API Highlight: Getting answers to your questions when (and where) you need them!

One of the things we love about foursquare is that the information you’re looking for (like how to order the perfect burrito) is there right when you need it (when you’re next to that hole-in-the-wall spot you’ve been wanting to try).

Today, we’re highlighting two apps that do a bit more to get you that perfect piece of information, using foursquare data in two very different ways. One can provide more depth and breadth about a place, like the history of a neighborhood. The other helps people answer questions in real-time, like how crowded a restaurant is or what game the bar is showing on TV.

The next time you’re adventuring in a new city, or have 20 minutes to kill at your local coffee shop, you can use the Quora app to find in-depth information about the places around you.

Quora is a website where people can share their knowledge about a wide variety of topics, which are organized under questions (like, “What is the origin of General Tso’s Chicken?” or “What are some cultural faux pas in New Jersey?”). With their new app, you can browse questions about the area you’re exploring, so you can learn more about the history of the area, influential institutions, neighborhood debates, and more.

Have you ever shown up to a bar with a friend, only to discover that it was way too crowded? Or arrived at the airport to find a security line straight out the door? What if you could ask someone who’s already there about the scene?

Localmind allows you to send your questions to people who are already there. You can use the network of people using Localmind to find out what specials are still going on at your favorite restaurant, if that ever-elusive wifi at your local coffee shop is back up yet, or if the big party downtown is any fun.

Want to try it out for yourself? Download the Localmind and Quora apps.

We love that developers are using our venue database to build Q&A services that help users find answers when (and where) they need them most. To access the same tools that Localmind and Quora used to create these apps, get started over at developer.foursquare.com.