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Google announced today the previously rumored social networking features in Gmail with a new product called Google Buzz. It’s obvious that Buzz is a direct answer to Twitter and Facebook. What makes Google an immediate threat to twitter is the leveraging Gmail for the content types allowed and user base it should spread like wild fire. Check out the introduction video after the break.

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After seeing Google’s 2 million dollar ad run during the Super Bowl’s 3rd quarter, first word that came to mind was “meh.”  Yea, it was cute. Yes, it told a good story. Yes, it was a perfect way to further brand Google. But, what it have killed them to use the Batman Search story? That one seems more lively and energetic.  It would have fit better with the overall atmosphere of the Super Bowl.  Plus, how many Super Bowl parties or Sports Bars actually heard the cute ending of a baby laughing? I bet not much.  Now, if you played the sounds of the below video, I bet you’d get more people turning their heads back to the TVs.

Btw, thanks again to DulaTV for keeping a copy of this.  I’m not sure why Google took their copy of this search story down.

Now where did I put my board?

[UPDATE] Everything is back up and working. Time to come in and dry off.

Apple made sure that Google wouldn’t get any app Store love for its Voice service.  The app was banned and that was it… gloves off, first punch thrown.  Well, Google responded with a haymaker:

Just point your iPhone to http://m.google.com/voice and give it a try.  Any iPhone users out there who would like to let us know how it works, please post a reply!

[via Consumerist]

Google’s been forever tantalizing us with tasty names for it’s various iterations of Android. First we had the calorie laden ‘cup cake’, closely followed by the coppers favourite, ‘donut’. Then there was the ‘eclair’ (2.1), which by all accounts has been the sweetest and best to date. Those with their whits about them may have realised that the next in the series will start with an ‘F’, with most people’s money on ‘flan’. My hopes were dashed however moments ago when Erick Tseng, speaking on the Engadget Show, announced that the next iteration of Android was to be called ‘Froyo‘. Yep, that’s right, the healthier ice cream replacement, Frozen Yoghurt. Details other than the name are a little thin on the ground, but at least when it comes along we’re already au fait with the name.

What’s next Google? Something sordid like Gateaux? Or maybe something a little healthier like Granola?

[Via Engadget]

So there you have it.  The final word on how much Google’s new toy, the Nexus One, will cost you.  Without a contract and unlocked will cost you $529.  If you go with T-Mobile with a 2 year contract, it’ll be $179.  So, to whomever made the rumor about the phone going for $99 and getting my hopes up, screw you.  I guess I’ll be sticking with the iPhone.

*sigh*

If you are one of the many that are still interested in the Nexus One, they are now available at google.com/phone.

Ooooooo. Ahhhhh. Pretty. So, the Google phone a.k.a. Nexus One is no longer a rumor. What is a rumor though is the price tag and data plan. Hopefully, what we’ve seen this morn is true so Google can change the game, again.

OK, Google’s up to something funny here. If you hit the ‘I’m feeling lucky’ button you get presented with a countdown timer. What’s it counting down to? Well if you’re in the US the countdown will end at the turn of the New Year. I know it’s the end of the 00’s and into another decade, but is Google counting down to something else? The Google Phone launch perhaps? The launch of a new product? Or is it the countdown to armageddon, with Google/Skynet revealing it’s self for what it really is.

I guess the real question is, are you feeling lucky? Punk?

[Heads up via Pocket-Lint]

On the unknown and hardly trustworthy site, AdroidGuys, there is a piece of information that I wish and hope to be true about the upcoming Google phone:

Here’s the price: $199 unlocked in stores. $100 rebate online if you have an active and old Google account. That $100 rebate is either to buy it $99 online from Google’s online phone store, for using on Android Marketplace or for using on any Google Checkout stores. Can also be used for T-Mobile or AT&T pre-paid Data SIM card service at $29 per month, no contracts required.

Google will push full VOIP usage on these, meaning no voice/sms plans needed at any carrier. Voice calls will go through Google Voice on Data SIM cards and will provide unlimited free voice calling. And SMS is replaced by unlimited free Gtalk.

Finally, Google will provide easy roaming data services in other countries. For example, if you go to Europe, you can roam on HSDPA data networks
for the same price of 20€ per month, and if you only stay in Europe for a few days you won’t need to pay for the whole month. You may not even need to change the SIM card.

If this is all true, then “Google just accidentally the whole cell phone industry” (kingarthur).