Own Your new private driver

Getting around is something usually reserved for the Beach Boys. And your mom with the Beach Boys. And now Uber (!), an iPhone/Android app that functions as sort of an on-demand private driver, giving you access to a fleet of chauffeured Town Cars, Benzes and Mercedes-es, just now available in Philly.

Here's how it works: just drop a pin on the exact street corner you'd like to be picked up using the app's Google Map. They'll send the closest suit-n-shades-wearing driver, give you an ETA (usually under 5mins), let you track your dude's arrival in real time via the map, and then shoot you an alert when the driver pulls up... or drives all the way to the basket for a lay-in. So others won't see you're still using a Velcro wallet, you'll set up an account with your credit card info beforehand, and, at the end of each trip, you'll literally just hop out of the car, blow your driver a kiss, and your CC's automatically billed, with tip included (i.e. "Never get involved in a land war in Asia").

The service is in way-limited test mode right now, so be gentle when using their in-app driver rating system where, post-ride, you can judge your chauffeur on everything from hygiene to how well they get around -- which, according to Brian Wilson, your mom's great at.