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Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

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Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#11

Post by dkarl »

marbletiles wrote: post #9

Headline here is completely wrong: the article stresses they'll keep it in GMail, they're just going to offer it to non-gmail accounts. This'll be GApps and is unsurprising, to me.

I can't see the original article any more, but the relevant piece is quoted in this post, whose interpretation agrees with the headline:

http://mashablemirror.blogspot.com/2010/02/google-buzz-is-st...

However, they contacted Google to confirm and were told: "No, we’re not planning to remove Buzz from Gmail. Among some of the features we’re considering is building a standalone Buzz experience in addition to the one in Gmail, but I can’t confirm anything right now."

The lack of consistency suggests that Google is having a hard time deciding how to handle this but knew they had to address it quickly. I hope they back down and fix the privacy issues, but I'm not sure they would think Buzz will be worth their bother unless they can convince people to give up the expectation of privacy. Meanwhile, I've voted with my mouse by following these instructions:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1121137

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#12

Post by stumm »

dkarl wrote: post #2

Once it's gone from gmail, nobody will use it and nobody will care. Massive fail for Google, strike two in the social networking department.

Not sure if the article got updated, but it says: "Horowitz stressed that Google would still offer a version of Buzz within Gmail, in addition to any independent version".

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#13

Post by piramida »

This was a most troubled release from google, almost everything was done wrong, to alienate common non-techy users and privacy advocates. Just check out the Buzz help forum (http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/label?lid=3a6323...), it's pure hatred.

However I would still love if they have the guts to make it stay. Out of all attempts at social media (i.e. facebook, ff and twitter) this one looks like the only acceptable solution which does not seem to suck (no ads, no flashy children toys, no annoying "updates" from hardly known people, and no character limit which dumbs down posts from even the brightest authors). If it is removed from gmail, it will sadly die. If it stays, public will learn to live with it.

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#14

Post by smallpaul »

davatk wrote: post #5
dkarl wrote: post #2

Once it's gone from gmail, nobody will use it and nobody will care. Massive fail for Google, strike two in the social networking department.

Strike three if you count OpenSocial. I have no idea if you should though.

Jaiku?

Orkut?

We're on strike three at the most conservative count.

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#15

Post by jsz0 »

I think Google should remove Buzz from GMail by default. Technically it probably makes no difference. Same privacy risks either way. The bigger issue is perception. I think most people approach GMail as a private space. They are very aware of the private data they keep in GMail. They've been using GMail for users under this assumption of privacy. All the sudden this public information exchange is one click away. If every bit of my information on Facebook was leaked I wouldn't be too upset because I've always approached it as a public space. I have an expectation that nothing on FaceBook is really private. I have an expectation everything in GMail is.

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#17

Post by jsz0 »

kqr2 wrote: post #8

All of this could have been avoided if they simply had a button that asked users if they wanted google to automagically add social contacts from gmail and give users a preview of what that would look like. They should have also clearly indicated in the preview what was private and what was public. BTW, what happened to their beta testing / invite only methodology? Also doesn't google beta test things internally first…

It's a land grab. They had to gain users and build social/advertising groups quickly. I think there's something going on behind the scenes with Twitter and/or Facebook that terrifies Google right now. Otherwise they wouldn't have made such a bone headed move. They know better. The deployment strategy was a carefully calculated risk in my opinion.

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#19

Post by marbletiles »

dkarl wrote: post #11
marbletiles wrote: post #9

Headline here is completely wrong: the article stresses they'll keep it in GMail, they're just going to offer it to non-gmail accounts. This'll be GApps and is unsurprising, to me.

I can't see the original article any more, but the relevant piece is quoted in this post, whose interpretation agrees with the headline: http://mashablemirror.blogspot.com/2010/02/google-buzz-is-st... However, they contacted Google to confirm and were told: "No, we’re not planning to remove Buzz from Gmail. Among some of the features we’re considering is building a standalone Buzz experience in addition to the one in…

Ah, looks like the headline's been changed: it read "Google may remove Buzz from GMail" when I saw it.

Re: Google: We May Offer Buzz Independently From Gmail

#20

Post by dkarl »

marbletiles wrote: post #19
dkarl wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't see the original article any more, but the relevant piece is quoted in this post, whose interpretation agrees with the headline: http://mashablemirror.blogspot.com/2010/02/google-buzz-is-st... However, they contacted Google to confirm and were told: "No, we’re not planning to remove Buzz from Gmail. Among some of the features we’re considering is building a standalone Buzz experience in addition to the one in…

Ah, looks like the headline's been changed: it read "Google may remove Buzz from GMail" when I saw it.

The original headline reflected a common interpretation of what was said, but either Google didn't intend that interpretation or they changed their minds.
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