Social Networking

Latest Apple patent hints towards a social network for the retail world

By Brian Tufo, Friday, Dec 31, 2010 a 9:12 am

The latest patent filed by Apple shows a possible Ping-like social networking tool for the retail world. It would allow for iPhone owners to share comments, opinions and recommendations for different products from different stores for their friends to view. Like any patent there's no telling when, if ever, this particular one will find its way into a real, shipping product, but it does hive us a glimpse at what Apple is working on.

Gowalla for iPad - app review

By Chad Garrett, Monday, May 10, 2010 a 4:03 pm

Gowalla for iPad is a social app from some fine folks in Austin, TX that allows you to check-in to locations, see where your friends are checking-in, collect items and complete trips. Gowalla for iPad is available now in the App Store for free [Free- iTunes Link]

Gowalla is the newest entry into the whole "check-in" craze. Why check-in? With Gowalla the main goals are to see where your friends are and to collect items. However, this process is mainly reserved for the iPhone app. The iPad version of Gowalla provides beautiful access to view your activities (where you and your friends have checked-in), see what spots are in your area (spots are places to check-in) and your Passport (a summary of where you have checked in, stamps, pins and items collected.

This app is an excellent companion app to its iPhone cousin. The large screen really gives you great access to view where your friends are in real-time across the world. You can pinch and zoom from your city to the whole world in a breeze. You can learn more about a location or friend by tapping on their name on the map. Spots also dynamically appear when the map is moved to a new location, very slick.

Apple unleashes Game Center social network

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 a 1:57 pm

While third parties have developed several of their own social gaming networks for the iPhone and iPad, Apple entered the space themselves today with iPhone 4.0 and their Game Center Social Network. (Think Microsoft Xbox Live or Sony Playstation Network for iPhone and iPad apps).

Features include inviting friends, matchmaking, leader-boards, and achievements. And because it's built into the OS, developers get it "for free". Hard to compete with that...

[Image via Gizmodo]

Apple Developing iGroups Social Networking App? -- Patent Watch

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Mar 19, 2010 a 9:12 am

According to Patently Apple, Apple is laying the foundations for a potential iGroups app that would allow like-minded iPhone (or iPod touch and iPad users, presumably) to set up MobileMe-powered social networks at events like WWDC (Apple's yearly World Wide Developers Conference).

Loopt and AT&T Work Out $3.99/month "Always On" Location Updates Deal for iPhone

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Sep 4, 2009 a 12:55 pm

Loopt [Free - iTunes link], which matches social networks with location-based services into one smoldering hot Web 2.0 sammich, has struck a deal with AT&T that will let them update their iPhone users' location information even when the Loopt app proper isn't running.

iPhone at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 Roundup

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Mar 15, 2009 a 12:39 pm

South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009 is trendy, twitter-filling, and the source of increasingly social iPhone news releases. What's going on this year?

FaceBook connect comes to the iPhone. Sure, they may just have redesigned their home pages to basically become Twitter with invitations to apps you don't want and events on continents you can't attend, but behind the scenes:

App Review: Goodrec for iPhone

By Brian Hart, Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008 a 5:55 pm

Goodrec, from the company by the same name, is now available in the iTunes App Store for the absurdly low price of FREE and is also accessible online at their web site, www.goodrec.com.

Although there are numerous apps that take advantage of the location-based feature the iPhone offers in order to serve up local eats, treats and other items, Goodrec is worth a hard look and download.

Even though it's free, does Goodrec deliver the goods? Is it worth taking up some space on your iPhone, or is it something you'll use a couple times and then banish to the electronic void of deleted apps? Read on for my take on Goodrec!

Facebook 2.0 Hits iPhone App Store

By Rene Ritchie, Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008 a 11:15 am

Last month, Dieter let us know that Facebook's popular, but feature-thin App Store application would be getting an update to (hopefully!) bring it up to par with the older WebApp version accessible via MobileSafari browsing. The due date was September, and boy did they just manage to sneak it in under the wire! Check out the iTunes App Store for Facebook 2.0 (still free!).