Google unveils new noise control features for Buzz

The Gmail team have just announced a new set of changes to be rolled out over the coming days, allowing users of the Google Buzz service to control what notifications are sent to them.

Every time someone comments on a 'buzz' which you posted, Google emails you letting you know that the comment has been posted. However, users have complained that it clogs up Gmail, and since the inception of Buzz have been wanting a way to control what emails they receive. "When you participate in a conversation in Google Buzz, we bring that post to your inbox so it's easy to keep up with the discussion," Bruce DiBello, a Software Engineer at Google said. "But we’ve heard loud and clear that buzz in your inbox can get noisy — we feel it too, so today we're launching two features to help with this." The two new features are simple, but effective. Firstly, in every Gmail user's account settings under the "Buzz" tab, Google will be placing a new "Buzz in your inbox" setting that allows you to select which emails you receive - whether it be when someone comments on one of your posts, comment on other people's posts after you comment on them or comment on posts you have been @ replied to in. The second feature, a mute button, shows on emails you do receive from Buzz, and allows you to turn off alerts for just that conversation. For example, if a user @replies to your account, but you don't want to be emailed whenever someone comments on that specific post, but you still want to be alerted for other posts, you can mute that specific conversation so you don't hear any more from that post, but still get updates from others. Google is also encouraging users of Buzz to vote on their 'Product Ideas for Buzz' site, with the company saying this is the first of many updates designed to control the sometimes over-powering noise generated by Buzz. Since launching last month, Buzz has been met with problems around privacy and noise. Bypassing the traditional beta testing stage just doesn't seem to have cut it this time around for Google, with users becoming increasingly sceptical about the benefits of using the service in its current form.