Considering the number of problems with all kinds of consumer products -- from supplements to Shrek glasses sold at McDonald's -- soaring, it was perfect timing that the General Services Administration announced its recent redesign of the USA.gov website and the launch of 18 mobile phone applications, including those tracking recalls, monitoring air quality and comparing healthy food choices.

The Office of Management and Budget had good reason to dive into the smartphone world: Recent surveys by Nielsen have found 21 percent of all Americans use smartphones, and by the end of 2011, roughly half of the folks who do will be connecting via a Blackberry, iPhone or Droid or models very similar to them.

The Recalls.gov website is particularly robust, with announcements divided into seven fields, ranging from cars and cosmetics to foods and environmental products.

The only downside about the USA.gov redesign I can see: Individual websites may be easy to access (they're programmed to mobile-friendly, low-bandwidth standards), but mobile apps aren't available from governmental agencies for all smartphones. For example, the Recalls.gov app is only available on Google's Droid, but not the iPhone. But, the FBI's Most Wanted listings and a BMI Calculator are only available as iPhone apps.

Image source: Recalls.gov

PC Magazine July 6, 2010

CNN.com July 6, 2010

Federal News Radio July 6, 2010

Being a computer geek -- especially a lover of all things Apple -- I'm acutely aware of the great and sometimes ridiculous lengths Steve Jobs and his Cupertino crew take to protect their brand, namely actions that often generate the kind of irresistible buzz that make people want to empty their pockets to buy their products, if not shake their heads in abject wonder. Even in my dual identity as an Apple "true believer" and a health blogger, I'm a bit surprised and somewhat skeptical to learn that my iPhone may be able to treat acne via an application called, rather inelegantly, the AcneApp.

For $1.99 too.

The use of light therapy to treat acne is nothing new, medical experts say, although the results have been inconsistent. Yet these same experts are quick to point out the light emitted from an iPhone screen isn't nearly as intense as the kind generated in a doctor's office (that requires a patient to protect his or her eyes) to do much good. There's been talk of clinical studies to be conducted at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine too, but no action so far. Because I'm a firm believer in the slightly revised adage, "seeing is believing -- or not," watch this YouTube video and judge for yourself...

ABC News February 9, 2010

WebMD February 12, 2010

New York Times December 30, 2009