Remember when Buzz Lightyear found out he was just a toy and not really a space hero?
A sad moment.
Google Buzz is sort of like that. Google has built itself up in its mind (it really is just one entity) to be a space hero when really it’s a lot of toys. Some really cool toys (cooler than Woody Microsoft), but still… toys.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my Google toys. In fact, I just set up a Google Apps account this week so I can actually work in the cloud instead of just being there in my head. I pretend that it’s about productivity, but let’s face it; toy.
Any time a new Thing comes out, I try to think about how I can use it in my life or my business before I dismiss it out of hand. Okay, so first I mentally lick the shiny logo and then I try to think about usefulness.
So I licked my screen and did some thinkin’ about Buzz.
Too many toys
Here’s the inherent problem with any new toy that hits the internet: if I start thinking about the fact that I have to open yet another tab in Firefox or switch to a new app on my iPhone, they’re already losing me. If I just jump in without thinking because it looks super useful or really cool, then opening tabs and switching apps is no big deal.
I was waiting for my family in the car a few nights ago and I decided to check out Google Buzz on my iPhone. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn’t use it with my new Google Apps account, which is where I’m now hanging out. I have to use my old Google account where I use that Wave toy. So before I even figure out what it does, they’re losing me.
But I check it out anyway. It looks like Twitter, sort of. I buzzed (?) something stupid like, “Figuring out Buzz.” Genius.
Looks like I can bring in my contacts from Gmail, but the UX Hero nailed it on this one. No obvious privacy rules.
Long ago it really bugged me when I noticed that my old landlord could see when I was online in Gmail. We didn’t chat, but it creeped me out anyway.
I didn’t spend much time on Buzz, I admit. I use Twitter. Why do I want a new Twitter-like thing? It’s the same reason I don’t hang out on Facebook much. I just adopted Twitter and that’s where I hang out. Supposedly Buzz integrates with Twitter, but it’s kinda like how MegaBlocks work with LEGO. If I use LEGO, why would I switch to something that’s kind of like it?
In her post about Buzz (and snow), Laura Belgray said, “Can’t a person get comfortable for a while?” Exactly. What’s the rush to start a new Twitter-like thing?
So maybe I’m suffering from too many toys to appreciate the true potential of Google Buzz. But you know what? If I get a new toy, it better be something completely awesome and new. If it’s kind of like the toys I already have but I need to learn a new system to play with it, what’s the point?
Funny toy talk aside, how will this maintain or improve my personal relationships or the way I help my clients better than what I’m already using? Right now I don’t see it.
It’s not a laser. It’s a little light bulb that blinks.