Facebook buys Gowalla • Hacker News Board

This is definitely a big loss for Austin. There are still a few interesting startups in the area, but Gowalla was the one that made it a serious contender.

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#15

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:45 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#16

Post by oldstrangers » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:48 AM UTC

kainosnoema wrote: post #14

elbenshira wrote: post #7

I remember an article about how Gowalla was bringing SV talent to Austin. Heh.

This is definitely a big loss for Austin. There are still a few interesting startups in the area, but Gowalla was the one that made it a serious contender.

Evernote just moved in. We also have Facebook and Google offices.

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#17

Post by artursapek » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:49 AM UTC

icco wrote: post #10

brianbreslin wrote: post #5

this has to be a talent acquisition. i wonder how long before gowalla product is mothballed? also wonder how little of a return their investors got?

The article implies immediate product death.

I had never heard of them

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#18

Post by oldstrangers » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:51 AM UTC

I'd love to hear the conversation at foursquare right now. I wonder if they're happy for their competitors, or maybe sad? Perhaps concerned that the check-in novelty is really dying off?

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#19

Post by JesseAldridge » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:52 AM UTC

oldstrangers wrote: post #16

kainosnoema wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is definitely a big loss for Austin. There are still a few interesting startups in the area, but Gowalla was the one that made it a serious contender.

Evernote just moved in. We also have Facebook and Google offices.

Mutual Mobile too: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/28/most-promising-companies...

Re: Facebook buys Gowalla

#20

Post by lpolovets » Sat, Dec 03, 2011, 12:52 AM UTC

kainosnoema wrote: post #9

msie wrote: post #6

Uh oh, what will happen to the Gowalla api?

Nobody can say for sure yet, but I doubt it'll be around very much longer. If you're looking for a check-in API, Foursquare's seems like the best bet at this point. The Venues (ie. places) Platform is especially good, with rate limits starting at 5,000/hr: https://developer.foursquare.com/overview/venues.html

[Disclosure: I work at Factual]

There are other good APIs to consider as well: Google Places, Factual, Yelp, etc. Each API has its own pros and cons in terms of query limits, terms and restrictions, fees, etc.

This is a good starting place for research: http://www.quora.com/What-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-each-Plac...