Comments on: GTalk Status Icons Become Robots When Using Android

By: Internet alarmists

Internet alarmists — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:09:06 +0000

OH NOES PEEPZ WILL KNOW IF I’M ON MY PHONE!?!?!?!?!!!

BUT WHAT ABOT PRIVACY OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

By: Michael Hart

Michael Hart — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:45:31 +0000

Who cares? The Google conspiracy is so tiring to hear.

By: Chronos

Chronos — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:29:15 +0000

Very cool but would be cooler if it worked on Google talk too and not just the browser.

By: monoboy

monoboy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:10:39 +0000

What makes this less private? XMPP reports your resource anyway so if you were using an XMPP client you could see if someone was using Adium, Pidgin, the Gmail client, GTalk client, Android client, Meebo, or whatever client they were using to connect. You can even tell if they are using multiple resources like if they were using Adium, Gmail client, and Android all signed in at the same time.

By: chaoticmind

chaoticmind — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:21:11 +0000

Oh, the Google Android status is pretty cool, by the way.

By: chaoticmind

chaoticmind — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:19:46 +0000

What privacy? Your entire life is stored in a computer file somewhere. No I’m not some paranoid nut, I’m just stating a fact. Credit reports, banks, utilities, etc.

By: l3reak

l3reak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:28:07 +0000

I wonder if you can use the google dashboard to manage this?

By: Y314K

Y314K — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:06:54 +0000

Old tech… Maybe, on a newer platform… As long as the account holder that control over it… Than there is no privacy issue

This is what Trillian displays for me… Same thing… They should simplify it and make as easy to change or mod as IM Services do now..

By: A man

A man — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:18:50 +0000

This seems no different than facebook knowing what you’re using to post your status. I always have the “via facebook for android” message.

By: mstarman

mstarman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:06:07 +0000

It’s a smart but subtle extension of good old word of mouth marketing. Thumbs up.

By: indolent

indolent — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:38:36 +0000

I agree with Max. It seem backwards regarding who is able to set how this is displayed.

By: Del

Del — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:49:43 +0000

It cool and I like it. It tells me that I don’t have to bother trying to contact my friends house when they’re not there. As for the privacy issue. If you don’t want people knowing, just log out of GTalk, or turn off your phone. And even though they know that you’re mobile they don’t know where you are from this. The only scenarios where this might be an issue is if someone is plotting to steal from your house while you’re gone and waits for your little robot to appear. Or if they’re plotting to senselessly murder you and are waiting for your little dot to come back.

…maybe I’m putting too much thought into this. Either way, I like it, but it’s not that big of a deal. IMHO.

By: asdfasdf

asdfasdf — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:25:41 +0000

MSN displayed this for years (on a mobile device) and many sites like ebuddy even display in their status that you’re using them (or webmessenger)…
nobody has cried “privacy!” over that…

I think it’s a good feature (wouldn’t hurt if phone users could turn it off), but then you’ll only chat with those people if it’s important and not for small talk, cause they’re on their phone

By: Pieter

Pieter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:13:00 +0000

agreed with daniel. this is not anymore of an invasion of privacy than what google itself already is. siegler and the bunch of fairies at techcrunch need to get over themselves. izzyd as well. bloody pansy.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:53:28 +0000

AIM has shown you as mobile if you’re on a device for ages now. It was always a useful feature, as people see that you can be reached, but realize it’s on a mobile device so they don’t expect a full IM conversation with you. You still have the option to go invisible. Having the Android icon just shows that you have your phone on you and turned on really. It doesn’t really disclose any personal information, because you could be anywhere and have your phone on. The only personal information it gives away is that you own an Android based phone.