Google to take on Facebook with new Buzz social media feature for Gmail

Internet giant Google has introduced a new social networking feature tied into its Gmail service, designed to emulate features seen in other networks such as Facebook and MySpace.

But other internet groups such as Microsoft and Yahoo have attacked the Google Buzz service, saying it is too convoluted and will confuse users.

The Buzz is like a social media portal in which users can share videos, links, pictures and other media. This is similar to the upcoming Google Wave project, but resembles more of a MySpace or Facebook-like portal for sharing content.

Google announced the Buzz extension at a press conference overnight to tech bloggers and analysts, saying it will provide “auto-following” for the users you chat with most, keyboard shortcuts, public and private sharing of messages and integration with the Gmail inbox.

Google said on its blog the company believes social media has become too complicated and finding specific information is too difficult, which it has tried to rectify through developments such as more accurate real-time searching.

“Our belief is that organising the social information on the web — finding relevance in the noise — has become a large-scale challenge, one that Google’s experience in organising information can help solve.”

“Google Buzz is a new way to start conversations about the things you find interesting. It’s built right into Gmail, so you don’t have to peck out an entirely new set of friends from scratch — it just works.”

Users can arrange photos in a new media viewer, while posting links, photos and videos can be done in a private or public group. New posts in public groups are automatically indexed by the Google search engine.

Additionally, users can chat with other followers in conversations which attach onto the Gmail inbox. Replies and comments to posted content can be made in real time, with notifications sent directly to a user’s inbox.

The company also said Buzz will be self-learning, and will personalise content based on what a user says it does or doesn’t “like”.

Google Buzz can also be used on an iPhone or Android-based web browser, with GPS features allowing the program to find a location nearest to you it thinks you would like to visit. Additionally, phone users can also post content to Buzz using voice commands.

“The new Buzz layer allows you to see buzz near you or anywhere on the map. You can post public buzz directly from the layer, and even attach a photo from your phone. Also, try visiting a mobile Place Page to read recent comments or to post buzz about that place. You can access Place Pages from the web app as well, by tapping on the place name in any location-tagged post.”

“You will see the buzz icon in the top right corner of the google.com homepage. Just tap on the icon to trigger the posting box.”

But while analysts have welcomed Google Buzz as a good addition to the company’s suite of Gmail features, some have suggested the project is too complex for everyday users. Microsoft said users need more convenience, not features.

“Busy people don’t want another social network, what they want is the convenience of aggregation. We’ve done that. Hotmail customers have benefitted from Microsoft working with Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and 75 other partners since 2008.”

Search rival Yahoo sent out a “tweet” stating it had already introduced many of the features in Google Buzz a year ago. Meanwhile, TechCrunch writer MG Seigler wrote Buzz will have to compete with the simplicity of other services like Twitter.

“Twitter works because it’s so simple, if you have a public account, your tweets go to anyone who is following you. Buzz is not that simple. There can be public or private buzzes. The plan is to also have buzzes for enterprise and educational users.”

“In those cases, public buzzes may only be available within your company or school, while private would still be private to other individuals in your network. You can see how the social graph is starting to get a little more complicated.”

Google is currently updating its blogs with more information about Buzz, which is expected to roll out to Gmail inboxes in the next few days.