It’s hardly a secret that all of the major location-based players are planning big updates to their services to coincide with the SXSW festival starting next week in Austin, Texas. One of them peeked out a bit early: Foursquare.
Earlier today, the latest version of Foursquare, 1.6, went live in the App Store for a brief period of time. I’ve been using the build for a couple of days, and while the functionality isn’t all that different from the previous versions, the look-and-feel has been completely revamped.
This is notable because the vast majority of Foursquare users are still using the iPhone (67%). So this update will be a welcome change for many, especially as Foursquare and Gowalla continue to compete. Gowalla, while smaller than Foursquare, is generally considered to be the prettier of the two. Certainly, with its new website revamp, Gowalla still holds that title on the web, but the new Foursquare app looks pretty nice compared to the Gowalla iPhone app now.
So what’s different? The entire color palette is now a mixture of silver, blue, white, and bright green. Some may not like the bright green elements, but it’s effective to let people know where to click when you want to check-in. Also new is the fact that the “Shout” button is emphasized on the upper left part of the main screen. “Shouting” is basically the equivalent of tweeting out a message, it allows you to send a message to your followers without having to check-in at a place. It’s a bit odd that this is now a main button on the left side while the “Check-in” button is on the right side (considering most people read left to right).
Another new element is the idea of categories. As we wrote about a couple of days ago, Foursquare is starting to categorize venues into certain categories. While there isn’t much you can do with these yet on the new iPhone app, you are able to see icons that represent how a venue is categorized.
Something else new that is nice is that you can click on individual venues in your friend stream to load that venue’s main screen (which now shows who is there, right away). Previously, you had to click on your friend, then click over to see the venue — so this saves time.
While using the app, I wondered if Apple would approve it given that it uses the text, email, and phone icons used by the iPhone itself within the app (see screenshot below), but apparently if they accidentally put it in the store today, they’re going to be okay with those icons. These icons are shown on the new profile pages, which also show how many mayorships a member as, as well as how many badges they’ve earned. Interestingly, the point-based element of the app has been depreciated a bit, as that’s how a harder-to-get-to area of the app.
As a bonus to this advanced iPhone preview that some users got today, Foursquare also launched a new version of its Android app tonight. I’ve been playing with that for a few minutes, and that seems very solid as well. Look for the new version of Foursquare iPhone app at some point late next week when SXSW starts.
Damn, we almost made it 24 hours without a foursquare post from MG.
i would never let that happen
MG “Foursquare” Siegler strikes again!
Seriously. What is up with that? Is Techcrunch keeping MG on because he’s working for more or less free (and is being paid by Foursquare, Twitter and Google?). Kind of like waiters who make their $$ off of the tips not their salary.
it’s just a blog ; favoritism is allowed
MG Seigler’s Post Count 1/1/10 to 3/6/10
FourSquare/MyTown/Gowalla – 7,241
Other Posts – 2
i think other posts is actually negative two.
i’ve already made it clear, i get paid in gift certs to long john silvers.
As a user, it’s imperative that sharing your location with strangers is all your responsibility, common sense will tell you that somehow privacy should be still on the hemisphere of your brain.
Location based services like Foursquare knows this.. the question is, why do people still have issues about this? Know more: http://bit.ly/foursquare-detailed-review
actually, it’s “Fivesquare” Siegler
Yeah it does look a lot prettier.
foursquare not showing up in app storr
yeah likely won’t be until next week. just peeked out early for a few hours.
Yeah, it def looks prettier..
On another note, MG’s got a jailbroken iPhone.. :)
what makes you say that? (i don’t, actually)
The battery indicator on the screenshots has a percent readout. Unless you have a super special version of iPhone OS, that is jailbreak only.
You can change that in Settings > General > Usage > Battery Percentage > ON and I think it has always been there.
Um, this is a standard feature on the iPhone 3G S.
Kyle, you stupid noob
beautiful post man
I am curious, if Dennis gets cold tomorrow, will you write about that?
he’s always cold. so no.
Lipstick on a pig. Nothing more.
Who thinks Mike should ask MG to chill out with the 4SQ ‘news’ please +1 below.
Seriously, this kind of ‘reporting’ dillutes the Techcrunch brand and is offending to the readers – we come here for the quality content, not this sort of daytime tv soap opera.
+1
how much do you get per post MG?
why is everyone such complaining brats, hating on MG for his foursquare posts. If u dont like it, dont read the friggin blog. Arrington obviously likes it and its his blog.
The bottom line is MG’s right. it is the next twitter, and if it’s partly cuz of all the hype his posts generate, the more power to him.
i personally like to follow one story line. it’s nice to read about tons of new startups, but being able to follow one cohesive startup every step of the way teaches u a lot more than just hearing the basic ideas of a thousand startups. It lets us track foursquare’s path to success, and all the changes and iterations and partnerships they make along the way.
I like to follow a story line as well, but there are certain limits and someone should judge what is relevant to the readers and what’s not. If we continue down this road, I expect ‘Foursquare decides to hire a receptionist’ shortly, followed by ‘Foursquare’s pizza delivery has been delayed today’.
To make it clear, I’m a 4sq user myself and would love to hear about their new partnerships or other things about the company that MATTER TO ANYONE.
MG, don’t go all fox news on us, please. It’s been enough.
have you ever heard “with great power comes great responsibility?”. What justifies the #1 tech blog treating foursquare.com as more “important” than thousands of other sites which cross the 1M users per month barrier, or the hundred or so location-based services?
it’s fair and justified to give the techcrunch bump to a promising website once. twice, it’s OK , 3 times it’s getting a little one-sided, but after the 1000th TC bump it should be obvious that foursquare’s 600K uniques were driven mainly by techcrunch. That’s not a viable way to grow a business anyway but it also counts on TC’s credibility. If techcrunch was a proper newspaper, it would at least be required to stamp the posts as “sponsored”
Nice shill, James.
How many booby apps have you released for the iphone?
Is that your mom you’re with in your facebook profile pic?
i use foursquare’s web interface, nothing has changed on it ;(
Its funny how MG spammed the hell out of Twitter and now is spamming Foursquare. Well a few months later, Twitter usuage is crap if you delete all the spam. Foursquare will be as well.
Techcrunch has no Anti-Spam Policy.
I still don’t get foursquare… I mean, who is it for? sales people on the road (no offense) or us people in San Francisco that go out a lot? That’s a tough sale if you are measured by how many times people go out. Compared to facebook where people are hitting home/refresh all day long. would foursquare ever reach that massive adoption? i don’t know. crossing the chasm might be tough.
Who did the design? My old neighbor designed their original stuff and this doesn’t look like her work.
do we seriously need a daily lbs update? foursquare hits vegas and upgrades app is techcrunch worth?
MG, you are only a mayor of 4 different locations? Does Arrington keep you locked up in a basement? Are you the TechCrunch Gimp??
Seriously, the screenshot of the new interface for Foursquare on the front page of TechCrunch looks really stretched out.
I used to be a fan of TechCrunch. I’m so tired of stupid Foursquare posts, or posts hating on TED.
This blog has gone downhill in the last year and I rarely check it anymore.
Am I the only one that feels this way?
Wheres the updated Android app!?? they leaving us out again?
its my first experience with it and I found it great. but still are there some improvements can be done..
looking fwd how they develop it more
vayy be ne muhabbet olmus burda bole guzel ..