Yelp has started posting the health department's ratings of restaurants. The hospitality industry says that's just too much information.

We all understand the five-star rating system. But does it really provide us with valuable information? Foursquare says nay.

The startup, cofounded by MIT grad Rene Reinsberg, has created a publishing platform for small businesses. Your local burger joint just got a jolt in its battle against the Denny's-ization of the world.

Spotify plus Ticketmaster. Mint plus Match. Groupon plus Facebook Places, plus Foursquare, plus Gowalla.... Why don't more social, tech, and data services quit brushing by each other and get to smushing? Here are five ideas to break the ice.

The feature that's most driving this evolution is Explore, a simple, well-designed tool that enables you to find nearby restaurants, bars, and other venues recommended by friends and tastemakers.