What it is

As the latest contender in the growing location-based social networking space, IntoNow has a youth-friendly twist in that it allows users to virtually “check in” to TV programs from the comfort of their own homes. The free companion app from the California-based startup of the same name is now currently available to consumers in the US through the iTunes store.

What it does

Based on the company’s patented SoundPrint music recognition platform, IntoNow uses audio software to instantly recognize TV content, which can then be shared and discussed on social streams like Facebook. The app provides data and links associated with episodes it recognizes from an index of more than 140 million minutes of broadcast TV from the past five years.

What it means

The technology can undoubtedly add a new layer of social interaction to the TV-watching habits of tweens and teens who are increasingly connecting with one another through mobile devices and social networks. Given the public nature of the service, IntoNow intends to build more granular privacy controls while expanding its content-recognition reach.