Google Buzz

We have short memories, just as we seem to have forgotten that Apple has produced some dud products, we seem to think that Google, likewise, cannot put a foot wrong, which goes to show the power the brand reputation can wield. Google’s is currently putting this to the test with its latest product release – Buzz.

Immediately flagged as a potential FaceBook or Twitter Killer, Buzz was launched with minimal fanfare this week, well minimal compared to last year’s Wave hype, and purports to bring social networking straight to your inbox. It enables you to share your photos, RSS, twitter updates and other content directly from your Gmail inbox with your contacts. Your network is automatically built as Buzz will follow the people you email the most.

There’s been quite a mixed reaction to this, industry commentator Jason Calacanis immediately declared that FaceBook’s stock and traffic would drop by half, others have pointed out some major flaws, such as exposing your entire email list to others, might be an anti-privacy step too far, which is supported by raw accounts of people who are now fearing for their physical safety after Buzz was introduced Indeed, one day after lunch thankfully Google has already started to backtrack and is making it possible to limit what profile information is shared and to block potential followers.

Personally I switched Buzz on and then switched it back off about an hour later, I didn’t like that I was automatically following everyone I’d ever emailed more than a couple of times. While Google thinks it will be better to add social networking elements to your inbox, I prefer using my inbox to populate my social networks. This may be harsh, but just because I’ve emailed you doesn’t mean we’re friends, even virtually. I also don’t like that emails are so easy to find, not everyone hands out their contact details willy-nilly, I don’t pass on your details without checking its OK with you. I’d like Google to do the same for me.

I also don’t like how Buzz says it will skip showing the things it doesn’t think I’ll like and will add in recommended content from those I’m not following. Though I’m less against the latter, I feel that the skipping process might well increase the filters we’re so effectively building through social media.

As with everything new and shiny on the interwebz, we’ll just have to wait and see how useful it is and what the take up will be, it’s far too soon to call how