GTalk is an extremely simple instant messaging client. But simplicity is something you don’t need always, especially when it comes to your privacy. GoogleTalk doesn’t even has a privacy option to hide your status or maybe idle it, thats just plain disgusting I myself end up fighting with my friends, as they think I’m chatting with fellows and not working.

Beside that Gtalk will show you “idle” only if you do not use the computer for at least 10 minutes. Funny part is if a single click or button press and your status is green.

However this simple free utility called galwaysidle can manually set your Google Talk status as “idle” even when you have not stepped away from the computer.

gAlwaysIdle adds two new options to Google Talk, allowing you to change your status to be ‘always idle’ or ‘never idle’. When your status is set to ‘always idle’, you’ll appear idle to your Google Talk buddies, even if you’re sitting at your computer typing e-mails and sending IMs.

I think Google should either buy this application or integrate this tool to there IM. Until then I’m happy using gAlwaysIdle

www.galwaysidle.com (for Windows XP/Vista)