Foursquare updated with NFC support for Android 4.0 devices

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It looks like the Near Field Communications revolution is finally getting underway. After over a year of NFC chips being available in several different models of Android devices, major third-party developers are finally starting to incorporate the technology into their apps. Scanning tags is fun and all, but using NFC to share information in popular apps between devices is where NFC really shines. An update to the Foursquare app allows you to do just that.

By using Android Beam, Google’s fancy name for peer-to-peer NFC communications, Foursquare users can now bump phones and transfer information like lists and places visited, along with initiating friend requests and checking in wherever NFC tags have been made available. Venues can now use NFC enabled tags, posters or other similar media that when tapped with an NFC equipped device running Android 4.0, will automatically prompt users to check in.

Foursquare’s Vice President of Mobile International Holger Luedorf recently sat down with Untether.tv and shared his feelings on NFC, and tools provided to Android developers to utilize the technology.

The user experience is great. You just hold your phone against the tap (point). The check-in screen automatically pops up with the right venue. You’re basically shaving very valuable seconds off the check-in process. We try to leverage the native experiences and APIs that are available through the platform as those usually drive the best user experience. We’re trying to leverage this because we feel that pinpointing someone down to a location through an NFC chip definitely has some value.Holger LuedorfFoursquare

Luedorf also mentioned that going forward, Android won’t be the only platform using NFC. When that day comes, the adoption rate for NFC should shoot through the roof.

If you have an Android 4.0 device with NFC (either a Galaxy Nexus or Nexus S), you can try Foursquare’s NFC features with the latest version of the app available in the Android Market.

FoursquarefoursquareMARKETQRPOWERED BY APPAWARE Via: TechCrunch

Source: NFC World

Dustin Earley: Tech enthusiast; avid gamer; all around jolly guy. Tagged#Android 4.0#Android Beam#Applications#apps#foursquare#Ice Cream Sandwich#Near Field Communications#NFC .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; }.nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } 5 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 92spazby 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +4

Nfc everywhere please

Reply 71greeny42 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +1

I know that in today’s world I basically no longer have any expectation of privacy, but foursquare still weirds me out.

Reply 89R.S 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +1

I checked out the app in the market and it didn’t seem like something that would interest me.

I’m sure I’m in the minority here but I don’t get the obsession with letting everyone know where I’m at and what I’m up to. To those who are, have fun!

Reply 3ewalker41 1 day ago Thumb upThumb down +1

I wonder if this will help with adoption of Foursquare/Check-in deals. My friends own a restaurant but don’t want to run deals as they fear that people will game the system. I wonder if a NFC-initiated checkin would be considered more authentic than a GPS/search one.

Reply 73Javier Bastardo 8 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0

NFC all the tings

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Apple building chip to help manufacturers support AirPlay

Apple has reportedly unveiled plans to build a new chip which will enable accessory makers to app AirPlay compatibility into their wares.

That Japanese bible of Apple rumours Macotakora says that Apple held a MFI (Made for iPod) conference in China last week where it spoke of its plans to enter the connectivity game.

The new certification chip will, reportedly, allow greater communication through AirPlay, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, between iOS devices and third-party peripherals.

It is thought that the chip will also factor in the new low-powered Bluetooth 4.0 functionality found on the iPhone 4S handset, also known as Bluetooth Smart Ready.

AirPlay revolution

Apple's AirPlay functionality has made it possible for iOS devices to communicate with HD TVs through the Apple TV set-top box and also speaker systems like the B&W Zeppelin Air.

Greater connectivity over a greater range of the devices would be welcomed by accessory manufacturers and iOS fans alike.

Qualcomm S4 processors to support Windows 8

Qualcomm has announced that its latest S4 chipset will support Windows 8 and that we should see devices with the processor built in by the middle of 2012.

This is according to Pocket-lint, which reported from the Innovation Qualcomm event in Istanbul that the next Snapdragon processor will be a powerful chip, sporting Adreno Graphics, 3D, 1080p HD and 3G connectivity.

The S4 is part of the next-generation processors from Qualcomm, which have been given a new and easier to understand naming strategy.

The chips range from S1 to S4, with the S4 variation being the more powerful quad-core variety.

Core values

Qualcomm also revealed that the chip can be optimised for particular devices so we will see the Dual-Core MSM8960 and Quad-Core APQ8064 varieties of the processor appearing in Windows 8 computers come 2012 – interestingly there's no word on if they will be appearing in tablets.

As for mobile phones, the processors will be shipped to manufacturers by the end of 2011, so expect 2.5GHz phones soon after.

Back in August, Qualcomm boasted that its latest chipset will make phones more powerful than PS3s so it will be interesting to see just how good the phones are when released.

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