Foursquare finally launches iPad app

Foursquare 8.5 for iOS (iPad screenshot 002)

The Foursquare app is at last available on the iPad! The freshly released update takes full advantage of the iPad’s bigger canvas and increased screen resolution, so you’ll now see more content and scroll less when browsing Foursquare content on your Apple tablet.

It’s focused on helping you plan smarter with a personalized list of all the great places for a chosen city. Plus, it’s a lot easier now to save anything to your itinerary with a tap.

The team’s added another new section dedicated to all the top picks in your area. Tapping Foursquare’s vast database of crowdsourced locations and check-ins, it suggests places that are newly popular, up-and-coming and local mainstays.

The app was updated back in September with full support for iOS 8 and Interactive Notifications with the ability to save, like and follow right from the notification.

And yes, it looks great on the bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screens.

Foursquare for iPad has another handy feature: suggestions for travel destinations. “It’s the perfect way to get inspiration for your next getaway,” developers said.

Here’s what the iPad UI looks like.

Foursquare 8.5 for iOS (iPad screenshot 001)

Foursquare 8.5 for iOS (iPad screenshot 003)

Check out what’s new in Foursquare 8.5:

  • Now available for iPad: the new iPad version of Foursquare is the best way to find amazing places on the go, anywhere in the world.
  • Want to find some great dinner spots to try out? Just open it up, tell us what you’re looking for and get a beautiful selector of inspiring places, with one-tap saving, so you’ll get reminded when y you’re nearby.
  • Planning a trip (or just daydreaming)? You can also easily browse by city. Select Barcelona, Shanghai, Buenos Aires (or any city, anywhere in the world) and get an endless list of ideas, personalized for you.
  • We also made a bunch of improvements and bug fixes to the iPhone app. Happy Holidays from Foursquare!

The previous update has streamlined the app’s Home screen and optimized for speed and smoother performance. If you’re concerned about Foursquare’s impact on your battery due to the continued use of GPS running in the background, go to iOS Settings > Privacy > Location Services and set Foursquare to use your location ‘While Using The App’ only, as shown below.

Foursquare 8.5 for iOS (Location Services, iPhone screenshot 001)

Back in the summer, the company split up the Foursquare experience into two apps: a new Swarm app that focuses on connecting with people nearby, mayorships, check-ins and reviews, with the main Foursquare app now optimized for discovery and searching.

Again, as stated above, Foursquare is now a universal binary supporting all form-factor iOS devices with the native interface, as long as your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is compatible with iOS 7.0 or later.

If you’re using Windows tablets or desktop, the team last week issued the all-new Foursquare for Windows Desktop/Tablet app in the Windows Store. Foursquare for Windows Phone has been formally announced but not yet released.

Download Foursquare 8.5 free in the App Store.