Google Buzz overview

If you haven't heard of Google Buzz already (there might be a few of you) here's a quick overview of what it is and why it may be something you should check out.
DiannaBDesigns asked me if it was kind of "Facebook-y". I answered briefly, with my "tech soap box" nerdy twitter account: but it really deserves more that 140 characters.

• Asymmetrical following - This means that like Twitter and unlike Facebook a person can "follow" another persons public buzz without a follow back. 

Asymmetrical following is what makes Twitter a better "information machine". You can of course block someone from following you if you need to.

• Public + Private - Like twitter you can private share (Duh email!), but unlike Twitter you can also private share with a specific group of people (the group needs to be set up through your contacts).

This is where Buzz takes bits from both FB and Twitter: although once people get used to it I suspect that Buzz will do "Public & Private" better than either FB or Twitter. The down side is that the total audience is only 170 million (but expect that number to grow).

• Sharing - Sharing is in many ways better. On twitter you have to "hop over" for everything. On Facebook you get a glimpse. In Buzz you can read everything and see whopping big images (oh and video plays inline, at least from YouTube it does).

Because it's a Google product there is also very tight integration with Reader, which will be a big plus for some.

• Open - Google have stated that it will be an open system. I've scanned the API's and it looks very promising.

Time will tell: but if it is open to developers that will make it a longer prospect, so it won't be something that mushrooms and dies in a flash.

All in all Buzz is something you should definitely check out if you use Gmail: and probably will do at some point in the near future if you don't.

Follow HCJ Project Buzz from here.