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Homer for iPhone lets you peek at the apps your friends use

Ever had the urge to peek at your friends' phone screens, whether it's to learn about their favorite apps or simply pry into their digital lives? Well, you can now do that without having to either strike up an awkward conversation or get overly nosy. PayPal co-founder Max Levchin and the HVF crew have launched Homer, an iPhone app that lets you share your app picks with fellow users. All you do is take screenshots of your home screens and submit them; Homer scans the pictures and identifies the apps, making it easy to compare them with pals in your contacts or on social networks.

As you'd hope, there's some privacy features baked in. Besides the voluntary nature of screen captures, you can hide individual apps you'd rather keep a secret -- you don't have to share your Tinder addiction with the rest of the world. There's no mention of Homer versions for other platforms (or people outside the US, for that matter), but you can try it today if you have both an iPhone and an unquenchable curiosity about your buddies' mobile habits.