Never Argue About Where to Eat Again: Create Your Own Collaborative Yelp with Google Maps [Video]

 My friends and I suck at picking places to eat when we go out. You could always browse Yelp, but that can be overwhelming—plus, you've probably already had tons of recommendations from friends. Google's collaborative maps are the answer: They essentially let you create your own little personalized Yelp that you can access from anywhere.

If you haven't created a custom map in Google Maps before, it's quite simple. Just click the "My Places" button, then click Create Map. Name it, give it a description, and start adding places. To add a new place, just find it on Google Maps (by searching), then click on it and choose "Save to Map". Choose your newly created map from the list, and you'll see it show up as a blue peg.

Click on it in the sidebar to give it a description. I usually like to add a link to the Yelp page and the menu, if it's available online, so we have easy access (you'll have to edit using Rich Text, not the default Plain Text, to do this). You can also add other notes about the place, including your favorite dishes or secret menu items your friends might not know about. You can also invite others to help you out by clicking the Collaborate link in the sidebar.

What's really cool about this is that you can use it on Android and iOS, too (though iOS users will need to use the Google Maps webapp, not the Maps app that came with your phone). Just open up Maps, go to My Places, and view your food map—you'll instantly get a list of everything that's nearby, so when you're out and about, you can just pick a closeby place for dinner, drinks, dessert, or whatever it is you're looking for. The more people you invite to collaborate, the bigger your map will become, and you can get personalized recommendations from your friends—that is, people you actually trust. Check out the video above to see a step-by-step of how its done, and please share your thoughts in the comments below. This is a really versatile system, and there are all sorts of cool things you could do with it.

Where to Look for a GPS Bug on Your Car If You Think You're Being Tracked [Security]

Hopefully most of us will go throughout life without being tracked by a GPS bug, but if you're worried that someone may be following your whereabouts with technology there are common places you can look to find the device. Security and investigations expert Brandon Gregg offers up a few suggestions to help you discover these bugs.

Brandon's answer comes from a question on Quora and provides plenty of detail, but here's the gist:

You should first look thoroughly at the underside and trunk of your vehicle. Many older tracking devices are large and magnetic, so they're most quickly and easily placed in these areas. (In some cases they'll be taped on or adhered in another manner if they can't be attached magnetically.) GPS signals are also well-received near the road's surface, so placing the devices beneath your car can help to ensure that the signal is received.While the device may be very large and obvious, keep an eye out for anything as small as the size of a pager. While this may seem like a difficult search, the devices tend to stick out and you shouldn't have too hard of a time noticing them.In the event that your car was impounded, stolen, or there are strict GPS laws for law enforcement where you live you will need to be more thorough. Smaller and more expensive GPS tracking devices can be hard-wired into your car's battery and hidden almost anywhere. To find them, you'll likely need to enlist the aid of a Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) device (like these). They're very expensive, but will get the job done.

Chances are that most of us won't find ourselves in a situation where we need to seek out and remove a GPS tracking device, but if you do now you'll know where to look. Fore more detail, be sure to read Brandon's full answer over at Quora.

How can you tell if your car is bugged or tracked with GPS? | Quora

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