The Buzz breakup & censorship support

11/02/10 posted by Liz Niland

The buzz has died down about Google’s newest product and just like with Google Wave, fair-minded Gmail-lovers are trying to work out the best way to let Google Buzz down gently. Excuses are thrown around such as “It’s not you, it’s me: my friends just don’t use Picasa” and the old favourite “I just can’t commit to seeing you exclusively; Facebook and I have been together almost as long as you and I have known each other”.

I finally got to check it all out for myself this morning and it was an anti-climax, to say the least. As stated by Guardian’s tech writer Charles Arthur, “Google Buzz may be just what people want five years from now” and he think he’s right on the money. Now, to add fuel to the Google fire, news released today says that the company plans to launch themselves into the provision of ultra-fast broadband services in the US. I’m thinking Google may almost be approaching the reduced effectiveness of a company that has perhaps spread itself too thin? Time will tell whether this new venture will be as successful as search or as snooze-worthy as Buzz.

In local news, the Australian internet filter proposed by communications minister Stephen Conroy has been given a thorough going-over by the ABC’s Hungry Beast. Accompanying an extended interview with the man behind the changes, the investigative current affairs program also commissioned a poll to get a better indication of what Aussies really think of the censoring of illegal content. Interestingly, a huge 80% were in favour of the changes and an even bigger 91% believed that the list of banned sites should be made public [via Lifehacker]. It seems that the actual process of censoring (and its lack of transparency) is causing everyday people the most concern, with early reports suggesting that the public complaints mechanism could see sites unfairly banned.

And finally, web design teams across the world are celebrating the big 2-0 for their guiding light and saviour - Adobe Photoshop. While all-in-all it’s a can’t-live-without product that every web designer needs in their arsenal, it has provided some hilarity for all when not used with deft-handed finesse.