Social Networking

I wrote an article for our magazine about video aggregation apps, and of course it's now already out of date. These apps are like the wildly popular Flipboard app, but just for video. And they're fun. Showyou was the first to appear last year, and now a new version has just been released that is increasingly similar to the popular Flipboard interface. I also very much like Plizy. 

This time of year, people get excited about the Super Bowl, if for nothing else, than the commercials. But still, even the best commercials are one-way and non-interactive. At CES, I got a chance to meet with Blippar, an augmented reality mobile advertising firm.

Escort Radar has long been the leader in Radar/Laser detection products. Two new detectors, the 9500ix and the 8500x50 not only keep that “leadership” alive, but have taken it one step further. Both units are fully compatible with a new (leaving me speechless) technology for the iPhone and android phones, called “Escort Live”. Their tagline is simple; “Social Networking for the Road”.

Before I tout the accolades of this new technology, you will have to learn about how the detectors them self can give you a safer and possibly “ticketless” ride.

The facebook cover designer app makes creating great looking profile pictures or timeline covers quick and easy, right from your iPhone.  Since the new timeline profile feature came out on facebook there have been a few different places on the net which allow you to create some custom timelines, but there was never anything that could work right on your phone.  This was a big problem for many people since the majority of pictures taken and used on facebook today are shot right from phones or other camera enabled smart phones. 

Twitter, Facebook, and the like are all decent ways to stay in touch with people you already know about, but Roamz has solved a problem you might not have known you had. What happens when you're traveling? What if there are time-sensitive events happening near you, but you don't follow those related social networking accounts?

This app gives you a quick and easy way to use your phone's GPS to check in on Facebook, and to find where your friends have checked in from recently as well.  It will also provide you with some useful information such as where the nearest cafe or hotel is, and quite a bit more to. The app is pretty simple to use and seems to be pretty accurate as far as where it has you check in from.  If you don't have many friends who check in from their GPS phones than there won't be much information on your map but it can still be fun and as more and more people get smart phones this will likely become even more useful.