For all you Twittertastic people out there, I’m sure you’ve noticed some changes to the site (or at least the ability to check the “New Twitter” out). Not only is the layout easier and more comprehensive, but it is infinitely more pleasing both in terms of aesthetics and content. To re-cap the improvements: location integration for statuses and trends, more information about the people you follow, what they’re tweeting, and what kinds of responses they’re getting, the ability to see all your and your friends’ retweets as well as tweets mentioning you in one place, and an overall updated look and feel. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve checked in at tons of places. You have mentioned and checked-in at numerous establishments. Your social networking life is just as active as your real one. And now there is a way to see just how far your social endeavors have taken you. Various apps map your social journey so that you can see  the extent of it, keeping track of everything that has consumed your life. Here are two of the best: Read the rest of this entry »

With so many networking apps to choose from, it’s often hard to just use one. Further conundrums arise when all your friends are on different networks. That’s where TwentyThree comes in. The app allows you to use your accounts, including Gowalla, Foursquare, Twitter, and Brightkite, in one easy domain so that you can update statuses, follow friends, and check in no matter where you are, who you’re with, or what you’re doing, and without the hassle of having to switch between accounts. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever seen a dish pass by and think, “I want that!”, or wanted to know where you could find that delicious looking sandwich? Foodspotting draws on the human tendency to initially desire something based on its appearance, and enables you to essentially pick your food based on its picture. The app presents you with photographs of dishes at nearby restaurants creating a different way to choose what and where to eat, similar to windowshopping before buying clothes. Read the rest of this entry »

It follows general etiquette that eavesdropping is rude so we shouldn’t engage in it. However, it is only natural for humans to be curious about what others think and what sorts of topics are grabbing peoples’ attention. Overheard is an app that basically denounces a polite respect for personal space and encourages people to feed these curiosities. It allows users to see what conversations are occurring on various social networks (i.e. others’ Twitter feeds and Facebook posts), so as to gain a “visual geo representation of noise and chatter,” either for their immediate location or on a larger scope, such as the entire world. Overheard lets people see the thoughts of those they do and do not know and contribute to or passively enjoy others’ thoughts as they wish. Read the rest of this entry »

While I mentioned Apple’s big plans for devices yesterday, there is some equally big news for software. Steve Jobs announced the improvements that will be made for iTunes 10, most notably of which will be the addition of Ping, a social network based on music. Ping will just be a part of iTunes that users can choose to use or not use, and will enable people not only to see what activities their friends are engaging in on iTunes, but also see how their favorite celebs use iTunes. Anyone who is represented on iTunes, be it by movies, music, or podcasts, will be available to follow, and will enable users to become part of their “inner circle.” There will be a constant flow of live updates, comment capabilities, and tools that enable people to share every part of the entertainment experience, including finding concert tickets and seeing who else will be in attendance. In short, Ping will provide an incredible aid for music discovery, entertainment news, and most importantly a new element to the social networking sphere. Read the rest of this entry »