How do you feel about a standalone version of Google Buzz?

[Bryan]

Google Buzz began as an integrated app in Gmail. Is this a hindrance? Do you think Buzz would be more successful if it were a standalone app? 

[stephanie wanamaker]

possibly! But I like it integrated into gmail just fine ! 

[stephanie wanamaker]

I have no problem with Buzz being small community as long as the journalists and techies stop bashing us ! we can't get new followers without some positive marketing! Maybe Google should have a contest starting in January ! the first 1000 people to sign on to buzz win a CR 48 ! wouldn't that be fantastic? Twitter can't do that!

On Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Bryan <thedigi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Andy Robinson]

Have always used it integrated with Gmail, but find it a lot easier to work off the stream even though the comments don't always keep up when it is fast moving. That is why I advocate a double stream to work from which should help lessen the need for switching between gmail and the stream. And without the aid of the Gmail notifier, the whole thing falls down anyway. I need that audible warning to tell me comments are coming in.

--
You can learn more about me here:
http://andrayrob.blogspot.com

[stephanie wanamaker]

yes I am addicted to the gmail notifier! I love that little tinkle! Thats only reason I respond so fast

[Bryan Foster]

I do too. But it creates a limitation on participation. Those who aren't using Gmail are excluded and that's a shame.

[MrCruella]

What do you mean 'standalone'? (separate from gmail?)

I like the integration into gmail. I would like to have something a little more like 'groups' I think. Where I could reply irreverently to the clods, I mean friends here and then comment a little more respectfully to a group of pet owners in a separate group, but using the Buzz technology.

[stephanie wanamaker]

haha bill love the freudian slip

[Lee Grupsmith]

I'm conflicted.  I like the integration feature  BUT this means that currently Buzz is limited to us GMailianites.  Sort of a semi-walled garden that we can leave anytime we want but hidden from the riffraff by its very nature.

I think what should ha[[en is the removal of that requirement.  Then we would see a huge influx of posters/followers ala Twitter.  Of course that will also increase the percentage of trash posts but we have to take the bad with the good I assume.

[stephanie wanamaker]

yeah well I dont like the autoposts though but the mute feature is quite helpful

[Vladimir Kelman]

Why couldn't Buzz be integrated wih Gmail like now for Gmail users, but send notifications to non-Google emails as well (or show links to posts with replies etc. on its home page)?

[Alexander S. Kunz]

Hi.

Even though I am a GMail user, I don't think the integration is very favorable, and might very well be a hindrance for Buzz to really take off (a lot of people have a Google account, but not with GMail). The integration with GMail makes me wonder "is it really a product on it's own?"

• I always have GMail open in a browser tab, and the Buzz (3) label begs for attention all the time. And because I am who I am :P I just start wasting time by going there, instead of getting things done! I wish I had a choice to "switch view" to a dedicated Buzz view (maybe only a couple of times per day), instead of being "exposed" to it and distracted by it all the time. I bet that's not just my problem. Mail is mail, and social is social. I'd like to keep it apart.
• The @ addressing only works when you have a person's GMail address. And somehow, it's exposed to other Buzz users (which becomes apparent when you're using the Chrome extension that makes it easier to @ reply) - and I don't like that at all. I'd prefer it if users had an alternative, neutral alias for Buzz and Buzz alone for that addressing stuff, like some...@gbuzz.com or whatever...
• Refreshes in the GMail interface seem to take longer than on the Google Profile page. Likes, Comments and whatnot often seem to get lost in the Buzz "stream" in GMail, but they are there in the profile, or when you switch to a persons Buzz in GMail. Let's be honest: Facebook's news stream is better.

Greetings

Alexander.

[Bill]

Excellent points Alexander. I agree with you on almost everything.

I also like the Facebook wall posting speed and the way it works, but there seems to be some extra features in the Buzz stream, so it's hard for me to judge.
Bill Deville

[stephanie wanamaker]

I agree too Bill

[Vladimir Kelman]

Well, I'm not arguing, but you for sure know how to set filters in your Gmail to automatically move Buzz-triggered messages to a separate folder and optionally to mark them as read.

I think ideally there would be two options: to use Buzz in Gmail or to use stand-alone version.

[William Ellerbe]

I like the combination of Google Buzz and Gmail. By having these two resources together, we have the advantage of Google technology working together in a seamless fashion.

[William Ellerbe]

The Gmail Notifier. What a great idea. I need to give that resource a try. Gmail labs here I come.

[William Ellerbe]

@Bill Deville - There's an advantage that Google Buzz has over Facebook. By combining Google Buzz with Gmail, we can apply labels to our Google Buzz discussions which would help us to navigate through our Buzz content. By using Google Chrome, we can use CTRL+SHIFT with a left-mouse click to launch specific discussions in a separate window, so that we don't lose our place within a particular communication stream. Can say enough good things about this aspect of Google Buzz. True blessing indeed.

[Bill]

excellent tip. thanks.

[William Ellerbe]

You're more than Bill. Sharing knowledge is a joy and privilege within the Google Buzz Community.

[William Ellerbe]

Using Buzz within Gmail is the option that I would opt for. It has worked well over the past few months, and it keeps getting better with each new day.

[William Ellerbe]

This limitation on participation might be a blessing in disguise. Fortunately there are no laws to force anyone to create a Gmail account. To do so would be completely optional. I still have a Yahoo account, yet I still Gmail to manage my Yahoo content. Unlike Burger King, Google Buzz is not a resource for folks to pick apart and remix it, so that can have everything their way. One other advantage is that Google Buzz can maintain a certain purity, so that it can continue to grow and mature into a Social Networking platform that will have more value.

[William Ellerbe]

Bashing from journalists and techies never made any sense to meet. They would do better to "accentuate the positive." Google Buzz is still a work in progress, and it will take time for certain things to improve.

[William Ellerbe]

By all means possible, I'm prayerful that Google Buzz won't get weighed down by a bunch of "trash posts." As we speak, there are some folks who will use Google Buzz to display their Twitter posts, then wonder why nobody responds. I understand Google Buzz to be a place where folks like to engage in lively discussions about common interests. There are some things that some folks still need to learn about this resource.

[Alexander S. Kunz]

Those are good points William.

My main point is: I don't want a social networking tool in my email service. I would not want a Facebook newsfeed in my email program either. For me, email is more about productivity, and social networking is more a leisurely activity. Different folks, different strokes. To have a choice would be nice.

I mean... Buzz has a standalone mobile interface... can't be so hard to adapt it to the desktop... ;)

https://m.google.com/app/buzz?gl=us&force=1#~buzz:view=following (it's just achingly slow...)

Alexander.

[William A Ellerbe]

Alexander we have a few values in common that are very interesting. One value would be the name "Alexander," which happens to be my Middle Name. Privilege to converse with a "brother from another mother." One other value would be the thought of keeping Facebook out of our email programs. As of this writing I have thousands of email messages, and just like data in a Microsoft Access database, I want to be manage all that information in the best way possible. I know for sure that there are some things that I would not post on Facebook, understanding that I may not be talking with techie folks about something techie that I might be interested in. This is one reason why I really like this Google Buzz Enthusiasts Group.

You are correct when it comes to Social Networking standing as more "leisure" activity. The closest concept of a "Stand Alone" Google Buzz I can think of would be a session of Google Buzz that runs in a separate browser window. This concept is something that I use most of the time, so that I can physically keep Gmail in one "space" and Google Buzz in another.

Two questions for you kind sir:

1) What are your thoughts towards the use of Filters in Gmail?
2) What are your thoughts towards the use of Google Chrome to view Google Buzz Content?

In keeping with question number 1, I wanted to mention the fact that I do have a filter in Gmail to help me section off my alters from Facebook. To this date I have YET to see Facebook implement their new inbox concept.

[William Ellerbe]

Hello Alexander,

Here's a visual of what my solution for a Standalone Version of Google Buzz would look like. With some help from the "A-K Labels/Google Buzz" feature created within Gmail (a necessary component), this enables me to sort through all my email messages so that I can "drill down" to my Google Buzz. In the screen capture below, I have at least 2258 conversations that I have contributed to in some way. The other thing that I'm thinking about (which would work with Google Chrome) would be to navigate to Google Buzz content and create an Application Shortcut. All things are possible.

[Alexander S. Kunz]

Hi William,

funny coincidence that your middle name is Alexander. :)

Re your questions...

1 - no, I'm not using filters for Buzz. I'm not really a heavy Buzz user and follow < 100 other Buzzers. I'm a muter - that means I mute all Buzz content that I've seen and noted, unless there's a potentially interesting discussion coming up. I don't see the need to use filters.

2 - Chrome is my primary browser. Maybe I didn't get your question right?

Oh and btw. I'm not on Facebook. I used to be, but social media has a pretty bad signal to noise ratio, and it's quite excessive on Facebook. I wasted so much time catching up with the 95% boring chitchat and status updates that I eventually terminated my account (plus I don't really like Zuckerboy's approach on privacy, more specifically MY privacy.) For the very same reason I permanently mute all YouTube, Google Reader and Latitude activity (and most often Twitter too) of anyone whom I follow on Buzz.

Greetings

Alexander.

[William A Ellerbe]

Hey Alexander,

It is interesting that we have the "Alexander" name in common. Google Chrome is still my primary browser, and after I'm done upgrading my laptop to Ubuntu 11.04 Beta 1, I'm gonna reinstall Chrome so that I can keep my user experience going strong. In keeping with Facebook, some folks are actually turning to Diaspora which is still a work in progress. When it comes to Google Buzz, are you the kinda guy who would prefers to see more discussions rather than a flood of posts and spam? I ask this question because I share this concern along with other folks who still use the web. News reals and RSS feeds are pointless unless we have people conversing with other people about a particular subject, or some type of "common cause."