The latest at Google:

Google Blog Search here and here

Orkut login now requires Google Account here

Dear orkut members,

We are now transitioning to use Google Accounts to sign into orkut.com.

Sign in with your orkut username and password. You will be asked to link this with a Google Account. You can also sign in with an existing Google Account if you have one. For example, a Gmail address is a Google Account and will work.

With a Google Account you will be able to use other Google services like the Google Personalized Homepage, Google Alerts, Google Groups, Froogle Shopping list, and many future Google services. Google Accounts are also better protected against fraud, impersonation and abuse.

- the orkut team

Previous Articles:
Google Gulp here
Google Talk here
Google Moon here
Google Check here