Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Foursquare 3.0 Goes 'Beyond the Check-In,' Adds Recommendations, Search

by Amar Toor on March 9, 2011 at 09:15 AM

foursquare 3.0Foursquare has released an update for Android and iOS, bringing search functionality and a new Explore feature to the location-based service.

Released just in time for SXSW 2011, Foursquare 3.0 offers recommendations to users via the new Explore menu. The suggestions are based on a variety of information, including places where they and their friends have checked in, locations that are popular with other users, and more specific parameters, like the time of day. Users can also search these recommendations by category or keyword.

The company has made some changes to the leaderboard, as well. Scores will now be tabulated on a "sliding seven-day barometer," rather than being tallied and automatically reset every Sunday. Users will also be able to accumulate points for several new actions, including finding new places, going out with old friends, or exploring a venue with a large group of people.

According to Alex Rainert, Foursquare's head of product, the company has been working on these changes for quite a while, in the hopes that they'll foster an entirely new user experience. "This has been the vision since the beginning," Rainert told the Observer. "The entire Foursquare experience is moving to the next level, beyond the check-in or the game."

Tags: android, apps, check-in, explore, FourSquare, IOS, location-based, search, SocialNetworking, Sxsw2011, top, update

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Coming soon

The Team

Thomas Houston

Editor in Chief

Amar Toor

Writer

Matthew Zuras

Design Editor

Leila Brillson

Features Editor

Terrence OBrien

Senior Blogger

Chad Mumm

Vid Guy

Meet the Team »

Switched Mobile

Get your Switched fix on the go with our free iPhone and iPod Touch app!