I'm quite enthused about Brightkite.com - it's in beta at the mo but it should be quite useful once there's enough of us using it. It's basically a microblog with Google Maps mashup, so you can (but don't have to, so you *can* use it just like Twitter et al) add your location to posts, and it'll show you who's nearby & so on, so you can use it to schedule impromptu meetups. I hear you gasp "But what about stalkers?" - well a) you don't have to update the location, and if you don't it still shows up as being at the previous location you did enter. You definitely aren't obliged to tell it when you're somewhere embarrassing like the clap clinic or whatever (hee hee). And b) you have 3 effective levels of security - you can make your location public (Hey, I'm 50 Cent, I been shot 9 times, ain't no-one gonna kill me, muthas!) or private. If private, your *exact* location will only be revealed to friends on your trusted list. Non-trusted "friends" i.e. loose acquaintences, get a vague idea of your area, so if they want to meet up they'll have to, I dunno - *phone* you or *email* you first. Your trusted friends are the only ones who'll descend on you unannounced as you nurse your pint in the local hostelry after a hard day's travail.
It's good - but it's only really good if all your mates join too, so if you know me (for real), drop me a line: I have 7 invites left, if you want in.
3 hours ago
