Google launches music discovery site

In a move that adds Google+ functionality to another Google product, the Web giant has integrated its social network even more closely with YouTube. Google on Thursday added a button to video pages on YouTube, letting Google+ users start a Hangout video conference with their friends while watching a video. So now, at the bottom of that adorable sneezing baby panda video, and every other video on YouTube, users can click the "Share" button. From there, a set of options pop up including embedding the video, e-mailing it, as well as sharing links on Facebook and Twitter. Now, users have the option of watching the video in a Google+ Hangout as well. When Google+ users click "Start a Google+ Hangout", a new window opens, offering the chance to add friends from Google+ Circles to the viewing party. Since the launch of Google+ in June, users could watch YouTube videos with friends in Hangouts. By adding the feature to the YouTube site itself, Google is widening the reach of Google+ in its bid to compete with Facebook, which began offering its own video chat service, powered by Skype, shortly after Google+ debuted.

Google launches music discovery site
Google has a new feature it hopes will keep Music Beta users tuned in. The Web giant Thursday launched Google Magnifier, a new feature to help users of its online music-storage service discover and obtain new music. In addition to free music tracks, the site has videos of live performances, artist interviews, and a chance to explore music genres. The move is an effort by Google to distinguish its Music Beta service from competitors such as Amazon's Cloud Music and Apple's forthcoming iCloud service, which is expected to launch in the fall. Google's music-storage service, which launched in May, lets people upload their music libraries and replay them on PCs and mobile devices. Google is kicking off the service by giving away two tracks by Grammy-nominated indie rock band My Morning Jacket to Music Beta users.