The iOS 4-compatible apps continue to roll-in. The latest is Foursquare which now includes fast app switching and high resolution artwork for the iPhone 4′s retina display. And this latest version, 1.9, includes a little bonus: a new map view. One thing not included, however, is background location.
The new map view allows you to see avatar representations of your Foursquare friends overlaid on a Google Map. You can also hit the locator button to show off where you are and see which friends are actually closest to you. Clicking on their images brings a pop-up that shows their current location (which you can click on to go to that location’s page in the app).
This view is a welcome addition as it’s a better way to see who is actually near you. The traditional list view doesn’t really mean a lot unless you know an area really well. Rival Gowalla offers a similar map view on its iPad app. Other rivals like Loopt and Latitude have had this map view for a while.
This new version of Foursquare also feels significantly faster than previous versions of the app.
As I said, one thing not included in this version is background location. That’s a new feature of iOS 4 that other apps, like Loopt, are already taking advantage of. Foursquare has said they’re waiting to see how users approach this new functionality, as it will open a whole other door beyond check-ins. I do know that they’re working on version 2.0 of the app — which will undoubtedly be a pretty significant upgrade. They have to do something with all that money, after all.
You can find the latest version of Foursquare here in the App Store. It’s a free download.
Foursquare is a geographical location based social network that incorporates gaming elements. Users share their location with friends by “checking in” via a smartphone app or by text message. Points are awarded for checking in at various venues. Users can connect their Foursquare accounts to their Twitter and Facebook accounts, which can update when a check in is registered. By checking in a certain number of times, or in different locations, users can collect virtual badges. In addition, users...
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