Types (Niche)

On August 31, 2012 Plenty of Fish released a new update for their Android dating app. The new version number is 1.4.1.9627 and it includes a number of new features and bug fixes. The new features include:

• Username search
• Additional search filters on profile attributes
• You can now register on POF through the App (done through web before)
• Auto-refresh for conversations
• Local event notifications
• User interface modifications

I haven't had any problems logging in with the new version but more than a few members have complained about not being able to use the app due to time out issues or notifications that the service is down for scheduled maintenance. A reviewer also mention that the Apps MeetMe feature could use additional search filters so you can have tighter control on which members are displayed.

Check out the Google Play Store on your Android phone and search for POF to download the app. To find out more about this popular free dating site you can read our POF.com review.

I am not sure if this is the right type of publicity a company wants but the Gay dating app called Grindr is being blamed for the rise of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The Christchurch Sexual Health Clinic in New Zealand has been quoted as saying that these type of apps which allow Gay men to find others nearby have been associated with a 50 percent increase in cases of Syphilis in 2012.

Globally Syphilis has been making a comeback in recent years. It is recommended that you always use protection. In fact Grindr has a policy which bans its members from looking for unprotected intimate encounters. If a member violates this regulation their profile will be removed.

For more on this story you can read The New Age.

Many people have tried online dating, but most are still resistant to try speed dating. Something about spending only five minutes trying get to know your date before moving on to the next makes some people anxious, and I can't blame them. That's so much pressure - how can you possibly get to know someone in that small amount of time?

Since I spent six years as a speed dating host, I saw a lot of great people get completely overwhelmed and frustrated by the experience. But the problem was not with speed dating itself, or with the people who attended. The problem was that people approached it the wrong way, with unrealistic expectations.

While it seems like an easy concept - meet 15-20 people in one night in a series of mini-dates, see if you click, and if so, go out on a real date - it's not that simple. In real life, there aren't many places we go where we see someone across the room and instantly connect. Many people come to speed dating expecting this type of love at first sight. And they leave disappointed because they met a roomful of decent men or women, but none that make them swoon.

Instead of looking at speed dating as a chemistry test, I advise you to keep an open mind. Just because there's no love at first sight doesn't mean you shouldn't date someone who piques your interest or who you had a fun time talking with. Quite the opposite. Go out and give it a chance. Then you can make a more informed decision about whether or not you want to spend more time together. If you don't click romantically, then you've added a new friend to your network. I met several friends this way and was invited to a lot of parties, where I did eventually meet men that I dated. Speed dating is a great way to expand your social network.

For some people, speed dating means forced conversation, which isn't the best way to flirt and attract someone to you. Some of my clients would list off their attributes like they were in a job interview and had three minutes to sell themselves. This is not an effective way to engage. Women like to feel connected, so ask questions and engage her in conversation rather than just talking to her and you'll have more success.

It's also good to recognize that the same old questions get boring when asked over and over again. Many speed daters approach each other like they are at a cocktail party where they don't know anyone, asking the polite questions of "where are you from" or "what do you do?"

Instead of taking the traditional route, start to think outside the box. If you want to keep from falling asleep or crying from boredom after a couple of dates with the same stale questions, you have to think differently and mix things up. Ask one date about his most embarrassing experience. Ask another about what he likes to do on the weekend. And ask another what his favorite subject was in school. These are just examples - feel free to be creative.

Bottom line: keep an open mind, have fun, be creative, and don't take yourself or the speed dating process too seriously. It's a way to meet people outside of your immediate network, so try to enjoy yourself.

For more information on a two different speed dating services, you can read our Hurry Date review and our Speed Date review.

Plenty Of Fish is reporting that they had over 300 million monthly visits to their Android and iPhone apps last month. I am not sure if they mean they had 300 million visits to their respective app pages on iTunes and Android Market or if members used the apps on their phones a total of 300 million times (probably the latter, but how can you visit an app, I thought you used an app).

Plenty Of Fish is also seeing mobile traffic increasing by 3 percent every week with 40 percent of all United States signups now coming from mobile phones and tablets. iPads saw an increase of usage by 88 percent alone from December 2011 to January 2012 (must be those Holiday presents). All this traffic equals to over 3 billion page views a month coming from mobile apps. Wow, that is a lot! I never expected such a large percentage of signups would come from mobile devices already.

I guess the iTunes PlentyOfFish app description needs an update though, as I write this post it currently states that Plenty Of Fish has over 145 million monthly visitors and 38 million users.

To find out about this dating service and their mobile apps you can read our Plenty Of Fish review.

I noticed you now can access MillionaireMatch through a mobile device. They have a new app available on both the iPhone and Android phones.

With the app you can do most things found on the website including updating your profile, searching for matches and communicating with other members by sending winks and emails. You can also view lists of your favorites, who has liked you and members who have viewed your profile.

For more information about this dating service to find wealthy men please read our MillionaireMatch.com review.

Most of us are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or some form of social media. Maybe you even have a blog. Whatever the case, it seems these days we all have an online persona as well as an in-person one. And sometimes, you don't want these worlds to meet - (or at least you don't want your boss to discover you're secretly complaining about your job in 140 characters or less). So how do you manage all of these identities when you're dating?

If you blog or tweet about your awful dates, what happens if you meet someone you like? Do you tell him about your blog or propensity to share these intimate details, wait a few weeks to see if the relationship goes anywhere, or do you erase all links to your real-life self and hope he doesn't stumble across it?

And if you're not so inclined to blog or tweet about your dates, are there some Facebook posts or pictures you'd rather not admit to - like when your friend tagged you one embarrassingly drunken night out? Or when you posted a rant on your ex's wall?

Chances are there are some things you don't want on display for someone you're just meeting. But if you want to keep them private, it may be harder than you think - especially when it comes to dating. With the help of Google, Facebook, and a little sloothing, your date could discover some of your well-hidden secrets. And if they are doing their due diligence, they will.

Before you panic, there are some definite steps you can take to make sure your online persona comes off as swimmingly as your real-life one does when you meet in person:

Adjust your Facebook privacy settings. This is a really easy fix. Don't assume your information is private because you haven't changed any settings recently and Facebook wouldn't dare make your information public. There have been some adjustments on Facebook's part over the last few months to make information more accessible unless you say no, so be sure to check your settings often and make sure you have your privacy settings as high as possible.

Protect your tweets. It is possible to have separate Twitter accounts - one for work and one for your private life. Just make sure you never mix them up! (I had a friend who did this and almost lost her job.) If you want to use your real name, then protect your tweets so only followers can see them. Otherwise, I suggest changing your handle (or name) so that you're more anonymous.

Don't friend or follow anyone you just met. This means don't exchange Facebook names so you can "friend" each other as a way to get in contact. Do you want the new girl you're interested in to see your picture with another girl, or read your fringe political viewpoints? Keep social media out of the picture until you've been dating a few weeks (or months)! Otherwise you could be misunderstood.

Own up to your past. If you have something online that might be a red flag to potential dates, it's best to disclose it upfront. A friend of mine started dating someone only to find out he had a website with another woman - announcing their engagement! Even though the two were broken up by the time he met my friend, she couldn't get past her initial shock that he hadn't mentioned it. So the relationship never got off the ground.

Bottom line? Pay attention to your digital trail, and know how you come across.

For more information on how to use social networks for dating, you can check out our Facebook review and our Twitter review.