Why you shouldn’t write off Google+ just yet - The Washington Post

Excerpt from a Google+ reality check.  I'm seeing some of the "informed guesses" via Google Now on my Nexus 7, and it can be a bit startling at times

"But here’s the thing: Google has tied its fate to Google+, but not in the way you think. Employee bonuses are connected to usage numbers on the platform. One by one, every product is being connected to Google+. And the truth is that Google doesn’t really need you to use Google+ to post status updates with your friends as much as they simply need you to log in and tell them your age.
If you do this, suddenly they can tie together your iPhone, your work machine, and your laptop. Your 3 machines become one person. You. And you are broadcasting signals all the time. If you don’t explicitly tell Google where you live, what you do, and how old you are, they will be able to make fantastically informed guesses."

Why you shouldn’t write off Google+ just yet - The Washington Post