brightkite is here! could it be the new twitter?
 

While twitter asks "what are you doing?", brightkite asks "what's happening?"

A small distinction... but one that might make a big difference in the world of mobile social networking, because rather than follow your friends' activities, you're finding people and activities that are close to you. Right now.

I know that Fej has been using the SMS-based version of brightkite for a while (he told me about it months ago), but I didn't jump in until the iPhone app was launched a couple of days ago. It uses the iPhone's GPS in a very impressive way.

Obviously, it's still early and so few of my friends are using it so it's still just a novelty... But I do have 3 invites available, so if anyone is interested, let me know.

At this point, it's so easy to use that I think I'll be using both twitter and brightkite, at least for a while.

Hmmm, this sounds very interesting to me.

Don't take this the wrong way anyone ... but I'm looking to expand my circle of friends. (For one thing, there's no boyfriend material in my current extensive circles, for another ... new is good).

So, oh user(s) of brightkite, could it facillitate finding activities attended by as-yet-unknown people of similar interests???

Oh dear sweet zombie jesus...... hell fvckin' no. Not another one. I'd rather have my pubic hair pulled out one by one with tweezers than sign up for anything twitter-esque.

I.had.to.post.to.quotes

The new twitter?

I have yet to twitter.

Maintaining my MySpace keeps me busy, and my facebook is neglected. But not as horribly abandoned as my LJ. There aren't enough hours in the day. And please, Boss Radio, don't even remind me about my Linked In!

Invite please.

So tell me more. Why should I want another app? Your enthusiasm interests me, but an initial peek at the site doesn't show me much of an advance over twitter.

What are the advantages?

Done.

The difference is that you don't "follow" people, like twitter. The filter isn't by person, it's by geography, so when you're doing something somewhere, people nearby will know, and can meet/join you.

Huh. Interesting concept. Not sure I'll be leaping on this particular bandwagon, but it IS an interesting concept.

Cool. This will make stalking specific demographics way easier!


Err, I mean if one where into that sort of thing.....

But I hear you're into that kind of thing...

Joe hates Twitter.

I don't have an iPhone.

Looked at the site, I'll bite, invite!

Brightkite! (superstar!)

I'm on, same username as twitter.

The whole "check-in" "check-out" mechanism may be more effort than I can muster, but we shall see.

Considering I just recently signed up on Facebook, I'll probably get around to this in about two years from now. ;)

Great looking bowl of clam chowder that guy's eating. This is either:

1) the intermediate step to acceptance of the government monitoring our every activity; or

2) how we'll catch Osama Bin Laden; or

3) both.

Ok, so this just allows you to join in on stuff the people already on your list are doing nearby or somewhere you can get to?

Sorry. YAWN.


This is completely and utterly duplicative of both twitter and, more closely, a great function of the LoT.

Yeah, but think of the fun of random strangers too...

You could post, "Come meet me in the second stall of the men's bathroom at the Texaco on the corner of 5th and Main." and see who shows up! ;)

Basing my comments solely on what I have read (and not on actual experience), I think there is a huge difference: real-time geography updates.

If, on the random chance that I am in the downtown LA area (a rarity for me) with a unexpected time on my hands, I can instantly look to see who is in that area (based on GPS). Then, I can contact that specific person(s) to see if they want to hook up.

With Twitter, I have to post to say I am in the area and then wait to see if someone 1) happens to see the message, and 2) hope they are in the same area.

Brightkite has a definite advantage here.

I love new ways of communication. I've become enamored with the possibilities not just for friendship usage but for business usage as well.

If I read it right, they allow you to comment on locations.

That I really like. It would be cool to walk up to a new restaurant and be able to see what people think is good (or not) there, how reliable a car repair place is, etc....

I'll give you four to one odds it's a senator. (In this area at least....)

It's an interesting idea, but I don't really have people in my area that I would use it with.

And....I broke it.

I do like this image on their home page:

But does it only work with people you have mutually been registered with (like twitter)?


If so, how would I see what other people have said about, for example, a restaurant unless one or more of my currently registered friends have commented on that restaurant? More important (to my particular interest) - how would it aid in meeting new people? Ya know, at the Texaco restroom?

At your option, it works with people you have not registered with.

Same name as on Twitter for me. It's funning really slow for me, but it might just be where I'm sitting in my house.

Eh, I really like Twitter, beyond knowing where my friends are. It's more about knowing where they are emotionally for me, sometimes. Getting cool news early. Even if brightkite catches on among everyone, I have a feeling I will like Twitter more, and I hope my friends continue to use it.

Hmm. Don't think I'd want the public to know where I am...but the locate friends thing does sound intriguing.

I'll wait to see how GD likes it.

I don't know how you do this so consistently.

I hope you never stop! :)

I'm in - now I can meet people at this convention who are also attending this convention and network without having to know who they are

brightkite reminds me of lite brite, now I have the lite brite song in my head.

"outta sight makin' things with lite brite"

So someone, somewhere is going to get a swanking with no clu€ what's in store for them.

Lucky Bastards.

Thank you! That's the first thing I thought too.

Ditto. With some strays into Ultra Brite.

It seems I'm still the only person in my hotel room

Me too!

Is that good news or bad news?

Looks interesting - I'm in - Snoozinvil

keithsuperk

DucksChickie (same name as Twitter if you want to add me there too).

If I wanted people to join me in whatever I'm currently doing, wouldn't I have already invited them?

There really aren't that many times in my day where I'm in a "gee, I wish someone would show up and hang with me right now" place.

Is that what this is intended for (seems great for high school kids with no commitments on their time) or am I missing something?

No, you're not missing anything.

Some of my Twitter friends say this very thing - "I'm here, anyone want to join me?" Not me so much, but others. I can dig it, I'm just not able to drive long distances to hang out on weekday evenings. The whole thing just makes me wish I lived closer to the action.

Well that sounds more than slightly painful. :eek:



Can you see where people are without them seeing where you are? Say, if you are trying to avoid someone.

I've been having fun with it. And, everyone else can see just how boring my day is.

I'm still not really getting it. I think this requires a really good mobile app and the Blackberry version is really pretty meh.

Which reminds, I have yet to check out the new Blackberry phone.

I think it's a good idea, but not entirely useful until there are lots of people using it... we'll see...

I looked at the website at home. I don't have a phone or phone plan that allows me to post images or anything else from my phone so I don't think it's very useful for me. I would just feel kind of lame.

I really don't see how it's anything but a more limited form of twitter.


I don't have any mobile device, so 'natch I'm out. But this is not something that tempts me.


Again, no offense to anyone here ... but I want the Meet New People app, not the Hang Out With People You Know app (aka twitter AND The LoT).

Hey iSm, your initial guess about how the app works was correct. Not sure how not interacting with it changed your mind.

If I open the app on my iphone, I can see strangers who are posting or have posted based on geography: Area (4000 meters), Neighborhood (2000 meters), Block (200 meters), or Close (20 meters). The only time I sign in as "private" (meaning only my friends can see me) is if I'm home or at a private place that I don't want my stalkers to know about.

You only THINK we don't know where you are...

So that WAS you I saw down at McCain campaign headquarters the other day. I thought so.

Yeah, I knew Twitter would be over as soon as I signed up.

:D

Hehe. Actually, BrightKite is linked to Twitter so no worries there.

:)

Yes, and I've noticed I can see photos posted through BrightKite but my phone can't deal with twitpic.