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Google Buzz is just part of a larger, more awesome package... including the revival of Finger!
Buzz is just the beginning. Take a look at the Buzz API and the 'coming soon' developer tools. Are you drooling yet? Well, if you're one of the stubborn few that require a little more foreplay to 'get going', check out WebFinger. If you're old, the 'finger protocol' (seriously) should ring some bells -- if not, let me enlighten you: finger was the original directory service on UNIX networks, such as the early-days Internet. Finger allowed you to probe a user name (rms@mit-mc.arpa, for example) and find out meta info about them -- their job, their real world location, etc. These usernames then became modern day email addresses, and ultimately lost their associated meta data.
But now it's back, with WebFinger! It's still very early days, but it works. The eventual hope is that your email address can be used to identify you, much like OpenID does today with a URL. Kinda cool, considering how many business cards are out there with email addresses on!
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsmultimoltiFeb 15th 2010 10:41AM
nice!
kickedpenguinFeb 15th 2010 11:10AM
I better be able to turn that shit off.
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 15th 2010 9:26PM
Probably not -- but it'll be optional what information you make public, ranging from 'SORRY, NO DATA FOUND' through to 'THIS GUY LIVES HERE'.
RichFeb 15th 2010 11:37AM
Great...
How long before our Google overlords mandate you can't turn off Buzz?
WayneFeb 15th 2010 2:28PM
Goog is turning buzz off THEMSELVES.
MyriaFeb 15th 2010 1:51PM
Finger never went away.
I would ask "Where have you been?" given that you apparently think it did, but a better question would be "Why would anyone, anyone on the entire planet, get excited about Finger?".
But then I've been wondering for years why anyone sane turns all their e-mail over to Google when there's no real advantage to doing so over keeping it yourself (well, no real advantage to you, there's plenty of advantage to Google et al), so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at someone being excited over Google "bringing back" something that never went away.
Gilbert PalauFeb 15th 2010 8:32PM
I think the author means bringing "finger" back as a fad really...
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 15th 2010 9:28PM
Sure, Finger never went away.
Neither did the vacuum tube. Doesn't mean it isn't DEPRECATED.
I can't believe you're not excited about the return of Finger :(
ProlornFeb 16th 2010 3:52AM
I can't imagine why the vast majority of people don't roll their own mail servers.
AemonyFeb 15th 2010 6:02PM
So people are just a click from gaining all kinds of information regarding me, myself and I ? Thanks, but no thanks. If this is mandatory for GMail in the future I'll leave the ship and get myself another mail.
Sebastian AnthonyFeb 15th 2010 9:28PM
If you read the linked stuff, the amount of information you make available is completely up to you.
You could even include a link to a secure resource that only people with the right credentials could access :)
WarrenFeb 16th 2010 3:13AM
Now we're talking.
The pundits have moved on. Scoble announced his boredom this morning.. several big names have posted a few quips and let fans argue over whether it all matters.
Now we can get serious and get some tools that weren't available during the Nixon administration.
I'd not call it FINGER.. I want NOSE.. you click or point or think about eh nose on a person's face and a dossier pops up on whatever screen or device you have handy.
King AntoniusFeb 16th 2010 1:50AM
Heheh, I remember those days. Someone non-techy would ask me what I'm doing, I'd tell them I'm fingering so-and-so. The response was always either a look of confusion, or a look of disgust. Killed me every time.