Google admitted its Buzz service was not tested enough and they regret this

Google Buzz is a Gmail integrated service, launched February 9^th, that lets to people the possibility to post and share content, read and comment buddies’ posts etc.

Since their launch, Google was hardly criticized for personal information disclosure. If you are not so familiarized with this service, see what the deal is: Google Buzz friends’ circle creator makes public your list with most emailed persons unless you change your settings. That means Google allows others Buzz’ users to see to whom you email more often.

The decision was based on the idea of providing a greater user experience to people using that service, but it seems it was a bad step taken by the company while revealing maybe connections between journalist and “rats”, business people, even affairs with other women.

Google admitted that they have not done this the good way so improvements are to be done, but all that they wanted was to create an easily accessible social network for Gmail users. More than that, they also consider offering to people that do not use Gmail the option to join a separate from Gmail website.

As you might know, Google services are tested by Google Trusted Tester program, a network created by friends and families of employees that gain access to products before being launched and than send feedback to Google. It seems that Buzz was not tested by this program, the reasons being unknown.

A Google representative admitted that the company apologizes for making this step without a deeper testing of this service and also apologizes for the worry created about this issue.

We should keep an eye on Google’s next moves while those can decide if the Buzz will be a success or a failure in Google’s plans for a bigger piece of social networking.

Here are some fixes announced to be done in a short time:

-         Buzz will only make suggestions who could be a part from your friends’ circle

-         Easier way to disable Buzz

-         guarantee that accounts will not auto-connect with Picasa albums

-         guarantee that accounts will not auto-connect with items stored in Google Reader

-         an improved “preferences” menu

It seems that these improvements are up to be released this week, as the work involved in this issue is at higher levels.

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