A few moments ago Google held an event to announce Google Buzz, a new social media sharing tool for your mobile and built right into Gmail. The Android portion announcement came via a live demo from none other than Vic Gundotra and showed making a location-based buzz and how it would show up in Gmail. Google says:
Go beyond status messages. Share updates, photos, videos, and more. Start conversations about the things you find interesting.Google Buzz
For more information, watch the video below or check out the now-live Google Buzz website.
UPDATE: We’ve had some time to play with Buzz and have to say we’re pretty impressed. Tomorrow morning we are going to shoot a video showing some Buzz usage and probably discuss it at length on the podcast. We’ve still got a full post coming soon, but until then enjoy these pictures of the Buzz around Austin:
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Clark Wimberly
Clark is a web designer and developer living in Austin, Texas. He runs ClarkLab, a small web firm with an ever-increasing Android focus. He's a big fan of usability, standards, and clean design.
29 Comments
Also, the version of google maps is 4.0 I’ve been seeing that version in atrackdog forever!
So it’s twitter inside gmail. I don’t really see why this is needed…it’s like a smaller version of wave.
I am patiently waiting for this to be rolled out to my account. So excited to try it out!
Only if your running a android 2.0+ handset as it requires Google maps 4… great for the hero owners.
So, no love for those of us running stock 1.6????
It works for 1.6, I just updated Google Maps. So just like Google Nav, it’s 1.6+ not 2.0+
Not true. If you have 1.6, just update Google Maps in the market.
on my mobile, testing this out. Is it ungodly slow for everyone else? yikes!
I’m kind of tired of being left behind after only a year with this G1 phone. They couldn’t have created some capability for some us early adapters? Thanks a lot Google!
I have a G1 and can use Google Maps Navigation as well as the Buzz feature in Google Maps.. maybe you just need to update your applications?
Yeah, I figured that out now. I was reading the web page that kept repeating the Android 2.x mantra and it left me a little cold. Thanks a lot Google, really, thanks!
Does anyone get the feeling Google is trying to force the manufacturers/carriers to roll out Android 2.0+ on their devices by limiting products like this to 2.0+ firmware. Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but this does mean a lot of people can’t access this on their android phone for a while yet, if ever on some carriers.
If I ever buy another Android device (and that’s a pretty big IF at this point)… it’s going to be running *stock* Android. It’s ridiculous to sit here with my phone that’s barely 3 months old and see Google release app (Goggles) after app (Maps 4.0) after app (Buzz) that I can’t even use. *Grrrr*
Stock Android didn’t save the Galaxy, or the Moment… or any other device, since even the Dream and the Magic (the only two phones which actually got updates) are lagging behind.
Android fragmentation, FTW!
G1 users who go to buzz.google.com in their browser are being left out though, we don’t have access to the web app.
Sounds interesting- looking forward to seeing your review
No support for 1.5? Not even web support? Booo, Google.
Roll out support for the iPhone, no 1.6 support? Shame! Shame!
A pox on your house Google.
It sorta works in Steel if you set your user agent to iPhone. Seems a little sluggish and sometimes it gets stuck trying to load something. But still. It’s worth checking out.
Does anyone realize this is just an upgraded and re-hashed version of the status updates/shout outs from Latitude?
you can basically cc someone after the fact, not a bad idea.
If your phone doesn’t have 2.0 or won’t be updated to it that’s not Googles fault. Blame your phones manufacturer and your carrier. As has been pointed out numerous times Google doesn’t decide what specs a phone has. The manufacturers have chosen to build phones that aren’t capable of being upgraded. It’s in their best interest. They are in the business of selling phones! And of even more importance, you weren’t promised an upgrade when you bought your phone and thus shouldn’t expect 1.
Yes, God forbid Google release something that’s supported on older versions of their mobile operating system, which isn’t really that old to begin with. And shame on me for supporting Google by being an early adopter and purchasing a phone with said operating system. What was I thinking?
Bearing in mind that Buzz works in Google maps for 1.6+ devices, I can’t see why the web app is limited, what functionality have they added to the browser in 2.0+ devices that won’t work with older versions.