Comments on: My Charlotte Foursquare Christmas List, 2009

By: Chad Hartman

Chad Hartman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:12:07 +0000

Your point about rules or a guide .. would help.

Scott made a good point about GPS-based Venue Search on the new blackberry test, it is very helpful that Foursquare recommends your location and it is just a few clicks for you. With that said, in the first weekend of testing, that feature did not work 1/2 the time, I am in a metro Charlotte area, that could be the issue.

Adam made a good point about proper entry, for such a new tool in Charlotte, there is already a lot of inaccurate information.

Also, the “garbage” is already pretty thick. When I checked in this morning, one of the suggestions from Foursquare was “Thanksgiving Traffic” location “I-77″. enough already on that.

I completely agree with the B2B potential (#9) and am very excited about that. I don’t know much about what businesses can see on Foursquare, but the B2C potential for building relationships seems huge also if businesses could recognize those who check in.

By: Scott Hepburn

Scott Hepburn — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:34:23 +0000

Very good list, Des.

The Blackberry app that came out in beta last week addresses some of these points, but raises new ones, too. Here are some quick notes based on a very limited use of the app so far:

* Improved Venue Information – Once you check in, you’ll see links to nearby Tweets, Yelp reviews of the venue, the venue’s Mayor, and any tips that have veen entered.

* GPS-based Venue Search – It’s nice to select from a list of nearby places, rather than having to type in a search everytime. To @wuori’s point, though, the list is rather unwieldy. Smaller geo-radius will help, but this problem will grow as the database fills in.

* Messaging – Thank you! The app lets you contact a friend via text, phone, email, and Twitter — assuming your friends have entered this info. Unfortunately, since I created my account via Facebook Connect, I don’t think Foursquare is pulling in my contact info (or if it is, I can’t see where I can manage settings).

There’s plenty more to say about the app, but I haven’t collected my thoughts yet. I’ll say this — it’s an upgrade over the mobile site, but there’s still room to improve.

By: Hunter Wilson

Hunter Wilson — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:47:47 +0000

I just got on FourSquare and, so far, do not really get it. Then again, I didnt get Twitter at first.

By: Jim @smashadv

Jim @smashadv — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:48:13 +0000

Great post Desiree – some serious thinking here. But frankly, I’d just wish they’d make it easier to comment when I check in so my tweets aren’t so templatish. I know there’s a way, but i don’t have the patience to figure it out yet.

By: Lindsay Maddox

Lindsay Maddox — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:43:56 +0000

Love all of these! I would really like to see 1 & 2 implemented soon.

By: Wuori

Wuori — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:31:40 +0000

#9 While I agree that this is indeed “thinking beyond the obvious”, I don’t think the ‘beyond’ part is a good thing. Granted, while I’m a big proponent of companies that do one thing (and do them well), there are other implications that would deem this idea unfit, not the least of which would be having a location directory too huge to use easily via mobile devices.

Your list is pretty spot-on. There are a ton of features that seem obvious to us that have been left out. Additionally, the FourSquare website leaves a lot to be desired.

If I were to create a wish-list, first and foremost would be a smaller geo radius for checking in. I don’t need to see venues that are more than half a mile away, nor should I be able to check into them from that distance.

There is a lot of activity going on with the FourSquare API development. You can follow it to see the daily updates that are being requested/made as well as get a more inside look at how the (very responsive) FourSquare dudes are approaching them: http://groups.google.com/group/foursquare-api

By: Adam Holden-Bache

Adam Holden-Bache — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:15:45 +0000

Nice list- I especially like numbers 1 and 2. My other big gripe with Foursquare is that you can’t look up an address of a place if you don’t know it already. It’s hard to properly enter a new location that isn’t in the database. It’s leading to a lot of empty or non-accurate addresses. But overall it has great potential for both consumers and businesses. I’m curious to see how Charlotte businesses will take advantage of the opportunities presented by FourSquare. Time will tell…

By: Olga Bowman

Olga Bowman — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:30:48 +0000

I like all these ideas. I especially like the twitpic support. I’d love to discover cool new places that way. I will say that I cant REALLY enjoy foursquare until they get a blackberry app. (which I know is soon!)