We’re all looking for a tool that integrates social media applications. Does Google Buzz have it?
Google Buzz is Googles attempt to position itself in the social media world. It looks like a hybrid FacebookFoursquareTwitterYelp.
It connects some sites – Twitter, Picasa, Flickr and Google Reader. It does not update Facebook and Twitter feeds. Love the map/location tool. For now, i’m sticking with my diverse collections of networks and waiting whatever comes next – i’m looking for someone to get this right… and it might be the next version of Google Buzz.
Check it out – Google Buzz.
What do you think?
March 4th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Google Buzz does have one interesting feature- the location feature. It is a little bit on the “Big Brother” side, but if you don’t mind people knowing where you are, it could be pretty cool. When ever you post a status it pulls up your location via google map technology and it asks your approval to post it (ex. Joe’s Coffee Shop). This feature helps you connect with people nearby and Buzz will also suggest things to do in the area.
March 4th, 2010 at 9:25 am
I set Buzz to post updates from my Twitter, Foursquare, Flickr and Google Reader accounts automatically. Buzz automatically followed 17 people for me when it launched, but I have only seen an update from 3 of those people (also their auto twitter posts). Not much seems to be going on and I am mostly looking at my own Twitter feed when I go to my Buzz tab. I am waiting to see how Google will take Buzz to the next level.
March 4th, 2010 at 9:59 am
One thing I noticed about Google buzz was the way the information was displayed. From an information design stand point it’s not very good. While this plain text format works well for their search engine results and GMAIL applications, the clutter of postings from other people is quite distracting. I don’t know what to look at first or what the most important info is from a design hierarchy standpoint. Google should take some tips from Twitter and Facebook and make the visual of the way there messages are displayed more esthetically pleasing to the viewer.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:04 am
From a business competition view point, it may be questioned whether social media integration is a top priority for the companies already out there. Each company would have to agree to it. What would be the economic incentive for a more established, more popular organization (Facebook, for example) to integrate with Google Buzz? In addition, how many social media sites does one individual require to participate in? or have time to maintain? Isn’t this comparable to having 4 or 5 telephone numbers all having answering machines? We don’t know it yet, but the market may have already maxed out. Google Buzz may be a little late to arrive on the scene.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Considering that 400 million people are on FaceBook, I don’t think Buzz will be helpful or popular until it is able to connect with FaceBook.
March 9th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
When my Gmail account auto-launched Buzz for the first time, I clicked “ignore”. With so many social networks out there, I think Google is trying to be all things to everyone and is missing the mark. In order for Buzz to be successful, they need the buy-in of a lot of their users and they aren’t offering anything unique yet. As a Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter account-owner, I just don’t have a need for one more social network right now. Maybe as Buzz evolves I’ll change my mind…