It is almost Christmas time and we are still working to build a better Orkut. The Orkut team has two presents this Christmas: a theme for those who enjoy martial arts and another theme for children at any age who love fun stories with animals.

So enjoy it and try it. The new year will come with many surprises. Curious? So are we!

Posted by Koji Pereira, Google Designer

After launching a complete communities redesign, as you probably had noticed, we are still launching new features for communities, like the live update on topics and the quote feature.

Thinking on how to make the user experience even better, we’ve added the “like” feature for topics. We are running a test of this feature and soon it will be expanded and improved. For now, you can use “like” on the first topic message. Show how you like the topics of a community using the emoticon that express your feelings best. Now enjoy this new feature and your holiday party, there’s a lot more comming next year!

Posted by Luís Guilherme Pereira, Google engineer

2011 went by very fast, but was full of new Orkut features. Communities were revamped and got more dynamic, and we got many new themes, badges, games and even a brand new Android app.

To celebrate the busy year and properly welcome 2012, we couldn't forget to create a special Happy Holidays badge! To get the badge, open your Orkut profile, click on "manage" under the "Badges" section, and input the following code: HOHOHO2012. But be quick, because the badge will only be available for a short time!

Despite all the new features and hard work, the Orkut team is not resting on its laurels and is preparing lots of cool stuff for 2012. So enjoy the new year's, and keep an eye on Orkut's official blog to get Orkut news first hand.

Posted by Paulo Schlup, Google Product Manager

We are living a month of holiday parties and Orkut team haven’t forget to prepare some gifts for you all. And this time we have three new themes: one for those who like japanese cartoons - animes, one for the soccer fans and the other one bringing the ambience of lights from this end of the year.

Enjoy the gifts and festivities, but do not forget to bring your friends!

Posted by Koji Pereira, Google Designer

On December 10th 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a basis for the construction of a new world, based on ideas that promote peace and avoid wars.

On today’s doodle, each letter represents one of 5 most important articles on the declaration:

Art. 26º - Everyone has the right to education. 
Art. 13º - Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. 
Art. 19º - Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 
Art. 16º - Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. 
Art. 7º - All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law

The declaration became a common ideal for the whole world, so this special date could not pass by without recognition!

Posted by Koji Pereira, Google Designer

You can be happy because we have two new themes to your profile become even more joyful. We created a theme for those who love, like us, his animal friends and for those who love rock’n roll.

Your Orkut, your self expression.

Posted by Koji Pereira, Google Designer