Foursquare dropped its new app today. It has an intuitive design that works hard in the background to make sure that the stuff in the foreground is fast and seamless. But it’s also a big shift for the app that not only got lots of people comfortable with sharing where they are at any given time. Location sharing has become far easier than it was in 2009 when the company launched so much so that it can be done automatically on both iOS and Android. And so it makes sense that Foursquare is evolving as well. Foursquare 6.0 is all about trying to tell you where to go, rather than listening to where you are.
The location check-in, long Foursquare’s raison d’etre, is easier to do than ever thanks to a large icon that lives on the app’s home screen. But it also seems less relevant, with the real action moved to exploring the world around you via suggestions. Meanwhile, the gamification stuff, Foursquare’s award system of mayors and badges that was always a distraction to its true purpose of connecting you with people and places, feels like a complete afterthought. Yeah it’s there, but you could ignore it completely without even meaning to.
Foursquare’s new focus is clearly on helping you find things to do, right from the get-go. Launch the app and it fires up with a list of people and places nearby that you may want to check out. Interestingly, a lot of these are based as much on the time of day as they are location. Because Foursquare knows not only where but also when people have checked in to various establishments, it can suss out that you may be more interested in learning about breakfast spots than a great cocktail. It even does this kind of work with your own actions. I checked in at a bar, and it immediately showed me where people go afterwards (as it turns out, a diner across the street).
Meanwhile all the features have been overhauled to help you discover new things. The search field, for example, doubles as an explore feature. Tap it, and you can either search for something in particular, or click “Explore Nearby” to see Foursquare’s suggestions, Specials (“discounts and freebies”) and categorized listings of restaurants, bars, museums, cafes and the like. The map not only shows where your pals are, but also what’s interesting around you to check out. Check into one place, and it will tell you about another.
Read also:
Foursquare Revamps iOS App With Improved Search (PC Magazine)
For Foursquare, why being mayor isn't enough to build a business (GigaOM)
Foursquare 6.0 for iOS shifts the focus to exploration with a new home screen (Engadget)
Explore: 34 additional articles.