If you go to Google today, Google will be very persistent about you signing up for Google +, the Google Social Network.
Yesterday, Google announced Google + is available to all and added some key new features. Most importantly to me, a way to search Google + within Google +. The results are not found within Google Search's real time search yet, but you can search Google + posts within Google +.
That being said, there are many complaints about how intrusive the Google home page is today, with Google pushing people into wanting to sign up for the social network. Here is a video of the animation:
Danny Sullivan has a great write up on using Google + Search in detail, so check it out.
Other features include:
- Hangouts on your phone, Android now but iPhone soon
- Hangouts On Air (aka live broadcasts, limited user testing now
- Hangouts with Screensharing, Sketchpad, Google Docs and Named Hangouts
- Search in Google+ (as mentioned above
- Open to all (minus Google Apps users but that is coming 'really soon'
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help and WebmasterWorld.
