Trying out ‘Social’ Location Apps on iPhone
I’ve been aware of some of the more social location apps for the iPhone for quite a while. Apps like Foursquare and Gowalla that help you discover places nearby to you wherever you go, and ‘check in’ at spots, leave tips for others, gain badges and sort of build your profile in various ways.
Up until recently I hadn’t been very interested in these apps – but while the big South by Southwest festival is going on here in Austin I’ve got tempted to give them a try. So I’ve installed Gowalla (which I believe is made by an Austin company – yay), Foursquare, and a few other SXSW focused social apps over the last several days.
Needless to say, I’m an absolute rookie at using these apps – still learning how to use them and seeing whether I really like using them at all.
Are any of you veterans with these apps? Which are your favorites? Any tips for a newbie?
I use My Cool Places, because it’s easy (no register needed, just login with facebook connect) and can choose between private, public, and “only for friends” privacy. I love to use the nearby and check-in functions from my iPhone.
Tips for a newbie? Share as “public” the best public/culture places on your city, but those little and amazing places only a few people know, share only with your friends, to conserve them as they are.
Add not only restaurants and shops, but climb, trekking, surfing or diving places out of the town. Finally, use tags to later search and identify places to go with children, etc. I hope you enjoy this new world of social geo.
After having traveled to SXSW this year, a friend of mine said this year he used Foursquare the way he used Twitter in 2009. While Foursquare was launched in 2009, no one realy used it. They all used Twitter to find out what was going on and where their friends where. This year, hands down, Foursquare replaced that use of Twitter making it very easy to find out where people are and what panels/locations/parties where trending as hotspots.
Oh and I might add Foursquare has a great party with Ashton Kutcher in attendance:)
I noticed the same in terms of usage of Forusquare (and Gowalla) for check-ins at places, rather than Twitter.