Google to release noise volume controls for Buzz
The folks at Google have heard your concerns about Buzz - and changes are coming. In a blog post this morning, the company acknowledged that Buzz is creating too much noise in the inbox for many users and said they are putting the new features to a final test with hopes to release them in the coming weeks.
Specifically, the company said it will enable settings to allow users to control which of the following buzz items land in your inbox:
- Comments on your posts
- Comments on posts after you comment on them
- Comments on posts after you are @replied on them
In addition, the company will also include a "Mute" link (Thank You!) that can stop comments from bringing the conversation back to your inbox (the replies that follow your reply, for example). In addition, Google will add explanations for why posts land in your inbox - someone commented on your post or you were @replied and so on.
Personally, I don't know if it's enough for me to become a Buzz fan. I got a pretty bad taste for it when it launched. Admittedly, I'm not checking in too often but when I do, there's not much value in what I find there - no offense to the folks that I'm following. (Maybe I'm just following the wrong people.)
Buzz is off to a rough start - but that's how Twitter started off, too. I don't know if Google's changes are enough to convince naysayers like me to stick with Buzz - but at least Google is being responsive to user's concerns.
Previous coverage: Meet Google Buzz: Google goes social