I realize that many of you have already been exposed to Google Buzz, or at least heard the name, and that this article might seem a little untimely.  After all, Google Buzz was released about a month ago (February 9, 2010).  The reason I waited to comment on Google Buzz was two-fold: 1) The initial reaction to Google Buzz was panic! (early issues with privacy) and 2) I wasn’t sure if I would even use Buzz for personal and/or business updates.  Why would I review or recommend a product for the JumpstartMyPC.com audience if it (Buzz) wasn’t a useful tool that would help you get more out of your PC?  Well, I finally spent some time with this new application and I think I’ve wrapped my mind around it.

What Exactly is Google Buzz?

According to WikiPedia “Google Buzz is a social networking and messaging tool from Google, designed to integrate into the company’s web-based email program, Gmail. Users can share links, photos, videos, status messages and comments organized in “conversations” and visible in the user’s inbox.”  The definition is spot-on, but other than the Gmail integration, what makes Google Buzz any different from MySpace, Facebook or any of the other social networking sites out there?  I could post a bunch of screen-shots and commentary, but a quick video will explain Buzz much more effectively.

To me, Google Buzz is the Lite version of social networking.  Why?  Because you don’t have to spend an eternity setting it up, the feature set is very limited and (this is the best part) the distractions are minimal.

Setup

• If you have a Gmail account, you are already a Buzz user.  Just look for the link under your inbox.
• If you want to try Buzz and see what it’s all about, all you have to do is sign up for a FREE Gmail account.  **If you decide to stick around, you can import your old mail and contacts fromYahoo!, Hotmail, AOL or other webmail or POP3 accounts (which covers just about everyone).
• Add personal information or don’t!  This is entirely up to you.

Limited Features

• Post your own buzz-worthy links and photos.  Follow others to see what they post.  That’s it!  If you can copy and paste, you can use Buzz!
• There are no apps, so you don’t have to worry about joining the Mafia or taking care of your Farm-Town/Ville.

Distractions Gone

• Ads are limited to a tiny little bar at the top (almost forgot about it even being there).
• Again, no apps – meaning no games, clubs, groups, etc. to join or worry about.

The Verdict

Click Here

My overall opinion of Google Buzz is “wait-and-see.”  Google will not give up on Buzz any time soon and (as blogger Dan Sung put it) “it’s the refinements that will make it into something deeper and more diverse.”  Who knows what the future holds for Google Buzz?

However, I have some suggestions for those of you with different “backgrounds.”  Depending on your current setup (email), affiliations (other social networking sites) or tolerance level, you might want to give Buzz a chance.

Scenario 1: The Rookie

You have email and use it to communicate with a limited group of friends and family.  Either you don’t care about social networking or you are one of the “I don’t want to know what everyone is up to all the time and I don’t care to let others know what I am doing at any time” camp.

Suggestion

Google Buzz is perfect for you!  Just sign up for that FREE Gmail account and add ONLY the people that you already email.  Don’t give out this new address to anyone but those you already email.  Post away using the Private option and you won’t have to worry about anyone else seeing what you submit.  If you like it, hang around.  If not, delete the account and walk away.

Scenario 2: The Middle Man

You tried Facebook, but it wasn’t your thing.  Too much going on and you are too busy to check it all the time.  You post an update here and there, but don’t really “feel” like a Facebook person.  Twitter sounds like something only a bird would do or maybe you are just a little bit curious to see what’s going on in the Twitter world.

Suggestion

Google Buzz might be a good way to ease into sharing a bit more.  Using Gmail means that Buzz is literally one click away and (as we pointed out) there are limited distractions.  You can “follow” people or companies that you have an interest in and check your Buzz when you have time.  No pressure.  You don’t even have to post anything if you don’t want to.

Scenario 3: Social Guru

You are everywhere in the social networking world: MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  You can’t get enough new information and you love the applications and “noise” of these sites.  You follow several blogs and/or have a blog of your own.

Suggestion

Buzz might be too little for your needs.  You would just be reinventing the wheel if you had to set up another profile.  However, a Buzz page would be a good way to increase your audience and spread the word about your online presence.  OK, maybe you should try it out anyway.

“Listing all those empty homes out there” is the tagline for PleaseRobMe.com and categories like “Recent Empty Homes” are used to demonstrate the dangers of location-aware services.  Location-aware services is a broad term that basically means any software, device or site that allows you to share your current geographical location with others.  There are a lot of advantages to sharing your location (mostly social) but users should understand the dangers associated with broadcasting your whereabouts.  Mainly, telling people you are at point X means you are not at home, thus making your home a target for thieves.

Why Would Anyone Broadcast Their Location?

It might be hard for some people to understand why anyone would do this, but the world has embraced location-aware technologies and we find new uses for it every day.  Here are a few examples of sites and services that make location-aware fun and useful:

• Twitter – There are some services that add a users location to every tweet they send out.  Some users simply include their location as part of their standard message.
  BENEFIT: You might have friends in the same area that want to meet up for a meal or a drink.  While on vacation or on a business trip in a strange city you might get some recommendations from others on where to go and what to do.

• Foursquare -  A separate application for almost any smartphone, this service allows users to “check in” when they arrive at a cafe, bar, restaurant, park, etc.  They have even made a game out of your destinations where you can earn badges for “discovering new places or taveling to far away places.”
  BENEFIT: Find out what your friends are up to, what places everyone is frequenting and get reviews on just about anything before you try it.

• Latitude – This smartphone app tracks your location and shares it on a map for friends and family to see.
  BENEFIT: Keep track of family.  You can even use the service to make sure your kids aren’t wandering off too far.  And, like the other services, you can meet up with friends who happen to be in the same area.

• Facebook/Buzz – Although Facebook and Google Buzz aren’t real-time location trackers, they do provide users with a way to broadcast their plans.  You can tell your friends where you are about to go on vacation or where your date is taking you for dinner.  Mobile apps make it possible to update both of these services as often as you would like.
  BENEFIT: Sharing is fun and suggestions from friends and family are where we find out about the best restaurants and places to visit.

What People Are Doing Wrong

The services listed above can be just as dangerous as they are helpful.  People who aren’t aware of these cyber-stalkers (those looking for your location information) don’t know they are setting themselves up for trouble.  We’ve mentioned the dangers in previous articles, like Who Sees Your Social Media Credit Score and Why, but only grazed the surface of the issue.

• Twitter – Most people think that only their followers read their tweets, but that is not the case.  A quick search at search.twitter.com, with the proper keywords, can provide criminals with just enough information to get started.

Who is "going on vacation tomorrow?"

• Foursquare – Twitter posts by Foursquare users contain “4sq.com” links and are easily tracked.  Letting everyone know you “checked in” at location X means you are not at home and this is exactly what PleaseRobMe.com is exposing (in order to educate users).

Recent Empty Homes on PleaseRobMe.com

• Latitude - A “friend” or someone with a little computer know-how could potentially use latitude to track you.  Not much need for explanation here.

Google Latitude Shows Right Where You Are

• Facebook/Buzz – Do you really look at who you approve as a friend on Facebook or Buzz?  Is your information really “private” or are there ways around that.  Do you have “friends” that you don’t know so well?  Maybe posting your vacation plans is not the best move.

Posting a comment or a picture from your smartphone?

PleaseRobMe.com is not out to harm anyone, but is helping to raise awareness.  Hopefully you will change your habits just enough to prevent potential dangers.  You should also take the time to Google your user names and id’s.  Make sure that someone can’t research your Twitter user name to find your home address or phone number.  That simple link could be enough to bring a thief closer to your valuables.