Google Gets “Buzz”-worthy
Watch your backs Facebook and Twitter. Google is coming for you and it looks like they’re playing for keeps. Tongue’s were wagging as the search engine rolled out yet another addition to the expansive Google empire. Google Buzz is the company’s definitive entry into the social media arena.
According to Google’s official blog:
“Google Buzz is a new way to start conversations about the things you find interesting. It’s built right into Gmail, so you don’t have to peck out an entirely new set of friends from scratch — it just works. If you think about it, there’s always been a big social network underlying Gmail. Buzz brings this network to the surface by automatically setting you up to follow the people you email and chat with the most.”
Taking a page from social media content aggregator FriendFeed, Buzz takes status updates, photos, and other content from Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites and streams them through your Gmail account. Just like the big boys, Buzz allows users to “Like” a piece of content as well as comment. It also gives recommendations on content you might like based on your friends’ activities. Buzz will also provide suggestions on follow-worthy people based on conversations friends might be having with the person as well as your own feedback. The more you click the “interested” or “not interested” buttons, the better Google Buzz will become with giving quality recommendations. Conversely, it will also use this system to eliminate the content you’re not interested in like spam or someone’s out of touch rant on why Google Wave will revolutionize the web.
In addition to being integrated into your Gmail account, Buzz can also be accessed via cell phone. Buzz Mobile will take a page from Foursquare, Yelp, and the like and use your GPS to update your followers on your current location. Google has already rolled out an app for Blackberry and iPhone users, but it can also be accessed in Google Maps. You can also post photos and comments in the Google Maps version as evidenced by Google’s example of a user posting a picture of a minor accident. Another cool feature is the integration of Google Voice. Using Voice, you can simple speak your update instead of aggravating that thumb injury you’ve sustained from over-texting.
Google Buzz has already started popping up in users’ Gmail accounts and everyone should have it over the next few days. When it hits my account, I’ll definitely be sharing my thoughts. Stay Tuned.
Category: News | Tags: facebook, foursquare, Friendfeed, gmail, google, Google Buzz, Google Maps, google voice, location based services, social media, twitter, yelp
About the Author Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.
As a heavy Friendfeed user like Rahsheen, this looks very familiar too. They need to add some sort of lists option, better “muting” options and a way to filter and determine what is new in a buzz item instead of having to scroll right through. It does have potential. I wonder how Google Wave fits with this.
It showed up on my desktop this afternoon and I've spent a lot of time playing with it. I'm not a FriendFeed user, so this is new to me and I like it! I can see it getting overwhelming quickly tho. I'm an obsessive Gmail user and another section to check might put me over the edge!
It does depend on what you were already into. Being an active FriendFeed user, Buzz looks really familiar. I think where it may be useful is in it's integration with Gmail. So many people already there. Also, none of the aggregation solutions have taken off yet, but I think Buzz may do so just because
I've been using it on my iPhone, and it seems like more of the same. Maybe I'll see and feel the difference when I get it on my gmail account?
My Google Buzz isn't really “buzzing” at the moment. Will it catch on? With millions of Gmail users, it did literally became the biggest social network overnight. I think some people will use it and eventually, checking the buzz will be as important. Right now, the only people who I see buzzing are people who I contact the most with Gmail.
If Google Buzz sticks to the bare minimums like it did with GTalk, I think it will go forward. If it gets “app happy” like Facebook, it will be just another “me too”. And the last thing I need in my email is more invites to games like Fudgeville. (I'm pretty sure there's a Fudgeville)
Already in use. It's easy. Simple. And a great tool for small businesses to increase internal collaboration. Especially if you're using other google products.