What is Google Buzz? How do you use it ? - BUZZ BASICS !

Launched yesterday at the Google February Event, Google Buzz is basically Google's Twitter killer -- capturing Twitter's short messaging concept while doing a lot more. Buzz allows you to start conversations with your friends and followers about the things you find interesting and share updates, photos and videos among other things. Here are the key features:

No setup needed
Buzz automatically follows the people you email and chat with the most in Gmail.

Share publicly or privately
Publish your ideas to the world or just to your closest friends.

Inbox integration
Comments get sent right to your inbox so it's easy to keep the conversation going.

Photo friendly
See thumbnails with each post, and browse full-screen photos from popular sites.

Connect sites you already use
Import your stuff from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.

See updates in real time
New posts and comments pop in as they happen. No refresh required.

Just the good stuff
Buzz recommends interesting posts and weeds out ones you're likely to skip.

Here's a short video by Google explaining what Buzz is:

How to install Google Buzz

1. Buzz works with your inbox, so the first thing you have to do (when you're using a computer) is to activate Buzz in Gmail. Do this by going to http://www.google.com/buzz and clicking on "Try Buzz in Gmail" button:

2. ... This will take you to your inbox and add a new Buzz icon to the control panel.

3. Clicking on the Buzz link or icon will take you to this page:

Setting up Buzz Profile and Managing Followers

4. If you're already familiar with how Twitter works, then you definitely won't have a problem working with Buzz's interface.

Just like in Twitter, the box at the top of the page is where you write your short messages. Unlike the Twitter status box though, you can embed videos and add images straight to the Buzz Box. Also, when you post a URL, Buzz will automatically extract images from the linked page and add them to your status message (more on this later).

5. When you click on the Buzz box for the first time, Buzz will prompt you to add a profile photo - if you haven't added one yet to your Google profile. Here's how you do it:

This window will pop out after clicking on the 'add photo' link:

Choose the photo you want to use as profile image.

Crop it to your liking. Apply changes.

Save photo to your profile

6. Below the status box, Buzz shows you all the people that it automatically followed for your account. These are people you often exchanged emails with or chatted with most in Gmail. Likewise, Buzz will show all of those who have already activated their Buzz accounts and are now following you back.

Just like in Twitter, you can manage the list by either following or unfollowing people and grouping them into your own lists (relatives, work-related, etc.).

Buzzing (with embedded video and attached photo)

6. Now that your account is ready, let's try Buzzing a short message with an embedded video:

First, type your message. Then, copy-paste the video link. Note: Not the embed code. Buzz will automatically create the video thumbnail.

Choose whether you want to post this status publicly or in private. If you choose 'privately', you will be given further options as to whom you want to share the message and video with.

Click on 'post'

Here's how the Buzz with embedded video looks like:

For larger view, click on the video:

7. Now, let's try Buzzing a short message and attaching a photo to it.

First, type your message.

Then, click on the 'photo' link.

A window for uploading photo will pop out:

Choose your photo from your computer and upload. You can upload more than one.
Click on 'Add photos to post' button.

Post Buzz:

Here's how the Buzz with embedded photo looks like:

Here's the photo viewer, which launches when you click on a Buzz-attached photo:

Adding comment to a Buzz

8. You can add comment to a Buzz by someone you follow by clicking on the Comment link below the post. A comment box will show, type in your comment and click on 'post' button.