Dropp (and the rise of "MicroSocial") →

Dropp is a new iPhone app that allows one to leave location based notes and photos for friends anyplace in the world. I’ve been beta testing it for a few weeks now and it’s well designed and opens up some interesting ideas and possibilities.

I consider it a part of a growing trend I’m henceforth dubbing MicroSocial. In this trend, social network technology becomes closer, highly local, among people you actually know in the real world, and is designed to enhance your communications and relationships on this level. I personally find it interesting that we have started to come full circle with the idea of social networking.

For instance, I have set up a virtual tour of my neighborhood using Dropp. If you are in the area and have the app installed you can visit any shop or restaurant and get my thoughts and recommendations.

Some of the other examples the developer gives for using it are:

• Give a friend a virtual tour of a city you’ve been to on the other side of the world by leaving dropps in places you know they’ll visit.

• Leave a romantic note in an unexpected place.

• Recommend a menu item for a friend when they visit your favorite restaurant.

• Leave notes for yourself around town.

• Leave a reminder for your significant other at the grocery store to pick up the milk!

• Scavenger hunts!

I think there are many other possible situations one might find a neat use for this as well.

It’s free so there is no harm in checking it out. Expect me to cover other MicroSocial apps here soon because I think it’s the “next big thing”.