Foursquare was one of our favourite apps for Windows Phone when the platform launched last fall, but it was still clung pretty closely to the standard Metro user interface. Over the long weekend, Foursquare changed things up a bit. You can still find nearby places and specials, see where your friends are, search for spots by category, and check-in (with pictures from the camera, even). Foursquare boasts that there are “a ton of new features” but fails to mention what exactly they are.
Foursquare has led the way for the whole check-in app genre. They’ve tried to turn going to your usual hangouts into a kind of game, which rewards you points, per check-in based on factors like when was the last time you were there, if you’re checking in with friends, and awarding mayorships to dedicated venue visitors. Businesses can use the social network to advertise specials, which is still a new field, but one that people seem to be interested in. Google is heavily invested in location-based advertising for obvious reasons, but I have no doubt that Foursquare will play an instrumental role in how the experience is shaped in the future.
You can grab the new version of the app for Windows Phone over here in the Marketplace. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you spot anything particularly new.
[via Foursquare]