Kat with a K

New from Google: Hotpot

Google has introduced Hotpot, with a simple but brilliant concept: Rate places you've been, and they'll recommend places you'll like. And if your friends rate places, those ratings will somehow play into your recommendations too. (Not sure exactly how that works because I don't think any of my friends are rating things yet - are you? Leave a comment so I can add you!) I'm actually pretty excited like this, because it sounds like Foursquare but with an actual use. You can rate a bunch of places in your hometown, and then when you need to find somewhere to eat after your meeting in another city, it will tell you places you might like. And, even better, it's not just restaurants - you can rate all sorts of things. In my town, it's showing me restaurants, the library, churches, hotels, schools, and more. I have to play with this some more before I decide whether I'll make a habit of rating places, but it looks great so far. Oh, and of course, there are mobile apps as well. Of course there are. (I haven't downloaded any of them yet.)