's also going to be rolled out to websites, so it's basically their answer to the Facebook 'Like' button. Guess that's going on the TODO!

It could work if I ever bothered to log in. Google seems to have gchat hooked me up with anybody who has ever emailed my gmail account from another gmail account, so I think I have been forcibly networked.

oOh you can also use your arrow keys to select search results

Everything's so positive today, most of the sites are relevant.

What you REALLY need on google, is a DISLIKE. Sometimes there are results up there that have NOTHING to do with what you want.

Interesting move. Another step towards the web becoming less anonymous.

What I dislike most about Google is I have a couple of emails back and forth with some random via GMail and suddenly I'm their best mate or what. I don't fukn want them in my chat. I don't want them on Digsby.

Yes, I can delete them - but what it means is that these services are not becoming "opt-in" anymore, they are becoming "opt-out". I.e., Everyone I talk to is my friend until I say they aren't. Damn annoying.

I reckon sites like AusGamers are in a tough position as well. This is an entertainment website, yet no doubt you have a lot of guys here during working hours that probably shouldn't be (/me raises hand). I don't mind if someone finds out so much (else I wouldn't be here), but I'm not about to advertise that I'm hanging out here by clicking the 'Like' button.

Maybe I'm a minority, I don't know.

I'm connected to no one through my google chat I use it mostly for forums, shopping & online sign-ups generally. I use Facebook with a false name for my real friends, LinkedIn as my professional network and my work email for family. I don't really see how I'm going to start building a network around google though I'm always signed in so this isn't much use.

have you tried 'Google Reader Play' yet?

check that out