Google creates competitor 4SQ and Facebook Places?

It seems that Google is preparing to release its long-promised social stratum, in any case, one of its possible components is already lit and available - this is Google HotPot

I managed to find it completely by accident, after updating Google Maps on Android to version 4.7, I was informed that a new widget had appeared, which, according to the description, “allows evaluating places on the map”.
But this was not the most interesting ...


After the first assessment, I was informed that I could look at my places and the places of my friends at http://www.google.com/hotpot and this is what I found.
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In short, this is an add-on to the Google Places service that contains quite interesting functionality:
- Recommended Google locations based on your search history and your friends ratings
- Saving favorite places
- Rating and writing comments
- User rating system
- Ability to add to your friends account
- View friends recommendation list
- Mobile widget for Android (maps version 4.7)
- Cool counter left ratings :)

The service is still open as something slightly underground and it will be interesting to compare how it will develop, especially against the background of the popular 4sq, altergeo and facebook places that are not yet working in Russia.

Below are a few screenshots of the interface:

Recommended places


Places from search history


Saved places on Google maps


Friends lists


Location evaluation