Is Google Buzz really Google Hype?
I got my Buzz this afternoon just before the feeling of being left out set in. Excited and snowed in, with nothing better to do, I gave it a try. It felt familiar and uninteresting. But what is interesting, is how they're getting it out. Here are a few quick thoughts.
Why in GMail?
I suppose Buzz was integrated into GMail to quickly build up a user base. Remember 'Google Contacts' had already been made a separate service, so GMail's contacts (default social network) is clearly not the reason. You might think it's because they thought it made sense to treat it like an inbox. But it might make equal if not more sense to put it in Google Wave. However, Google Wave hasn't had much traction, so stuffing Buzz in there would have instantly killed it.
If this scheme works, Google will likely continue to use GMail as it's Trojan's Horse to push out new products, especially social products... even if it makes no other sense.
Orkut? Total Buzz kill
While Buzz is clearly a Social Media move for Google, they've been careful not to mention Orkut and Buzz in the same sentence. Incidentally, Orkut has never been given the 'G' stamp of approval... GOrkut or Google Orkut just don't exist.
Aggregation is stupid but it always sounds good
Next, there's the aggregation of your social streams. Twitter, Flickr etc.
Social Media aggregation just doesn't seem to work. But for some reason it never stops sounding like a good idea. Co-mingling your social circles is like taking both your parents AND your in-laws on a cruise vacation. That is such a bad idea.
For now, Buzz is just a simpler version of FriendFeed...
Buzz vs Twitter
But whatever happened to FriendFeed? Well other than being acquired by Facebook, not much. It's not getting much attention these days. In fact, Buzz is the only reason I've gone back to FriendFeed in months. Back when we did know FriendFeed, it wasn't because of it's superior ideas and technology, but because it was fighting with Twitter.
Google will no doubt keep talking about Twitter to build more buzz (for Buzz)... bad pun, I know.
So is Buzz really Hype?
Well I can say that unlike Wave and Orkut, Google has done a careful if not clever job of getting the Buzz out. It's more marketing and positioning than technology or innovation.
What do you guys think?
(photo via Thomas Hawk flickr)
