Foursquare makeover is here

We reported two days ago that Foursquare would get a major update next week. However, it seems the location service released its update ahead of schedule and the new and improved app is here. As previously teased, the app places its biggest update in the "Explore" section. Now when you launch Foursquare and you choose to use the Explore feature to search for places around you, the feature will not only take into account your location and your friends' activity, but also the time of the day and the weather. So for instance, if you're searching for something to do that's cheap while it's raining outside, the Explore function will more likely send you to a free museum rather than a park to sit outside. Alternatively, if you're opening up the app on Sunday morning, it will recommend places for brunch more than dinner.

Will you use the all new Foursquare?

Another major part of the update is the design, itself. As even the Facebook app has done, Foursquare has updated its app to include bigger pictures. In fact, pictures are at the forefront of the app, making it resemble Instagram, almost. Furthermore, user profiles now contain tiles that you can tap to access stats, lists, badges and tips from one screen itself. Previously, you had to scroll to get to all of those elements. Also, Foursquare has added a heart shaped button, which functions the same way as the Facebook thumbs up. Users can now like venues, tips, and their friends' checkins.

According to TechCrunch, Dennis Crowley, the founder of Foursquare says that users are actively checking in less and using the app to explore places more. It seems that Foursquare is offering a service similar to that of Google Places and Yelp. Foursquare constantly monitors their users' activities and looks to adapt itself to what its user base wants. The service started in 2009 and has amassed 20 million users, since launch with over 2 billion checkins. However, Crowley says that users seem to be using less of the original function that Foursquare offered, which worked on the basis of rewarding users for showing a vendor loyalty. Do you still use Foursquare? Let us know in the comments section below.