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The Internet has been crackling the last few days with people talking about Buzz, Google's new social networking site. A lot of the feedback has been less than kind, but has the negative "buzz" hurt Buzz? And do the complaints have merit?

For me, there was only one way to find out.

Imagine my surprise—and slight chagrin—when I discovered that I didn't need to sign up for Buzz: As a Gmail account holder, Google had already done that for me. And, helpful people that they are, they even gave me followers (and vice versa). Who are my new "friends" on Buzz? According to Google, they are "the people I email and chat with the most."

I guess I can see their reasoning behind signing people up that way: Buzz is brand new and this is how they're getting the service going. To their credit—they do give you the option of unfollowing and even blocking certain people.

That, however, is not good enough for one woman who was being autofollowed by her abusive ex-husband and his friends. She says it's going to take her a few days, at least, of constant maintenance of her Buzz account just to make sure each one is blocked. (Warning for sensitive readers: She does use a few choice words.)

And some people are arguing that being automatically signed up for Buzz is a direct attack on their freedom to choose, besides being an invasion of privacy. A lot of people don't want to be members of Buzz, but are anyway—possibly without knowing it, especially if they check their Gmail accounts infrequently. Which means contacts on your email list may have access to things you may not have wanted to give them access to: your photos, what you keep in your Google Reader, etc.

Besides your posts, what else shows up on Buzz? Google says your "Google Reader shared items, Picasa Web public albums, and Google Chat status messages will automatically appear as posts in Buzz." You can also choose to connect more sites to Google Buzz, such as YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, and blogs you keep on blogspot or blogger. I was surprised to see Twitter on the list, as so many insiders are calling Buzz the next real Twitter competitor, but the most glaring omission was Facebook.

I hate to say this because it makes me feel like I'm betraying Facebook, but I like Buzz's profile set up process so much better. It's cleaner, has an open feel, and makes more sense. For example, the way they have you list the websites you're connected to is so much easier compared to Facebook's method, which seems awkward by comparison. A side note: Even though Google doesn't offer to link to Facebook for you, you can add your Facebook profile's URL to your list of websites.

Besides the privacy issue, another negative I've noticed is that to upload photos, you have to use either Picasa for the Web, Flickr, or another online photo sharing service of your choice. That's inconvenient for me. I do use Picasa on my laptop, but haven't uploaded any pictures to their web service. I also don't currently use any other photo services, though I admit I probably should. I keep my digital pictures on my hard drive, and if Google wants to play with the big boys, they need to allow that sort of photo uploading, as well.

I should mention that one thing that will get me using Buzz is their mobile app. If you'd like to add Buzz to your smartphone, simply go to http://buzz.google.com from your phone's browser. To add the Buzz icon to your home screen, tap the plus sign at the bottom of the page. Follow the instructions from there (on my iPhone, I'm then directed to tap the "Add to Home Screen" button).

From the Buzz app, you can also access Gmail, Google Talk, and many more options, including your Google Calendar, Reader, and your photos. One word of caution: If you're using the app from home and you allow Google to "use your current location" via GPS, you'll be displaying your home address to all Buzz users in your local geographical area. Yes, all Buzz users in your area, whether you know them or not. I would highly recommend not using this feature.

Apparently, most people are able to let some of Buzz's negatives roll off their backs, evidenced by the fact that over 9 million posts were left during the first few days. And while Google Buzz does have some rough edges to work out and will most likely always have its critics (as do Facebook and Twitter), I think it may turn out to be a good thing.

Here's a short video to watch if you'd like to learn a little more about Buzz:

Google Buzz Demo.

Sally Dinius is a YouCanSubmit writer. You'll also find her blogging for ExerciseTV and at her personal blog, CrazyBusyMama.com. Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/SDinius.

For nerds like me, part of the fun of entering a new year is reading the tech predictions from those in the know. Hold it – before you click away, just read on. I've gathered a few of what I consider to be the most interesting predictions for the world of technology for 2010, and your inner nerd just might find them fascinating, as well.

I'll begin the list with my favorite prediction, then toss in one that borders on the outrageous but slightly cool. I will also include one I hope will never happen (even if it does, it won't last long), and my own prediction of a current "big thing" that I think is destined to flop.

File this one under "Geez, I sure hope so!"

Remember when those laserdisc stores opened in the 80s? No? Well, I do. They were cool, because they weren't cassettes like VHS or Betamax. Resembling huge, silvery LPs, they were somewhat cumbersome, but no one minded—they were new and fun to use. Despite their coolness, laserdisc movies never gained quite the following that VHS did, and even the Betamax video cassettes didn't last long. No matter: They were all blown out of the water when the much smaller DVD came on the scene. It's only real competitor, the VHS tape, fought valiantly for its share of the market for years before finally dying a quiet death.

Alas, the DVD began facing competition of its own with the emergence of the BluRay disc. But one thing that irks customers the most affects both the DVD and BluRay: scratches and fingerprints. To me, it's a hassle when a movie quits halfway through because of a scratch I didn't see before playing it. So what's the next cool thing on queue for movie lovers? Movies on SD cards.

Not just for pictures anymore, the SD card holds a lot more memory than your typical DVD. That's one good thing about it, besides being virtually scratch- and fingerprint-proof. The downside is it's tiny size. If you have a digital camera, you know the fear of losing that itty-bitty card…or maybe you actually have. These already exist, but should the prediction of SD cards eventually replacing DVD and BluRay come to fruition, I'm sure their small size is something that will be addressed. At any rate, I'd love to see this one come true—and the sooner, the better. Wouldn't it be easier to keep a large library of movies in an album rather than taking up room on shelves or in cabinets? Bring it on!

How you perceive your world now is plain vanilla compared to this…

You've heard of virtual reality, which makes you feel immersed in a computer-generated environment, but have you heard of augmented reality? Augmented reality, something that may seem more believable in sci-fi movies, consists of computer-generated images overlaid onto your field of vision by way of augmented-reality displays. According to How Stuff Works, these displays "will eventually look much like a normal pair of glasses."

Augmented reality is very much like taking plain ice cream (our natural surroundings) and adding chocolate syrup, sprinkles, nuts, and whipped cream (graphics, sounds, feedback, and smells). Will we want to go back to the way things were after experiencing this new technology, if and when it becomes available on a wide scale? That may depend on the person. While some folks are completely addicted to technology (as with me and my iPhone), some are content to set it down and walk away. Read more about augmented reality and what it may become in the future in this article from How Stuff Works. Want a taste of it now? Click here to learn about ten augmented reality apps already available for smartphones.

"Say" it isn't so. Please.

One rumor/prediction I've heard about Twitter is that it will–possibly in the near future–support audio micro blogging. Already the frontrunner of true micro-blogging (all "tweets" must be 140 characters or less), there's a chance that some of those tweets may actually be audible.

Now, I'll admit it would be cool to hear what my followers sound like, but this is one prediction I literally don't have time for. Like other members of our tech-based society, I've gotten used to scanning tweets, posts, and articles to find the information I need. Taking time to listen to tweets that I can scan with my eyes in a matter of seconds makes no sense to me whatsoever.

iJust don't know about this one…

I love my iPhone. Really the only thing that miffs me about it is Apple's continued snubbing of Adobe's Flash technology: I'm tired of finding videos or games that I can't watch or play. The iPhone has other saving graces, however, so for now I will live with this exception.

That said, I refuse to buy Apple's new iPad and will even go so far as to predict its failure. When I look at it, I see an overgrown iPhone that still is not compatible with Flash. I realize it has other cool features, but no Flash is a deal breaker…sorry, Apple. I have a strong feeling others feel the same as I do, and believe it will play a part in the iPad's destiny of sitting in a desk drawer…alone and unused. That, and the fact that other companies are surely working at this very moment on tablet computers that will greatly upstage Apple's.

What are your thoughts on these predictions and/or where technology is headed in the future? Make yourself heard!

Sally Dinius is a YouCanSubmit writer. You'll also find her blogging for ExerciseTV and at her personal blog, CrazyBusyMama.com. Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/SDinius.

For months before its release, Google's Nexus One smartphone was the object of hype, rumors, and speculation. This was the phone, they said, that would finally give Apple's iPhone some serious competition. The real scrutiny began upon its January 5 debut, when many began using the phone to see if it would live up to the pre-launch hopes and expectations.

SO JUST WHAT IS THE NEXUS ONE?

The HTC-built Nexus One is the first smartphone to carry the Google brand and the first to utilize the Android 2.1 platform. It follows on the heels of the Motorola Droid, the original Android 2.0 phone that made its appearance just two months prior.

Everyone has an opinion, it seems, especially when it comes to Google's new phone. The sleek, touch-screen Nexus One has left many people oohing and ahhing…with plenty of rants among the raves. Read on for some of the pros and cons that have been floating around the internet, along with my own comparisons to the iPhone and Droid.

THE GOOD

The Nexus One has a touch screen that is reminiscent of the iPhone, as is the in-screen keyboard. Users who like the iPhone's features and design but want a slightly different experience – or a carrier other than AT&T; – will appreciate the familiarity.

The built-in camera has 5.0 mega-pixels…and a flash. As an iPhone user, I sincerely hope Apple takes note of that. I find myself deleting way too many pictures because they are too dark to see the subject. And 5.0 mega-pixels isn't bad, either; a fact that makes me jealous when I compare it – again – to my 3.0 mega-pixel iPhone. Like the iPhone, the Nexus One can also record video.

The Nexus One features multitasking, an option not included in the iPhone despite its having been on the market for three years now. Admittedly, the iPhone's inability to multitask has been a little frustrating to me.

This phone will cost you less over the long term when it comes to the price of your cell phone plan. T-Mobile, currently the sole service provider for the Nexus One, charges over $1,000 less for an unlimited two-year plan than do Verizon and AT&T. Word is, however, that T-Mobile's 3G coverage is even worse than AT&T's, so do keep that in mind.

Speaking of money, I've read a lot of complaints about the price of this phone. Honestly, I just don't get it. The Nexus One costs $179 with a T-Mobile plan, and $529 without. The iPhone and Droid are both $199 with service plans, $599 without. Sounds like we have a winner.

THE BAD

Many people like the slim feel of the Nexus One (only .45" thick), but it's a design that calls for an even thinner battery. A thin battery has a shorter life, which has been a concern to some. The good news about the Nexus One battery is that its talk time lasts two hours longer than the iPhone's, but standby hours are only 250 compared to the iPhone's 300.

Storage capacity for the Nexus One is only 4GB, small compared to the 16GB of both the iPhone and Motorola Droid. It is expandable, however, to 32GB (as is the Droid).

The Android Market is still in second place for app sales after the Apple iPhone, and in a small survey conducted by market research firm Flurry, some developers have been complaining about the low numbers. Android Market has 20,000 apps available for download, compared to the nearly 100,000 in Apple's iTunes App Store. To put this in a clearer perspective, Apple receives about 20,000 app submissions each week; the total number currently available in the Android Market.

Another complaint has to do with the touch screen not having the multi-touch capability. For some, that's a deal-breaker, while others don't seem to mind.

And last, but not least…

THE COOL

Two things really set this phone apart from other Android phones. The first is the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor. When it comes to connectivity, the Snapdragon helps the Nexus One leave its competition in the dust. It's like the Speedy Gonzalez of the smartphone world.

Secondly, unique to the Nexus One is the Voice-to-Text feature. It has a few bugs, such as requiring an internet connection to work, but is still a viable option if you don't want to bother with hunting and pecking on the in-screen keyboard.

Not quite sure what Android software is? Here's a good overview: http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html.

Sally Dinius is a YouCanSubmit writer. You'll also find her blogging for ExerciseTV and at her personal blog, CrazyBusyMama.com.