As widely anticipated, Google announced its approach to social networking and sharing called “Google Buzz,” at a press conference today.
The new social networking feature is integrated with Gmail. Most Gmail users will see the new feature appear sometime over the next few days, the company said.
“Organizing the world’s social information has become a large problem, the kind Google likes to solve,” said Buzz Product Manager Todd Jackson.
Integrates with other Google products
As earlier reports and online speculation suggested, Buzz integrates with other Google products, YouTube and the Picassa Photo app.
Jackson said Gmail users will find a Buzz button when they use their accounts. Once they click the button, it will automatically populate their friends list with people they email or interact with most often.
Jackson demonstrated the way Buzz quickly handles uploaded photos via its custom viewer so people see them large and can click through them rapidly.
He also said that in making Buzz, Google paid particular attention to the way it handles the ability to post items publicly, where they will be indexed by Google’s search engine, or privately.
Some jokers read Todd Jackson’s email address as he was demonstrating the product and when he returned to his demo screen, their messages appeared on the live broadcast (one read, “Hello Google”).
Enterprise version coming
The company also demonstrated how Buzz will work on mobile devices.
In addition, it disclosed a brand new version of Google Mobile Maps with features making it easier to use. It also includes a way for users to see “Snap” posts in an area that may include comments about restaurants, events, stores, and so forth.
Upcoming, the company says it will introduce an enterprise version that will “change the way businesses share information around the world.” — Allan Maurer
Online: www.buzz.google.com
Southeast Venture Conference, February 29 – March 1, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA – Where Smart Money Meets Smart People.
www.seventure.org
© 2010, TechJournal South. All rights reserved.
Tags: gmail, Google Buzz, mobile, social networking
