In case you missed it, Google just released a new social media tool called Google Buzz that incorporates many sharing features with Gmail.
It’s billed as a new way to start conversations and share things online like photos, videos, etc., but is this just another tool in an already crowded toolbox, or is there something special and unique about Google Buzz?
My first impression was Wave Lite, but decided to have a look to see for myself, what it had to offer. Overall, it is a mixed bag in my opinion.
I am a big user of Google’s Gmail, with multiple accounts for various purposes, and if you have a Gmail account, you are already setup to use Buzz.
Thus far I have used this minimally, but do find a few features useful, which I will get to shortly. But right off the top, I did not care for two of the main features.
Google Buzz is designed to share, so a major feature is the ability to send live comments from your blog posts directly into your Gmail inbox. Now I don’t know about you, but my inbox runneth over and all too regularly at that (well, it once did anyhow).
During the latter part of 2009 I went through an exercise of reclaiming control over my inbox by installing a really slick filtering system after some feedback from folks like Zemalf and others, but I digress.
Google has made an assumption here that everyone wants all of this delivered into their inboxes, and maybe many do, but the lack of an easy and visible means of deactivating this feature is a design oversight.
A link to deactivation instructions for this feature will appear at the very bottom of this post.
The second feature is auto-follow which invokes thoughts of Twitter and a feature I have never used. It’s just something about blindly following folks that I don’t get. But unlike the previous feature, you can easily address this.
Okay, with the two big negatives (for me) out of the way let’s get to a couple things that I do find useful.
The ability to connect other sites is a good one. I find this to be a nice way of monitoring those sites within the Buzz itself, cool. There is also the ability to set these as public and determine who gets to see them (friends, everyone) or set them as private. I like the private setting as I have other blogs I operate that are of little interests to my readers here, like my HOA’s site.
Adding Twitter and other sites like Flickr and Picasa are also very handy. I do see a bit of a mismatch with Twitter however, since Twitter is limited to 140 characters and Buzz extends far beyond that. That is something that will have to be addressed.
The biggest surprise however, was that there is no, zip, zero integration with Facebook. For a cutting edge tool to not have this capability is really disappointing. Anyhow, maybe there are some rights issues or something going on behind the scenes, but this is a large question mark right now.
There is a mobile version of Buzz that I would like to check out as well, could be quite handy for the few things I like thus far.
Like I said at the top, I’ve not had too much time to play with all of the features, but wondered if anyone else has gotten further into the nuts and bolts of Buzz and what your impressions are.
Please share your thoughts and experiences below in the comment section.
For those who have yet to check out this new Google offering, I have included a quick 2-minute video overview below.
Take Google Buzz for a test drive and see what you think. I hope you find real value in it and return here to share your thoughts.
You can connect with me on Google’s Buzz by clicking here.
Keep Blogging!
To hide or remove Buzz updates from your inbox follow this link to Lifehacker. Link courtesy of Mike Wasylik
41 Responses to What’s Your Take on Google Buzz?
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What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? | Jimi Jones Dot Com…
In case you missed it, Google just released a new social media tool called Google Buzz that incorporates many sharing features with Gmail. My first impression was Wave Lite……
Just getting to grips with it myself Jimi. Quick tip: Add a link in the post so we can follow you on Buzz.
Special thanks for the link to by pass the inbox. That was a real pain in the…
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..Super secret tactic for optimizing old posts =-.
Good tip on adding my link, Mike.
Duh!
Just getting to grips with it myself Jimi. Quick tip: Add a link in the post so we can follow you on Buzz.
Special thanks for the link to by pass the inbox. That was a real pain in the…
.-= Mike CJ´s last blog ..Super secret tactic for optimizing old posts =-.
Good tip on adding my link, Mike.
Duh!
Agree with you that Google is out of its league with Buzz v Facebook. I call Buzz Google’s “New Coke” http://bit.ly/aMJige
Hi Peter.
yeah, not sure why the omission of FB. Strange.
Agree with you that Google is out of its league with Buzz v Facebook. I call Buzz Google’s “New Coke” http://bit.ly/aMJige
Hi Peter.
yeah, not sure why the omission of FB. Strange.
Google made a huge assumption that people want this and made it an opt out rather than an opt in option. The web is awash with horror stories including one on Techcrunch that involves a woman and her abusive ex husband.
What worries me is that we are reasonably tech savvy but what of those that don’t keep up with technology and use an email client instead of the web interface? All those Buzzy little secrets working invisibly away in the background …
.-= Kevin Tea´s last blog ..Is GMail Morphing Into Google “Wavebook”? =-.
Great point there, Kevin. Man. that’ scary stuff.
Another assumption on the part of Google, that everyone knows how to undo or configure these packages.
Google made a huge assumption that people want this and made it an opt out rather than an opt in option. The web is awash with horror stories including one on Techcrunch that involves a woman and her abusive ex husband.
What worries me is that we are reasonably tech savvy but what of those that don’t keep up with technology and use an email client instead of the web interface? All those Buzzy little secrets working invisibly away in the background …
.-= Kevin Tea´s last blog ..Is GMail Morphing Into Google “Wavebook”? =-.
Great point there, Kevin. Man. that’ scary stuff.
Another assumption on the part of Google, that everyone knows how to undo or configure these packages.
I need to take a closer look at it, but how does it differ from Ping.fm….hmm I think there may be some redundancy here.
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..Work Hard But Be Nice =-.
I think Googs sort of rushed this thing out without their usual scrutiny of product. It has some nice features, but could have benefited from a little more fine-tuning.
Looking forward to 2.0.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
I need to take a closer look at it, but how does it differ from Ping.fm….hmm I think there may be some redundancy here.
.-= Ms. Freeman´s last blog ..Work Hard But Be Nice =-.
I think Googs sort of rushed this thing out without their usual scrutiny of product. It has some nice features, but could have benefited from a little more fine-tuning.
Looking forward to 2.0.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Hi Jimi,
I’m not sure how I feel about it. It seems like Facebook wannabe so far and it doesn’t seem to be drawing me into it.
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..Lifestyle Design Is NOT Dead! =-.
It’s the tempest in a teapot, Gordie. While there are some nice features, it leaves you scratching your head a bit. I do like it, but feel that more refinements than usual are needed. may have been released too soon.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Hi Jimi,
I’m not sure how I feel about it. It seems like Facebook wannabe so far and it doesn’t seem to be drawing me into it.
.-= Gordie´s last blog ..Lifestyle Design Is NOT Dead! =-.
It’s the tempest in a teapot, Gordie. While there are some nice features, it leaves you scratching your head a bit. I do like it, but feel that more refinements than usual are needed. may have been released too soon.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Overall I like Buzz. So far it is a lot better system than Wave was. I never could get into using that system and it was to hard to figure things. But with Buzz, it was so easy to get up and running.
Google made huge assumptions about what users want how it works with Gmail and its privacy controls.
There several issues that google needs to address, and so far they have stepped up and made those changes per user feedback.
.-= element321´s last blog ..Google Announces Improvements and Response to Feedback =-.
Hey James,
I’m happy to hear that they are addressing some of the issues that are being fed back to them. I won’t be too harsh on them, it is a freebie after all.
I’ll bet they’d like to walk back that inbox deal and let the users decide for themselves. Who did that poll for them, they should get a refund. LOL
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Overall I like Buzz. So far it is a lot better system than Wave was. I never could get into using that system and it was to hard to figure things. But with Buzz, it was so easy to get up and running.
Google made huge assumptions about what users want how it works with Gmail and its privacy controls.
There several issues that google needs to address, and so far they have stepped up and made those changes per user feedback.
.-= element321´s last blog ..Google Announces Improvements and Response to Feedback =-.
Hey James,
I’m happy to hear that they are addressing some of the issues that are being fed back to them. I won’t be too harsh on them, it is a freebie after all.
I’ll bet they’d like to walk back that inbox deal and let the users decide for themselves. Who did that poll for them, they should get a refund. LOL
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
So far I like Buzz and, like you mention, how easy it is to connect your other sites. I like anything new so will be giving Buzz a chance to see how useful it is for me.
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley´s last blog ..Google Page Rank Score Too Low? Keep Your Links Thank You =-.
Hey Karl,
like you, I will jump on most of the new stuff because I love riding along the edge of technology. Some refinements will likely be coming down the line, making this an even better tool.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
So far I like Buzz and, like you mention, how easy it is to connect your other sites. I like anything new so will be giving Buzz a chance to see how useful it is for me.
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley´s last blog ..Google Page Rank Score Too Low? Keep Your Links Thank You =-.
Hey Karl,
like you, I will jump on most of the new stuff because I love riding along the edge of technology. Some refinements will likely be coming down the line, making this an even better tool.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Nice Review Jimi,
I haven’t had a chance to play around with it. I can’t seem to keep up with Google these days.
I’ll connect with you via the link.
.-= Johnluffa´s last blog ..What Blog Related Emails Do You Enjoy Receiving? =-.
Coolness, John.
Look forward to the hookup.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
Nice Review Jimi,
I haven’t had a chance to play around with it. I can’t seem to keep up with Google these days.
I’ll connect with you via the link.
.-= Johnluffa´s last blog ..What Blog Related Emails Do You Enjoy Receiving? =-.
Coolness, John.
Look forward to the hookup.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
To be honest I haven’t even had chance to check it out yet. I normally jump on these new things. But just so many other priorities at the moment.
One day I will have to write a post on it.
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..A free gift for you =-.
Good deal, Robert.
Look forward to you post after you’ve had a chance to check it out.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
To be honest I haven’t even had chance to check it out yet. I normally jump on these new things. But just so many other priorities at the moment.
One day I will have to write a post on it.
.-= Robert Bravery´s last blog ..A free gift for you =-.
Good deal, Robert.
Look forward to you post after you’ve had a chance to check it out.
.-= Jimi Jones´s last blog ..What’s Your Take on Google Buzz? =-.
why would you want copies of YOUR blog posts in your inbox? Doesn’t make sense to me!
Anyway, isn’t Buzz a less effective version of ping.fm?
Less effective as ping.fm allows integration with Facebook.
why would you want copies of YOUR blog posts in your inbox? Doesn’t make sense to me!
Anyway, isn’t Buzz a less effective version of ping.fm?
Less effective as ping.fm allows integration with Facebook.
Hi Jimi,
Google Buzz is going to take off very shortly. I’m getting settled in over there and finding who the key players are. It’s cool because I get to be a part of conversations with some A-listers and Tech bloggers that I would never reach from Twitter. Yesterday’s discussion was about privacy and recent changes at Facebook vs. the introduction of Google Buzz. I got an chance to exchange with Scoble, Matt Cutts, Louis Gray and some other hi-level Buzzers. If you take a look at my CommentLuv link you’ll see the growing list of Google Buzz tips.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
.-= Ileane´s last blog ..A Growing List of Top Google Buzz Tips =-.
Hi Jimi,
Google Buzz is going to take off very shortly. I’m getting settled in over there and finding who the key players are. It’s cool because I get to be a part of conversations with some A-listers and Tech bloggers that I would never reach from Twitter. Yesterday’s discussion was about privacy and recent changes at Facebook vs. the introduction of Google Buzz. I got an chance to exchange with Scoble, Matt Cutts, Louis Gray and some other hi-level Buzzers. If you take a look at my CommentLuv link you’ll see the growing list of Google Buzz tips.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
.-= Ileane´s last blog ..A Growing List of Top Google Buzz Tips =-.