OK, I’ve really tried to giv e Google Buzz a run and see how useful it can be.  My problem is two fold. First is the lack of integration into my GAFYD (Google Apps for Your Domain) email, the second is lack of integration into the linked sites.

GAFYD:  Lack of integration is a source of constant frustration with this tool.  I personally love the Email, Docs, Calendar.  Don’t want to give it up.  The problem is feeling like a second class citizen because GAFYD does not include things like Reader, Voice or now Buzz.  (sure it’s coming.. but..)  What is the purpose of that little checkbox on the dashboard to get new features if we REALLY don’t get things early?  or at all?

Without Buzz being integrated into my REAL email account, it forces me to go to yet another location for information.  I now have Google Reader, Twitter, Buzz, Email, Facebook.. hmm.. too many.  It isn’t really a solution to fix that problem and just caused a NEW location to look.  If it was part of my email, it might be ok.

LACK OF TIE IN TO LINKED SITE:  My second beef is the lack of tie in back to the social site.  If I am following someone on Buzz, they post something on Twitter.. then I have to either respond in Buzz, and people using Buzz can see it.  The problem is the loss of conversation on Twitter?  I have now moved conversation from the main site (where presumably MOST people follow) to Buzz, where it is a parasite, leaching the good value off to allow itself to live.  Had it not been for the host, Buzz wouldn’t exist.. hell, even parasites provide SOME value back to their host (like cleaning bacteria, etc).. Buzz is just migrating traffic from other sites to their own!  If you are building a nice following on Twitter, it is detrimental to your core group of followers.. unless they all use Buzz.

Here is how I keep track of things.  I’d be interested to know if others have found Buzz to be useful in a way to help consolidate my current sources of news.

Google Reader:  I use this for my blog reading and following.  This link is to my shared items.. but I keep track of around 40 blogs.  It is a lot per day.. I need to find a way to remove dupes… too many people post the same news.

Twitter:  I have found this to be a great source of news.  I use Twitter to keep up with things.. not typically to reach out or communicate.  I’m a consumer, not a producer.

ReadTwit:  I use Readtwit to pull links from Twitter into my RSS feeds.  This helps me while on the bus and using Google Reader on my iPhone.  It finds links in the posts of people I follow on Twitter, pulls in the content and makes an RSS feed for me.  Nicely integrated.

Any additional news consumption is through random surfing, reading or links emailed to me.  My open question then is this.  How does Buzz help?  I would like to benefit from a tool.. I just don’t find this one useful.

I was just doing a quick little search trying to find some public internet folders from Evernote.  Using a Google Search, I was only able to return 12 results.

SEARCH IN GOOGLE: inurl:evernote.com/pub/

This strikes me as odd.  I think the idea of sharing folders from Evernote is great.. although, I do have to say I only have two shared.  Not sure why others are not doing this at all.  It could reallly be an interesting way to share information for friends and family.  I think somehow getting a social tie in would help from an awareness standpoint, but nee to do a good integration to make it worthwhile.

Maybe a URL Shortener and a way to tie in with Twitter?  Facebook has it’s own file uploading.. so maybe less interesting.  Anyway, just a thought since I use Evernote Daily!

People are going on about how the Kindle is at risk because of the iPad.  Personally  I have not seen how well the iPad works in daylight.. but I know the Kindle works like a champ.  That’d be the big risk I think.. but…

I think the iPad vs. Kindle is not the right question.  It is potentially impactful for both companies.  Now.. will Amazon suffer because of the iPad?  Maybe a little at first, but I don’t think significantly in the long run.  Here is why.

Hardware sales are not hugely profitable.  If Amazon were to lose ALL hardware sales for the Kindle, it would be visible.. but what if they do an update to the iPhone Kindle app and make it more iPad friendly?  What if it is competitive with the iPad eBook app?  Do they have exactly the same content?  No..  Will it breed competition?  Yes.  Isn’t this better for all of us long-term?

I think that Amazon will do just fine giving away a Kindle app and having sales through their Kindle store on the iPad.  It should be a fantastic opportunity for them.  If I was the product guy on the Kindle App, I’d be jumping for joy right now.  Yet another great platform for me to sell books through.