Today Google announced buzz and the internet is abuzz. The jury will be out on Google’s new all encompasing approach to social media but we’ll take you through screen by screen through a tour of the buzz iPhone app.
Hit the jump and start the tour!
There are actually more screens, modes of screens, and ways to search. There are almost too may to show in one article, in fact yes…there are too many. The way the screens loop around back and forth to each other will make it seem to new users like they’re in a big Google puzzle.
Give it an honest shot and let us know what’s got you buzzin’. Now here we go!
The first thing you’ll notice is the the app fits right into the rest of Google’s tools look and feel. Right away you’ll notice the twitter like following and a bar to share your thoughts. Share with who? Other buzzers of course! From this screen you can post a status, jump to search for other buzzers or jump to the map to find nearby buzzers.
In the iPhone version of buzz a dialog box will pop up shortly after you open the app to remind you how to add buzz to your home screen.
Follow the usual steps and you’re ready to start buzzing.
Let’s hop back to the first screen. As you can see I’ve clicked the “Nearby” button and buzz has given me a quick list of people that are listed near me. Of course Apple make’s Google confirm the use of your location. Not accepting will kill about half the fun in buzz so take that into account.
Once you activate the GPS you’ll see people near you. How Google decides who to show on your list I don’t know. I didn’t know anyone on the initial list that Google gave me. The idea is to click on any one of the names on the list and start a conversation thread with them. Since they’re mostly strangers I’m not sure why I would.
If you dont’ see anyone you know don’t worry, you can search for seemingly anyone.
Hit the “Nearby” button and you’ll get a list of nearby locations where people have started a buzz, or an address near you so you can start one. If you haven’t gotten the picture yet the idea is to start a buzz about things or people. Here you can pick a location and make recommendation or buzz about something that’s happening there so other people nearby can get the scoop.
Hit the menu button and you’ll get a new way to interact with a Google map. But, for the most part what you see is what you get; search, directions, overlays, a way to clear the overlays, online help and terms of service stuff, and a way to bail out.
I’ll end for now with the buzz overlay. It shows you where other people are buzzing from.
There are so many more features it’s mind boggling and you probably won’t find them all for a while. It’s a lot of information to take in. For now hopefully this will help you move around.
We’ll have a look later in part 2 at how and why buzz hooks into other social networking platforms. Take your time and have fun!
