Foursquare is introducing what it calls "personalized search for the real world" on its recently redesigned website. What that means as a practical matter is the introduction of the "Explore" feature, better keyword search and several new filters that enable users to drill down in search results. We can now, without hesitation, now call Foursquare a "local search engine." You'll now see an Explore button or tab in the upper right on the website. It's obviously been on the mobile app for some time but not on the site until today. Because I was so used to seeing Explore on the mobile client I [...]

Related Topics: Foursquare | Search Engines: Location / Checkin Services | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Top News

Yelp is now established and mainstream enough to be included in BMW's Online/in-car content. Yelp reviews and related content will shortly be available to BMW owners "who subscribe to the optional BMW Assist Convenience Plan and have a navigation-equipped vehicle capable of receiving the BMW Online service." This means select BMW vehicles (see below for list) and is available in the US only for now. However Yelp's international coverage makes it probable that the partnership will roll out more broadly if it proves successful in the US. Yelp offered some screens of the BMW in-car search o [...]

Related Topics: Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Search Features: Cars | Yelp

The internet and search engines in particular are the top sources for information about local businesses, according to a new survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Foundation. That's not really a surprise. But what's interesting perhaps is how many people rely on print newspapers and how few seem to rely on social media for local information, according to the survey data. Pew surveyed just over 1,000 US adults by telephone in January, 2011. What it found was that 55 percent of people "say they get news and information about local restaurants, bars, and clubs" and 60 percent "say t [...]

Related Topics: Facebook | Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Search Engines: Location / Checkin Services | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Top News | Twitter

Foursquare has hired Andrew Hogue to beef up the company's search and search-related initiatives and capabilities. Hogue was a senior engineer with Google from 2004 through November of this year. The company recently announced it had passed 15 million users globally, 50 percent of which are outside the US. We spoke to Hogue about a range of topics last week from New York, where Foursquare is headquartered and he will be based. Hogue brings some serious engineering chops to Foursquare and it's a coup for the company to get him. Hogue told us that he was eager to work on improving Fours [...]

Related Topics: Foursquare | Search Engines: Location / Checkin Services | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Top News

We're already well into Black Friday. In many US stores the frenzy began last night at 10 pm or midnight (as opposed to the normal 4 am door-busting start time). People barely had time to overcome the sleep-inducing effects of L-tryptophan before getting out into the melee. And the word "melee" aptly describes the scene in a Southern California Wal-Mart store as one woman unleashed pepper spray on her fellow shoppers to prevent them from getting in her way. Today and for the next few days people will be using a wide range of tools and resources -- hopefully not pepper spray -- to help them [...]

Related Topics: Google: Maps & Local | Google: Mobile | Google: Product Search | Microsoft: Bing | Microsoft: Bing Shopping & Cashback | Search Engines: Maps & Local Search Engines | Search Engines: Mobile Search Engines | Top News