Google tries to get in on social networking with Buzz


The social network to rule them all? Or just another thing to keep track of?

Google Buzz aims to channel your social networking through Google, specifically using its Gmail service. Buzz is tied into your Gmail account, which allows you instant access to information while you're working with your email. If you currently use Gmail, this looks pretty promising. If not, it could just be something else to log into every day.

Buzz interfaces with other sharing services such as Twitter, Websites/blogs, YouTube, and Flickr. Facebook, however, is not currently supported. You can link your Twitter account, for example, and have your status updates show up in Buzz. Anyone following you in Buzz, can then see those updates rather than following you on Twitter. Unfortunately, however, any status updates posted within Buzz do not get forwarded to Twitter.

On Google's blog, Google writes, "Our belief is that organizing the social information on the web -- finding relevance in the noise -- has become a large-scale challenge, one that Google's experience in organizing information can help solve."

Interestingly, Buzz will automatically have you follow people with whom you chat and email the most. So, it promises to be more of a lean back approach for those who may not like actively tracking down their friend's info. Also, users can both share information and links publically and privately.

While there are some real weaknesses evident at launch, there are some interesting possibilities. Probably the biggest asset is tied directly into the vast number of registered Gmail users. What do you guys think?

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