Brightkite posts

Filed under: Social Software, web 2.0, Android

Brightkite for Android is the best version yet

by Jay Hathaway Jun 30th 2009

A popular social network that has a strong following on the web and on the iPhone is now taking aim at the Android market. Brightkite, a slick little app that lets you check in at any location and share photos and notes with your friends, is available for free in the Android store as of this week. Current Brightkite users won't be disappointed with the Android version, and Android users will appreciate how it takes advantage of their device's location-based services.

The long-awaited app - there were reports over a year ago that it was in the works - takes advantage of Android's built in Google maps to let you visualize your friends' locations instead of reading them in a list. It also uses Android's notifications to alert you to any new activity in your friend stream. As an iPhone owner, I'm loathe to it admit it, but this looks even better than the iPhone version of the app. The maps, especially, are a great touch.

Tags: android, brightkite, maps, mobile, social

Filed under: Business, Social Software, Mobile, Web

Brightkite teams up with Limbo

by Jay Hathaway Apr 9th 2009

In the location-based social network arena, BrightKite has made quite a name for itself. The BrightKite product is so strong that the company is merging with another social network, Limbo, and moving to Limbo's offices in Burlingame, CA. The combined company gets BrightKite's service and brand name, and adds Limbo's engineers and offices.

So, what does BrightKite get out of this deal with Limbo? One of their main motivations is that Limbo's expertise will allow BrightKite to eventually expand to the Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms, which could increase its userbase by leaps and bounds. BrightKite also absorbs Limbo's users and features, which gives it a huge boost toward becoming the dominant location-based social network.

[via Webware]

Tags: brightkite, limbo, location-based, mobile, social-networks

Filed under: Web services, Social Software, web 2.0

Brightkite's new killer feature is ... a wall?

by Jay Hathaway Nov 21st 2008

If you've been to a tech event since SXSW in 2006, you've probably seen some kind of large monitor displaying info from the conference-goers. Often, this means Twitter tweets by attendees. Brightkite has just taken this a step further, with their own "Wall" feature. Because Brightkite is a location-based service to begin with, the wall has a built-in way to gather data. This means the usefulness of the wall isn't limited to events: you can just display it in any place (like a coffee shop, for example) and show all the people who are posting messages nearby.

I love the Brightkite Wall. It could turn out to be a brilliant way to show new users what the service is all about, as well as making an interesting public installation. It also opens up Brightkite to people who don't even have Brightkite accounts: you can put the appropriate location at the top of the wall, next to the Brightkite shortcode, and anyone can text a message onto the wall via SMS.

Tags: Brightkite, brightkite-wall, location-based, wall

Filed under: Social Software, iPhone, web 2.0

Brightkite for iPhone is the best BrightKite yet

by Jay Hathaway Oct 22nd 2008

BrightKite was already the Cadillac of location-based social networking, but it just got even better with the release of an iPhone app. Checking in is a breeze using the iPhone's GPS, and the app is pumped up with new features that make it a dramatic improvement over the old web version. There's been a buzz around Brightkite for iPhone for some time now, and it totally lives up to the hype.

The ability to message nearby users in an iChat-like interface is definitely a plus, and helps to make the service more social. "Place snapping" quickly attaches a name to your location, giving you a street or intersection that you can use with Brightkite's placemark feature. You can also turn on notifications, making sure you don't miss any messages or comments. Even better, all of this happens within a slick, intuitive user interface that takes no time at all to learn.

Tags: brightkite, iPhone, location-based, social network, social networking, SocialNetwork, SocialNetworking

Filed under: Internet, Web services, web 2.0

Brightkite: Give it a try, or go fly one?

by Drew Olanoff May 21st 2008

You've used Twitter and Dodgeball, but have you tried Brightkite? It's the latest and greatest location-centric web app to come to our attention.

What does it do that the others don't you ask? Good question. Right at login, you're prompted with the question "What's Happening?" Sound familiar?

All kidding aside though, they are geographic centric and allow you to check in from wherever you are in the world. By simply typing in an address or searching for a business, you can immediately let all of your friends (and the world if you choose) know exactly where you are. On the flip side, you can see where your friends are and with an SMS shortcode, "join them" automagically.

Brightkite is attempting to do what others have failed at. That being the ability to get people to use their site consistently, update their location, and be absolutely fine with the world knowing where they are and not just what they're doing.

Here are some of Brightkite's features:

"Brightkite Universe" which is basically Twitter, except you can post photos.
"Visited Places" which archives all of the places you've actually remembered to update from
"Placemarks" which is actually a pretty nice feature that lets you bookmark places you may visit often or would like to visit
Mobile features that let you get pinged whenever your buddy goes to the Wal-mart.

The interface is slick, you have to give them that. The catch? It's invite only at the moment.

Would you share your geographical location with the world on a consistent basis? Tell us some cool places you'd update from in the comments and we'll give away 5 Brightkite invites to the most interesting places!

Tags: brightkite, location, twitter

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