Google launches 12 social gadgets

Google launched 12 social gadgets that let users share information, play games and collaborate with friends. This is the next step in Google’s progressive move to socialize its Web services using its OpenSocial APIs 

Facebook has been allowing its users to connect via applications since it launched its developer platform more than two years ago. Thousands of apps on Facebook has been build since then, allowing users to throw virtual sheep and host zombie wars.

Google has been woefully far behind in leveraging the APIs itself against the OpenSocial-based Friend Connect apps announced here and there for the last few years. By the release of these social gadgets, the company is showing it is ready to open things up a bit more in this vein.

New gadgets include GoComics, YouTube and News.com.au, as well as gaming gadgets Chess, Who Has the Biggest Brain and the New York Times Crossword gadget. There is also a new ToDo task management gadget.