After the controversy over privacy issues, Google took immediate action and made following/followers numbers optionally public.
Today, Google announces it’s taking things a step further by changing the auto-follow model in which Buzz automatically sets you up to follow the people you email and chat with most, to an auto-suggest model.
This means you won’t be set up to follow anyone until you have reviewed the suggestions and clicked “Follow selected people and start using Buzz.”
Google also announces other changes.
Firstly, Google won’t automatically connect Buzz to your Picasa and Google Reader accounts. You will need to do this manually from now on.
Secondly, the introduction of a new Buzz tab in Gmail where you’ll already find two settings. One to hide/reveal your following lists. The other to disable Buzz from Gmail.
Next step: I hope they will separate the people I follow on Buzz from the people I follow on GReader. GReader has become too noisy, and I want it for my favorite blogs and a few selected people who's shares I want to follow. On Buzz I can follow people's vacation photos and other shares (as for FriendFeed, but with way more users) but I don't need to see shares I don't care about mixed with the important ones landing on GReader.
I don't like how Google profile urls and Google Buzz expose your email address.
That's not necessarily correct. You can choose your username and it can be different from your email address.
i want the ability to hide my real name to public like before!
Use my nickname for the public and search
Looks like they are workign the kinks out as they go along, this is good.
Jerry
http://www.isp-logging.net.tc
I do not have a Buzz tab, yet I am using Buzz on my Gmail. Wonder what's up with that. Anyone have any ideas?