TechDish: Places, Privacy and Foursquare?

Posted on: Fri, 08/20/2010 - 08:00 — us104_techdish

If you are anything like this writer, you enjoy telling your friends what's what when it comes to things you like to do and places you like to go. Why? So your friends can join you the next time! Have you ever been to a live show, only to find out later that a friend of yours was at the same live show, and you could have hung out afterwards? The day has now come where the two of you could hang out, because you've both checked in using Facebook Places.

This week on TechDish we're talking about a brand-new application that was publicly announced by Facebook yesterday called Places. Remember, Facebook is all about connections. Keeping up with current friends, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new friends. With Places, you can take your connections to the streets. There's a lot of ways we see you being able to use Places, and there are probably a lot more that will go unrealized for a while as well. But first, let's talk requirements.

So I like this idea, what do I need to use it?

All that's required is a mobile phone with browsing capabilities and geolocation (GPS). Many phones these days will cut it, including the iPhone (which has its own app), the Droid, some Blackberries and a handful of others. The easiest way to figure out if your phone supports Places is to browse to touch.facebook.com.

What could I use Places for?

Create meetings on the fly

Go to your favorite hangout spot, check in using Places, and post an update along with your check-in to invite your friends. As your friends come and check in, you can tag each other so others can see who you are with. Your friends and their friends can see who's meeting up, and join up with you as well!

Read reviews on places you want to go

Maybe you want to get a taste of what the State Fair has to offer this year (which is just around the corner(!)). Your friends have already gone, checked in with Places, and written about it in their updates attached to the Places check-in. Suddenly, you've got an easy review service courtesy of your friends who are already there! You'll be able to find out if those deep-fried twinkies are as good as they were last year, and what new things are going to be served up on a stick this time around.

Create a travel journal to look back on

Through a combination of check-ins and updates tied to the check-ins, you'll be able to view your Places feed to look back on past trips, events and general fun; allowing you to relive the memories, or decided if it's time to make a return trip.

But what about my Privacy?

With Places (and the rest of your Facebook account), you are in control of what you want people to see. You can choose whether or not to share a location when you check in to a place. You and your friends can choose to be listed in the "People here now" section, on a place by place basis. Or, you can choose through your Facebook privacy settings to not be included in any Places tagging as well. Which might come in handy when you bump into a friend at HyVee at 3am and you're both looking to indulge in some doughnut guilty pleasure goodness.

Sounds great! I want to know more

Take a tour of Places by clicking here. Or, check out the nice promo video, courtesy of Facebook, below.

Video: Checking in with Facebook Places