Google announced last month that it was changing its policies regarding privacy, which, I believe, caused some consternation in government circles on how it would affect organisations and schools.  However, one observer was rather amused that this had caused such aggravation.

The commentator told the journal.com: “Using information from Gmail to suggest more appropriate YouTube videos or reminding an Android smartphone user that they have a Google calendar appointment in a half hour on the other side of town doesn’t strike me as the work of Lucifer.

To be honest, I have to agree.  Sometimes, organisations like to cause a problem when there isn’t one.  That isn’t to say, however, that privacy issues are not important.  They are, particularly when dealing with individual accounts.

On the other hand, some are worried that the new policies may have an adverse affect on the Google Apps in Education programme.  Google, though, have tried to reassure people that it won’t.

So what are these changes?

According to Google, the new policy is basically simpler and easier to read.  It doesn’t directly affect anything in particular.  A spokesperson for Google said: “We’ll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission.”

The new policy is apparently about clarity rather than changing anything that would put a user at risk.

Hopefully, Google is right, otherwise its various programmes could be in jeopardy.

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However, from what I’ve heard the device was considered to be one of the best tablets on the market when it was released.  Personally, as a BlackBerry user myself, I find that astonishing, and don’t quite understand why.

The probable reason is the price tag.  It was rather expensive, and you could get as much if not more on an iPad for the same sort of price.

Now though, it seems RIM has learned its own expensive lesson and is now offering a new version of the PlayBook at what has been described as a much more respectable price.  Whether the latest version of the 7-inch device isn’t marred by previous history is not yet known.  I hope not.

That said RIM also did something different this time round – it has enabled Google Apps to run on the PlayBook.  This could steal a march on the iPad, and so it will most likely be marketed at not just BlackBerry lovers but also Android lovers.

Some analysts, however, are rather sceptical at this new “partnership.”  They argue it’s just a gimmick.  Gimmick or not, it is perhaps a very good marketing exercise.

Moreover, since RIM opened its platform to develop Android apps it is thought many of the most popular will feature on the PlayBook including Cut the Rope.

Many more are also on the way.

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Speaking with knowyourmobile.com, Dr Jong-seok Park, President and Chief Executive of LG, said: “Design is consistently the top or second most important factor for customers when choosing a mobile phone.”

I must admit, I tend to agree, and having used an LG phone previously, I wasn’t all that impressed.  So, this news comes at the right time, although some people will no doubt disagree with me.

Dr Jong-seok Park added: “With smartphones, we sometimes took a more functional approach to design but with L-Style we’re going back to our roots as a company focused on how our products fit into the lifestyle of our customers.”

One of the problems I had with the last LG phone I owned wasn’t so much the design but its function.  The screen was difficult to see outside.  So, personally, I think the company could do with focusing a little more on this side as well as the aesthetic aspect of design.

As intimated above, LG is also showcasing three new handsets.  All three are Optimus phones namely the LG Optimus, L3, L5 and L7.  The last two are, I understand, Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) devices.  They are also thought to have larger screens than the L3 at 4.3 inches.

I’ve also been told the handsets will be available before July.

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Particularly in the area of document sharing, we see very little out there that can compare to Google Apps.  One common complaint with Microsoft products is the inefficiencies associated with sharing: the saving, e-mailing, comparing versions, tracking changes, and the like.  With Google Apps, all that disappears.  The time savings per employee for a large business multiplies into real time and monetary improvements.

Add to that the fact that complex Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are no longer needed to ensure security, and the cost savings multiply.  IT support teams can be scaled back, as Google supports assistance on their end.  Integration of apps is already built-in, so there’s no need to evaluate new options constantly as they’re being rolled out.

Now that Google Apps is FISMA certified, data assurance and security is top-flight, reducing concerns for another large group of potential customers.  Redundancy is increased as well.  There have been stories of catastrophic data failures at corporations due to server failures, large power outages, or other events beyond the control of the company.  All that can be avoided by keeping the apps and data secure within the Google Apps cloud.

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Looking to both save money and enable its many employees to collaborate better, a large UK-based gaming company decided to move to Google Apps in 2010.  Document sharing had become an issue, along with time pressures; saving and e-mailing documents so that teams could collaborate was slowing down decision-making and lowering efficiency.  The company’s security expert wanted a high level of security controls for any cloud-based system, plus something at least as high as what they used on their current, on-site servers.

Google Apps and CloudLock reduced the risk exposure, provided excellent monitoring controls, and the multiple dashboards provided an easy interface that could be used by the IT staff.  Permissions and access rights can be added, deleted or changed at any time, and the entire universe of apps and data is searchable – something the gaming company found useful right from the start.  Multiple people can share documents, and the workflow immediately improved just from this one aspect.

Increased sharing, improved efficiency and lowered risk are moving more and more companies to the cloud based on similar experiences.

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We decided to use Google Apps and it worked like a charm.  The interface is clean and simple, and the learning curve is almost non-existent.  We were able to discuss our plan (try to repair the roof first; if that fails, then look toward a replacement), get professional estimates on the condition of the current roof as well as repair and/or replacement, and get input from other churches in the surrounding area.  With the people on the roof task force living in different towns, I don’t think this could have been accomplished any easier than it was by using Google Apps.

Another advantage is that outside vendors who contacted us didn’t need to mail anything.  A simple e-mail or scanned document and we could have it instantly, safely, and store it in the cloud where everyone on the task force had access to it.  This made reviewing information and comparing bids extremely easy.  Google Apps saved the day for our little church.

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While I don’t tend to listen to music via a mobile device such as an iPod I was, nevertheless, intrigued to learn that there are a number of applications dedicated to her music.

For instance, Whitney Houston – Forever is an Android Google app showing video of the singer’s work.  Apparently there are also links to the songs plus information about her life.

What’s more, it is free to download.

Another app costing just 90 pence to download is simply called Whitney Houston.  This particular app, I believe, features most, if not all, of Whitney’s best work along with lyrics and art work.  To run it though, you will need a smartphone powered by Android 2.1 or better.  I’m not sure if it can be run on a tablet.

If you like wallpaper, then try out Whitney Houston Wallpaper, which provides a range of wallpapers for your tablet or smartphone.  Again, like the above applications, it is one of the Google Apps.  It’s also free to download.

If you prefer videos to wallpaper then the aptly-titled Whitney Houston Videos should suffice.  I haven’t a clue how many there are available, but I believe there are a lot.

Finally, if you are into slide shows of your favourite artiste, then you will like the application simply called Whitney Houston.  As well as offering a slide show of the singer, the images can be stored as wallpaper.  It’s available for 95 pence.

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This particular app, I understand, is a little different.  Rather than searching the internet, it searches across the Google Apps stored on your smartphone or tablet.

Free to download, you now have the chance to organise your apps better.  In other words, it indexes your emails, tweets, documents and so on; even your contacts, so that you can find what you are looking for more easily.

I have to say, while I am generally quite organised, where digital technology is concerned I am rather lacking in this.  So CloudMagic would be useful.

Interestingly, you can decide to organise yourself as much or as little as you want.  You simply type in what you are looking for on the homescreen of the device and CloudMagic scans till it finds what you are looking for.

For example, if you are looking for a tweet you had previously sent then simply typing in the required information will bring this up.  You can then re-tweet if you want.

The Google app isn’t available for Facebook yet, but I doubt if that is too far away.  I am also unsure whether it can be used for Google+.

CloudMagic is said to be superfast.  Google usually gives information about how long it takes to search the internet, so it would be interesting to compare the two.

If only there was something similar for my BlackBerry.

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First up is a photo editing plugin called Aviary Photo Editor.  Interestingly, the developers say this is not strictly an app, but to be honest I wouldn’t know what the difference is.

Seemingly the photo editor allows you to improve the quality of your images stored on your mobile device.  It now has better facilities such as improved cropping, filters, orientation and enhancement; plus a lot more besides.

You access the plugin via the stock photos app on Android.  What’s more it is free.

If you enjoy playing digital football then you might be interested in Pocket League Story.  One analyst described the game to gizmodo.com.au thus: “Pocket League Story is like Football Manager stripped to the basics and doused in cuteness until it’s soaked to the bone.

“Taking charge of a fictional football side, which you can name, your goal as manager is to rise through the ranks, going from crummy little regional tournaments right through to winning the World Cup.”

Basically, it is fantasy football designed for a mobile device.

Another game that might interest you especially if you are an Xbox fan is Gameloft Live.  This apparently tracks all the achievements you unlock on Gameloft games, assuming you are a user.  This is also free to download.

Finally, there is a new version of Chrome, which now integrates with Android 4.0.

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Before leaving the house it used to be a case of have I got my wallet and keys? Now it is a case of have I got my mobile phone? Leaving it behind can cause something of a panic.

The real question though is: is this normal, or have we all become too obsessed with them?

I think we may have if recent research is anything to go by. It seems there is a new psychological disorder called nomophobia, which apparently means fear of being without one’s mobile phone.

Now, I know mobiles are important for many reasons, not least to ensure we can keep in contact, but surely it is going a bit too far now to suddenly fear its loss?

Perhaps what is more frightening though – to me at least – is the fact that these gadgets are still relatively new machines. To take hold of us in such a short time is worrying, to say the least. Even more concerning is the statistic showing that two-thirds of mobile phone users display signs of nomophobia, and it is on the rise. Moreover, the younger you are the greater the chance of you having this disorder.

Another interesting statistic is that 41% of respondents to a survey also said they own two phones, just in case one gets lost, while more women worry about their phone than men.

I’m just lucky that I hardly use my phone, but I have empathy with those that suffer.

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