Foursquare intros rare Android-first feature
updated 08:10 pm EDT, Tue July 5, 2011
Foursquare adds notifications in Android first
Foursquare may have inadvertently signaled a minor changing of the guard Tuesday with word of a notifications feature launching with the Android app (Android Market) first. Both the mobile app and the website now have a badge that will show notifications of activity among friends. Check-ins and photos, completed tips, and changes in swarming or trends will all be available without interrupting the core app.
Notification control is fine-grained and lets users turn on or off device and e-mail notices for certain events. They can also temporarily turn off all notifications, either for an hour during a brief stint or until the following day.
The company promised BlackBerry and iPhone updates "as quick as possible" but didn't say when.
Foursquare has been one of the higher profile iPhone developers and not only started off on the platform first but has usually given iOS new features first. It's unclear whether the move is a broader policy shift or just the accidental result of development schedules. The rare reversal nonetheless comes just as Android was found keeping its US lead. iOS has been growing as well but isn't as vital to the growth of a company like Foursquare, which isn't tied to the features of any one platform. [via TechCrunch]
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Foursquare just released a new version of their app for iOS, as well, and included - a first on ANY platform -their new check-in format, as well as new GUI and app layout. While it did not include the Notifications system, it was a sea-change from the previous version of the app. My bet is the Android version was just finished faster this time.