One common complaint about Foursquare is that in a increasingly crowded location-based space, it’s not pretty enough when compared to the likes of Brightkite and Gowalla. The new iPhone app launching soon should help that. But for some, it still won’t be enough. Those people should definitely check out Fourface.
Fourface is a free iPhone app built using Foursquare’s API. It takes the basic functionality of the service (check-ins, seeing who else is at a venue) and puts a stylish user interface on top of it. Specifically, you can choose from “Arcs,” “Clouds,” “Bubbles,” and “Spots,” for your new interface. Each offers a slightly different way to interact with Foursquare, and different ways to do things such a check-in. With Bubbles, for example, you simply find the venue bubble you want (represented by different colors) and hold it to check-in.
Another view, Spots, allows you to click on different areas to see how many people are there (represented by different color bubbles), or get a list of names for who is actually at the venue. Other new interfaces are in the works that you will be able to purchase through the app, apparently.
Fourface is the work of Nodesnoop, a Los Angeles-based iPhone app house that also makes a couple games for the platform. One of them, Mobzombies, is also location-based and also works with Foursquare data.
You can find Fourface in the App Store here.
in before “not another MG foursquare post!!!”
second!
MG… 4sq isn’t better or cooler, or different from gowalla, mytown, or other nice shaped apps out there.
Its obvious that you get paid to post and post about 4sq, just to promote it. As you did with twitter (same investors?).. well, just simple loosing the point of a tech magazine..worse than cnn.
There are lots of startups doing the same thing, even before 4sq appeared, and you introduced it as a complete new, disruptive service… so lame. And if you ever cover another startup in this space, you just compare it with 4sq!!! … terrible..
Hope you at least get some good shares at exit time .. I wonder if this is something i can afford. :)
are you serious, mg? another pointless FS post. i use to like reading your stuff too. not sure if this has become some kind of inside joke, but its come to a point where i don’t even want to read techcrunch anymore, let alone your posts. please let me know what’s going on?…there has to be a reason for all these pointless FS update posts. please fill me in.
Yeah… it is indeed too much. To be honest, Foursquare is not the best location app. Gowalla is both better and more fun. I think Yelp + Facebook will wipe both these companies out very soon.
yep, all a joke. punchline coming soon, keep reading!
You’re developing a clone !!! (with buzz intergration, naturaly)
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
hah cool UI team fourface.
On your registration/login if you use the mobile version of the fs site it will be easier for users to login
http://foursquare.com/mobile/login
we had a similar issue.
That is some of the most unusable UI design I have ever seen.
agreed, the foursquare app is not as bad as MG makes it out to be. the foursquare app is limited feature-wise, but it’s as friendly to the eye as any web 2.0 iphone app (which is to say acceptable)
as for fourface, subjectively, it looks worse than foursquare’s app and has much less usability. so fail
Can someone in the industry tell me where does one go to find companies that design the GUI design of such applicatons. The sector I am interested in is the Apple Iphone and there seems to be plenty of developers but what do you call the guys who do the backgrouds, the nice icons and GUI art design. Is there a name for that field?
I hope someone can help. I cant seem to find someone to help me with my iphone that is for charities and a non profit.(But we do have money to spend on a good GUI designer firm.)
Does anyone have a good list of them?
Silicon Valley has completely lost touch with the rest of society. Besides young people, actual engagement on Facebook is dropping like a rock. Only women are actually posting updates anymore. None of the people I know back east (especially Men) even have Facebook accounts. This check-in concept is really a niche.
MG, you might as well write about Minesweeper getting a face lift in Windows 7 – I fucking love that game!
@MG
Can you review mine http://4squareoffers.com/ ???
Of course he can you silly bastard. MG will write up a Foursquare fart app.
I have a confession to make… Via Shan’s link was my first visit to 4square.
That suggests to me that idea is spot on.
Having seen shan’s site… I suggest the exe is wrong.
that’s actually a cool site … what a deal at Church Key
I got so tired with MG’s posts that I’ve been rediscovering other techblogs… I’m quite happy with it and TC disappeared from my feed.
I still visit techcrunch once in a while thougfh (that’s why i’m here) but i don’t think it’s gonna last.
these are always my favorite comments because they have to come here to say that they’re not coming here.
i’m only going to comment from now on about not leaving comments.
Where else do you want me to complain??
And I’m still “coming here”… only a lot less because your obviously biased posts taint the whole blog.
I wish your boss and other bloggers here understood that
But why bother to complain ? They have heard it all before and the clicks would tell them something is wrong… which there isn’t…
[current thought]
Imagine how annoying the comments section would be ever post was a +1 circle jerk.
[/current thought]
Pretty ugly UI.
Yeah that crap stayed installed for about 3 minutes. Awful UI and the only purpose I can find is to make foursquare a pain in the ass rather than an easy to use location service.
4 out of 11 latest posts are about Foursquare.
Please, MG, stop reply to your readers with sarcasm, they deserve an explanation, cause they spent time reading you. And, BTW, there is no way to filter out your articles from TechCrunch feed, so all we are forced to read you.
And this is about the current post.
What is really scaring me is about the systematical and continue coverage you make. This is no more about “an application you like”. This is no more about “smart guys and a smart app”.
This is all about competitiveness. I don’t think the whole TechCrunch crew and you are making good and honest journalism.
For what I say, the only way to be covered by TechCrunch is having something related to FourSquare. Nice to know.
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.