Now, When Using Android, GTalk Status Icons Become Exactly that, Androids

[STARGATE]

Okay, so this one is cool, it could be fun for many, but it could also mean a privacy attack to many others. What am I talking about? Well, about the new way to identify if you are using Android or not. First, lets check the image below to see what this is about.



Apparently, the way this works is; the green robot/android icon means you are online with Android. The green dot means that you are using regular Gmail chat. The orange robot means that you are using Android but currently away. And the red robot means you are a mad robot, no, I'm just joking, it means you are currently busy but still using Android.

So there you have it folks, Google has name this the Turn on Green Robot, which is a new experiment in Gmail Labs. Cool, right? Well, like I mentioned before, many will find this as an attack to their privacy. Let us know in the comments what you think about it.

Article Link : Now, When Using Android, GTalk Status Icons Become Exactly that, Androids

[ryaninc]

I actually love this. I can see how some people might be bothered by it, but when I'm signed onto GTalk on my phone, I want people to know that I'm on my phone. I think Google needs to expand this gadget to include other phones, too. Imagine little icons for iPhone, WebOS, WinMo, BlackBerry, etc. That would be seriously cool.

[*susan*]

I actually like it as well. I am not sure why people would consider it an attack on their privacy, unless they are embarrassed about the phone they are using?

[maxim]

I'd be proud to announce that i'm using Android. I feel the same on my computer. My AIM Buddy Icon is the Ubuntu logo.

[Jood]

People could onsider it an attack on their privacy because they may not want people to know they are away from their desks. They may want the fact that they are using a phone to chat to be kept private. I get it...

I don't care for myself, though... I only chat from my phone, so it's all good to me.

[jayaustn]

Honestly, the crap this site pushes as "news" is what has made me move elsewhere. This popped up on my news feed today, and I just cannot figure out WHO writes this garbage.

An attack on our privacy? Says who, you? It's a feature of GMail Labs. If you don't want it, don't enable it. It's not even enabled by default.

That being said, the title of the article is more than simply misleading, it's wrong. The GTalk status icon does not "become" an Android; it can become one.

Seriously, if you're going to try to be a technology news site, hire some people who can write. Note that this isn't simply an attack on this article, but an aggregation of crap that has been popping up on my feed for the past several weeks. I think it's about a time I removed AndroidCommunity from my feed once and for all.

[Gsco]

Yes, I have to agree with Jay. Some of these articles seem to be written by 12 year olds... maybe they are.

[deadite66]

gtalk contacts using android have had an android logo next to them for ages, doesn't seem new to me.