Keep Track

Facebook connects people all over the world as the biggest way of staying in touch with friends and family. Now, in addition to staying connected with others, you can use it to keep track of where your friends are.

Through its “Places” app, Facebook is taking advantage of GPS satellite tracking systems that are installed in phones to allow people to post their current location, which only their friends see.

This app takes keeping up with your friends and their hot spots to a new level. It takes away the hassle of having to call and see where your friends are hanging or also having to ask around to find the hot spots in town.

By using the GPS capabilities of phones that are so familiar to so many people, this app makes keeping track even easier.

[Contributed by Richard Samuel]

Group Gift-Giving Goes Social

Popular auction website eBay may be what you think of when considering a gift for a friend. But how about eBay to ask other friends to help you pay for it?

Facebook has recently partnered with eBay to allow users to share in the cost of buying an item from the fixed-price gift section. Using Facebook Connect, users can form groups, wait for enough money to be pooled between the friends within the group and, when the item’s value is reached, the gift will be mailed to the recipient.

As a great way to save money and to connect with friends, this innovation will change the way people buy gifts. As more and more big name companies jump on the social media bandwagon, eBay has found a new way in to the social-media market.

By linking friends, websites, and online shopping in a way never before seen or possible, Facebook and eBay have created a great example of really new media.

[Contributed by Paige Garson]

Virtually Experience Restaurants

Ever gone to a new restaurant and instantly wanted to leave? Whether due to menu selection, poor service, or décor, trying new restaurants is often a hit or miss. Even after reading reviews or hearing word-of-mouth recommendations from family or friends, nothing is as good as actually trying the restaurant for yourself.

Well, now you can, and without leaving the house or the office.

Everyscape Eats, a new app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users, lets diners explore local restaurants remotely. Use it to search for a restaurant based on cuisine or neighborhood, see the inside and outside of the restaurant with virtual 360-degree views, read menus and reviews, and call the restaurant directly from the app.

Restaurant not to your liking? Drag your screen outside, where neighboring restaurants are tagged and also available for a virtual look. Users can also share their restaurants with friends via email or Facebook.

While only diners in in Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco can use it, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are in the works for next year.

Word of mouth? That’s so 20th century.

[Contributed by Taylor Henriquez]