I’ve been singing the praises of an app called Whrrl for while. If you like FourSquare, then this is sort of the same thing. Except it’s less competitive and more in the spirit of community. Instead of competing for a single place as “Mayor,” you become part of societies that relate to specific places or to general topics. You become a member of a place’s society when you check in at that place and if that place, in turn, if part of another group, then you become part of that society as well. Theaters and museums are part of the “Cultured Society” for example. Bars that offer drink specials are part of the “Happy Hour Somewhere Society.” There are levels in the societies–I’m a Level 6 Insider in the British Beer Company Society, but only a Level 3 Rookie in the Acapulco’s Restaurant Society–but no single Mayor.

It also makes it very easy to make recommendations on places. Think FourSquare meets Yelp, but with an easier interface. I don’t just check in at Acapulco’s, but can also recommend to you the rather excellent Margarita’s they have there, or tell you why it’s a good place to watch the World Cup matches. So, too, with my gym, grocery store, bank, coffee shop…
Continue reading →