Initial Reviews of Google Wave; Neat, But Noisy

bonch writes "Reviews of Google Wave are out, and opinions are that it has potential as a development platform but is noisy to use for real-time communication. Robert Scoble calls it overhyped, claiming it's useful for little more than personal IM or small-scale project collaboration. He complains about the noisiness of tracking dozens of people chatting him at once in real-time and calls trying to use it a 'productivity killer' compared to simpler mediums like email and Twitter."

People will like it

[Lord Grey]

Those that simply have to stay connected to others at all times in order to feel validated and important will love Google Wave. Right there in front of you is evidence that people are connected to you! In real time! Better than texting! It's so amazingly interactive! It's like... like... a telephone!

Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

I was lead to believe using Google Wave would be like having Jesus bust a nut on your face.

Re:Realtime typing?

[MozeeToby]

You damn youn^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HYes, I could see how that would be annoying.

The revolutionary potential of Wave!

[David Gerard]

The "tech world" is awash with excitement [today.com] for today's scheduled release of a hundred thousand invitations to preview Wave, Google's innovative new website, communication protocol, interactive environment, multiplayer online role-playing game, bulletin board, wiki, dessert wax and floor topping. Experts, all heavily consulted by the media while Parliament is in recess, say it will revolutionise how we do business, organise parties, manage projects, make friends, waste our employer's time at work, pick up girls we swear we didn't realise were under sixteen and cheat on our homework.

I've been testing the Google Wave Developer Preview. The implications for journalists alone are stunning:

• Collaborative reporting: Using the Google Wave interface, two reporters can take turns at the keyboard of an Internet terminal and "type" both their names at the top of an article. Then they can both write material for the article below the double byline! Incredible!
• Record and archive interviews: We can write down the words actually spoken by an interviewee. The words can then be "saved" for use later. Amazing!
• Timelines: The Google Wave Timeline can be used to show a timeline of events — just type a clock time and then note what happened around that time! Punctual!
• Discuss what you read: People who read stories can write "comments" on them, by writing them in their Google Wave interface, then "e-mailing" then in to the editors for due consideration and possible publication on the "site"! Interactive!
• Smarter story updates: Instead of adding "Updated" to the end of an updated story, we can use the Google Wave Cursor and the Google Wave Arrow Keys and edit the story text in the middle! Make those commenters look as silly in their supposed "corrections" as you know they should do!

In conclusion, Google Wave is clearly an absolute boon to the noble institution of the Fourth Estate in its mission to protect the public good, further the dynamism of social discourse and watch the watchmen. And this is why we at News International consider Google a threat and menace to the news media and the institution of journalism that must be reined in by government edict without delay. God bless you all, and please PayPal us 20p for having read this article, you parasitical pixel-stained technopeasant. And now, Tories and tits.

Re:Scoble? Calling hype? Wat?

[iamapizza]

Dude, he just associated 'twitter' with being productive.

Re:People will like it

[Ethanol-fueled]

Not when only 34 of them are actually communicating with you, not on a personal level or even in real time.

HAPPY HUMP DAY LOLZ!!!!!!!
* Obnoxious glittery .gif *

Re:Echos thoughts of others after the demo

[mujadaddy]

I'd like to read a review by somebody that knows what that they're talking about.

Welcome to Reading. You must be new here.

Re:A bigger waste of time than twitter?

[martas]

who's trat?

[in panicked tone]: who's trere?! HELLO??

Re:I was thinking the same thing

[Anonymous Coward]

you're just too popular, bro.

Re:People will like it

[arunkv]

Leonard: We need to widen our circle.
Sheldon: I have a very wide circle. I have 212 friends on myspace.
Leonard: Yes, and you've never met one of them.
Sheldon: That's the beauty of it.

Who needs wave?

[citylivin]

"I can read notes online when people [are] writing [them] and fix [them in a few moments]"

See, who needs google wave! I use slashdot to take my grammar nazism and pedantry to the next level!

Re:Who needs wave?

[Tony Hoyle]

Ahh but in Wave you could have edited the original comment :p

On SlashdotWave you could have grammar nazi wars.. bring it on!

Re:Echos thoughts of others after the demo

[mctk]

Most Dearest Friend ObsessiveMathsFreak,

I actually appreciate the salutations and valedictions. Sometimes they even help me identify Nigerian spam.

Sincerely,
Your friend,
mctk

PS I just thought of something to say, but unfortunately I've already typed out the message, so I'll just have to write it out here at the end.

Re:Echos thoughts of others after the demo

[alienunknown]

I agree, top posting is awful.

Email provides a linear conversation at least.

Clearly you interact with people who know that top-posting is evil and have no urge to reply to each email before reading the following responses that have been sitting in their inbox for 3 days.

I envy you.

Re:I was thinking the same thing

[Zen Hash]

I haven't personally found a use for Twitter, since I generally agree I don't feel like relaying how many bowel movements I've had today or giving every single detail out to the public. I guess I could see a use if you like following celebrities or some special groups that have started using it, like the LA Fire Department, but otherwise it's not my thing.

Personally, I have no issue letting everyone know when I'm pooping. I've called and SMSed people from the can on multiple occasions simply to tell them that I was pooping. That would probably be the only thing I would use twitter for, if I were to use it at all.