Tech Geek and More

UPDATE: MSNBC has a story concerning everything that is wrong with GBuzz, including the fact that Google may have broken a few laws in the way they implemented Buzz. (LINK)http://redtape.msnbc.com/2010/02/epic-google-may-have-broken-wiretap-law.html (http://redtape NULL.msnbc NULL.com/2010/02/epic-google-may-have-broken-wiretap-law NULL.html)

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     Like everyone else, I’m into technology and wanting the latest things.  However, if I start using a product, I want to have full control.  I should be the one picking how information about me is going to be shared (and with who), and I should be able to manage if and when that information goes out. 

     With that being said, a couple of days ago Google “released” (added) their new Google Buzz program to Gmail.  What is Google Buzz for those who may not pay attention to “tech” things.

(LINK From the Google Buzz Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Buzz (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Google_Buzz))

Google Buzz is a social integration (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Social_network_service) and messaging tool by Google (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Google), designed to integrate into the company’s web-based email (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Webmail) program, Gmail (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Gmail).^{[1] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-latimes-0)[2] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-1)} Shared links and messages show up in the user’s inbox.^{[3] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-gizmodo-launch-2)} Buzz focuses on integrating photos, videos, and links as part of the "conversations" aspects of Gmail like conversation threading.

Buzz allows users to choose to share publicly with the world or privately to a small group of friends each time they post.^{[4] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-3)} Picasa (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Picasa), Flickr (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Flickr), Google Reader (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Google_Reader), YouTube (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/YouTube), Blogger (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Blogger_(service)), and Twitter (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Twitter) are currently integrated. The creation of Buzz was seen by industry analysts as an attempt by Google to compete with social networking websites like Facebook (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Facebook) and microblogging (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Microblogging) services like Twitter.^{[1] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-latimes-0)} Buzz also includes several interface and interaction elements from other Google products (e.g. Google Reader (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Google_Reader)) such as the ability to "like" a post.

Google executive Sergey Brin (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Sergey_Brin) said that by offering social communications, Buzz would help bridge the gap between work and leisure,^{[5] (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/#cite_note-nytimes-4)} but the service and its rollout have been strongly criticized for taking insufficient account of privacy

Google Buzz basically is Facebook, Twitter, Email (plus a few more pieces) put in a blender for a few minutes and then what comes out is Google Buzz.  Part of the problem I have with it (as well as MANY MANY others based on the loud complaints that have been heard since its release) is that I DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE TO USE IT OR NOT TO USE IT. Basically a few days ago when signing onto Gmail I was greeted with a pop up welcoming me to Buzz and encouraging me to configure my profile so that the world can find me.  Well what if i don’t want to be found (there was no “No thanks” button to be found), and that alone started the loud complaining about Buzz.  In addition (At least for me), GMail is a business use. It is used for work related issues and by Google’s own admission

Google executive Sergey Brin (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Sergey_Brin) said that by offering social communications, Buzz would help bridge the gap between work and leisure

this was a leisure add-on. I am “old school” in that I don’t believe it is right to mix non-business appearing functions into a business environment (I also am not comfortable using Facebook while working for the same reasons, not to say I haven’t….but its just not a comfortable thing to me).  Well it seems Google did listen enough and they have now added the OFF SWITCH to Google Buzz. Here is how you turn it off, if you don’t want to be “Buzzed”.

1 – Sign into your Google Account (Most likely Gmail)

2 – On the top right click on settings

3 – Now click on Buzz on the orange (looking) bar on the right.

4 – There you will see a few choices ( the last one should be Disable Google Buzz)

5 – Now you will get a 2nd pop up asking if you want to delete your Google profile and Google Buzz posts. This is not your Google account, the message just refers the public profile that was created on Google.

6 – once you say YES, then you will be sent to your Google Accounts page, where you will see what your signed up for with Google and also see your Google settings and even recreate a profile (Public or Private) on your own terms with your own choices in settings.