I was a bit concerned about how the location-based services like Loopt were going to adapt to the iPad because I don’t see many people being highly mobile with their tablet. Well, Loopt, at least, has proven to be adaptable and will be releasing the LooptPulse app for the iPad and it appears to have enough compelling features to warrant a download.
It’s not about checking-in, Loopt says, as the app is meant to bring relevant, location-based content like restaurants, concerts and parties to the user’s fingertips. For example, with the Facebook Connect integration, you’ll be able to publicly respond to your event invitations from the social network. The map will also have rich information about what’s around you – you may be able to listen to a clip of a band that’s playing near you, for example – and it will have information from CitySearch, Zagat, SonicLiving, and other content providers. There will also be reviews and directions to local venues, which kind of places it in Yelp territory.
“Apple’s iPad is going to change the way people interact with content,” said Loopt CEO Sam Altman, in a prepared statement. “LooptPulse on iPad provides users with a great way to tap into all the different events and things taking place around them no matter where they are, whether it’s sitting on the couch in their hotel room to being out and about at a the local neighborhood coffee shop or restaurant. The capabilities of the device let us deliver this experience to users in a brand-new, photo-centric way.”
Of course, we won’t know how well this works in the wild until Saturday, but this free app is definitely on my radar.
