14 DAY TRIAL // Hotpot is expanding at a fast pace, as always, and, while it's not adding any huge new features, it gets better on a regular basis. The latest update adds the possibility to 'star' a place based on specific things, enabling your friends to know exactly why you like or disliked about it. You can mark things like Food, Service, Atmosphere and Value.
"Sometimes, just knowing your friend rated a place four stars isn’t enough to make a decision about where to go. That’s one reason why reviews, along with ratings, can be so helpful," Shantanu Shah, Hotpot Engineer at Google, wrote.
"But even beyond the star rating and written review, we wanted to make it really easy for you to share very specific information about all kinds of places," he continued.
"When you rate a place on Hotpot, we give you the option to specify that you liked or disliked certain 'aspects' of a place, such as food, service, rooms, location and more," he explained.
Hotpot is only a few months old, but Google seems determined to get it right. It aims to make finding a great place to eat or to stay a lot easier with the help of your friends.
The social aspect is key to the product and Google is playing it safe, Hotpot has a separate friends list and emphasizes connections within the service.
Hotpot encourages users to rate and review the places they visit so their friends and others will be able to make more informed decisions. Starring a place is simple, but it doesn't give much information. Reviews are much better, but they take more time to write and most people don't bother.
The new detailed rating system makes it easier to share more info without spending more than a few seconds. You can like or dislike specific things, enabling others to know not only that you enjoyed a place but also why.