As you know, I released some info on some new badges for SXSW 2010 earlier today. Since then, I have done some research and have come up with some more info. Please see the updates below. The generic badges have been replaced with unconfirmed images of what the badges will look like. If you happen to earn one or more of them, please comment either below or on the main foursquare badge page. Thank you for visiting. I hope to hear from you!

A special thanks goes out to varcon for providing as much information as you did!

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Austin Explorer*	For checking in 5x in Austin? NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Seek out new adventures and badges shall be yours.
	Decathlon*	Possibly for checking in to 10 different SXSW parties. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: So many parties, so little time.
	Early Adopter*	Possibly for checking in to SXSW 2009 and 2010. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Hint: You should have been here last year!
	Far Far Away*	Probably for checking in somewhere in Austin that is not considered SXSW territory. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: “TAXI!”
	Fixin’ Wagon*	My guess is for checking in to venues tagged ‘food truck’. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Some of the best tacos come from shacks on wheels.
	Groupie*	Possibly for checking in with the one or more of the foursquare crew. “The Backstreet Boys of tech! The Menudo of the interne…. OMG! @NAVEEN JUST TOUCHED MY SHIRT!”
	Hangover*	From the hint, my guess one would have to check in late at night, then again early the next morning. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Late to bed, early to rise.
	Hookup*	A spin-off of the Slut badge, perhaps? NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Late night is for exploring the hotel circuit.
	Karaoke RV*	For checking in to the Karaoke RV. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: If you need a hint, you’re doing something wrong.
	Name Dropper*	For “shouting” about celebrity sightings, possibly? Or maybe for mentioning a celeb in your check in. No idea. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: There’s no shame in using checkins for web 2.0 celeb sightings.
	Panel Nerd*	In 2009, it was for checking in to the convention center 3x before noon. Maybe it is the same in 2010. Who knows?!?! NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Less partying, more working.
	Porky*	Check in to a BBQ restaurant, perhaps? NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Oink oink!
	Tarantino*	I am assuming it is for checking in to Tarantino film screenings. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: That Gold badge works for movies too, you know?
	Super Swarm*	For checking in with 249+ people. As with the Swarm badge, if you are number 249, when number 250 checks in, it will invoke your badge as well. NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Get your FlashMob on. XL’ed for SX.
	Swimmies*	Absolutely no idea! NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: Underoos make for a great bathing suit.
	Survivor*	For checking in at the airport on your way home? NOTE: This badge has not been fully identified as of yet. If you get it, please leave a comment so everyone will know! Here is the hint given by foursquare on how to get it: The airport is your beacon home.

Foursquare Badge Update for 10 March 2010 is a post from: thekruser.com

Here are some more badges. Special thanks goes out to @nanpalmero for the info! You can see his post here. Head over to http://thekruser.com/foursquare-badges to see the full list!

New for SXSW 2010

These badges have been identified along with their requirements in this article on SPIN.com.

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Animal Collector	Frightened Rabbit, Cobra Skulls, and The Unicorn (Who says that a Unicorn isn’t an animal?) fans will get this badge when they see three bands with an animal in the their name.
	Bands on the Run	This badge goes to fans who are busy running from one venue to another. See seven bands in one day to earn the ‘Bands On The Run badge.
	SPINsider	Fans of SPIN and SPIN.com will earn this badge when they check out three bands recommended by SPIN editors.
	Trailblazer	Adventurous fans can pick up the Trailblazer when they see three shows outside of downtown Austin.

New for SXSW 2010, but not fully disclosed

These badges have only been identified by title. All that we have are hints as to how to achieve them. For now, I have listed the generic badge and the hint provided by foursquare.com. As more info materializes, I will publish updates. Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed to keep up to date with the latest foursquare badges!

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Austin Explorer	Seek out new adventures and badges shall be yours.
	Decathlon	So many parties, so little time.
	Early Adopter	Hint: You should have been here last year!
	Far Far Away	“TAXI!”
	Fixin’ Wagon	Some of the best tacos come from shacks on wheels.
	Groupie	foursquare employees don’t bite.
	Hangover	Late to bed, early to rise.
	Hookup	Late night is for exploring the hotel circuit.
	Karaoke RV	If you need a hint, you’re doing something wrong.
	Name Dropper	There’s no shame in using checkins for web 2.0 celeb sightings.
	Panel Nerd	Less partying, more working.
	Porky	Oink oink!
	Tarantino	That Gold badge works for movies too, you know?
	Super Swarm	Get your FlashMob on. XL’ed for SX.
	Swimmies	Underoos make for a great bathing suit.
	Survivor	The airport is your beacon home.

Foursquare Badge Announcement for 10 March 2010 is a post from: thekruser.com

Here are some updates to my last post from earlier today. Head over to http://thekruser.com/foursquare-badges to see the full list!

Special thanks goes out to tonyfelice for the info!

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	BFF	Check in 10 times with the same person. NOTE: This badge was never activated.
	Player Please	Check in to a place that has three members of the opposite sex currently checked in. NOTE: This badge has been deactivated since the logic for the Swarm badge has overridden it. Look at you, checking-in with 3 members of the opposite sex! Player, please!”
	Far Far Away	This badge was erroneously listed in the City Specific section and has been removed. It was only active for SXSW 2009.
	Entourage	Check in with 10 of your friends at the same time during SXSW 2009. Previously listed erroneously in the General section. Look at you, checking-in with 10 of your friends in tow! You so popular!
	Ziggy’s Wagon*	For checking in to 3 different locations tagged ‘food truck’. This badge had previously been listed in the New York section, but is not city specific. Waffles and tacos and dumplings and BBQ and… looks like you’ve found 3 of your city’s legendary food trucks. Enjoy!

Second Foursquare Badge Update for 7 March 2010 is a post from: thekruser.com

Here are some more badges. Head over to http://thekruser.com/foursquare-badges to see the full list!

Updates

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Babysitter	10 check ins to venues tagged “playground”. Thanks for the update info, ejly! Forget those “Bender” and “Crunked” badges – you’ve conquered the playground circuit! (10 checkins!)
	Player Please*	Check in to a place that has three members of the opposite sex currently checked in. NOTE: I have been told by more than one person that this badge is no longer being given out. Can anyone confirm? Have the criteria changed? Look at you, checking-in with 3 members of the opposite sex! Player, please!

New

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Foodie	For checking in to 5 different venues rated by Zagat. Thanks for the info, ejly! You eat the best from hot dogs to haute cuisine. That’s 5 checkins at Zagat Rated spots!
	Top Chef*	A Bravo badge. No idea how to earn it. Thanks for the info, ejly! You wear the term “foodie” as a badge of honor, and now have BRAVO’s Top Chef Badge to prove it.
	Fashion Victim*	For checking in at Marc Jacobs. Not sure how many times or if it is city specific. Wow! You crossed the line! Your passion for fashion knows no boundaries! Thanks for stopping in and have some fun! – Love, Marc
	Bravo Newbie	For your first check in at a Bravo rated location. Congratulations! You’ve taken your first step into the BRAVO world. (It’s not as scary as it sounds!)
	Ziggy’s Wagon*	New York specific. For checking in to 3 different food locations (not sure which ones). Waffles and tacos and dumplings and BBQ and… looks like you’ve found 3 of your city’s legendary food trucks. Enjoy!
	Transit Champion*	Vancouver specific. For checking in on the TransLink, but not sure how many times. Holy moly transit champ, You sure know how to get around Metro Vancouver! Thanks for going green and riding with TransLink!
	NY Times Olympian*	For checking in to 2 different locations listed by the The New York Times. Thanks for the info, ejly! You’ve just checked into a venue recommended by The New York Times during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Go for the gold!
	Shorty*	For checking in to the Shorty Awards. Welcome to the Shorty Awards!! Extra credit if you noticed this special edition “you unlocked a badge!” text is exactly 140 characters long.
	Far Far Away*	Austin (and maybe SXSW) specific. For checking in outside of Austin? No idea. Well done escaping downtown Austin – though $5 bucks says you’re at Salt Lick
	Yard Bird	Follow Harvard on foursquare and check in to 6 different locations listed here. Congrats on mastering Harvard Yard on Foursquare! You’re looking (and acting) smarter all the time.

Foursquare Badge Update for 7 March 2010 is a post from: thekruser.com

Due to popular demand, I have created a foursquare badge page. It will be updated as often as I can find time. Like today. Below you will find the additions I made from the original posted list. I hope you enjoy.

A special thanks goes out to @mikerlawson and @jjwink for making a few of these possible! You guys are awesome!!

For the full list, head on over to http://thekruser.com/foursquare-badges/!

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	The Chicago Blues	Follow Explore Chicago on foursquare, and check in at 5 of the locations listed here.
	Celery Salt	Follow Explore Chicago on foursquare, and check in at 5 of the locations listed here.
	On location	Follow Explore Chicago on foursquare, and check in at 5 of the locations listed here.
	Gym Rat	Check in to a venue tagged “gym” 10 times in 30 days.
	Far Far Away	Check in above 59th Street. (New York City, New York)
	Gossip Girl*	Not sure how to earn it. It might be New York specific.
	Redford	For checking in to a movie during SXSW 2009.
	Slut	For checking in to 3 different hotels during SXSW 2009.
	Socialite*	Not sure how this one is earned. Possibly San Francisco specific.
	Animal House*	Not sure how to earn it. It might be New York specific.

Foursquare Badge Announcement for 27 February 2010 is a post from: thekruser.com

Let me begin with this, if you have no idea what foursquare is, you need to start by reading this post, but basically, foursquare is a location-based social networking site/app. Emphasis on the social networking. There are four categories of people, as applied to foursquare:

1. those who use it and love it
2. those who used it and hate it
3. those who have never tried it
4. and those who have never tried it, yet still manage to hate it

Those who use it and love it understand it is a game. It is a way to add a little adventure to your life. It gives you a reason to go to that new place instead of the one you normally go to. To those of us who play the game, it is not that we just are rabid psychopaths who have to let everyone know where we are at every moment. We check in to learn more about those around us. If a foursquare-friend has been to a place you just checked in to and has left a tip, you have learned more not only of the venue, but also that person. It is interesting.

Those who used it and hate it, for the most part, are people who tried the app at the behest of a friend who uses it, but are not usually the adventurous type. They don’t want to know where others have been, nor do they care to go somewhere new based upon a “stupid app” on their phone. Yes, I have heard that one more than once! They are content with living their lives from within a 20-mile radius, thus defeating the purpose of playing in the first place.

Those who have never tried it do not know whether they will like it or not. They may not even know it exists. They are the ones reliant upon those of us who play the game to let them know about it — to spread the word. If you play the game and enjoy it, let someone else know about it!

Those who have never tried it, yet still manage to hate it most likely cannot stand foursquare because they are sick of the non-stop twitter timeline intrusions and facebook bombardments. Yes, in the beginning, I was guilty of being a proprietor of this sort of behavior myself. And believe me, I heard about it! When you check in with foursquare, it is displayed (depending on your settings that is) on twitter and facebook. When you begin to use the app, you check in everywhere and post everything. Every stop you make. All day…every day. In fact, there is a badge for that.

Here is the kicker, those who use it and love it are the ones that bring those who have never tried it, yet still manage to hate it into being. In an attempt to end this vicious circle of creation, here a few foursquare etiquette tips that everyone should adhere to.

Limit the types of places you post to twitter and facebook.

Probably the most important tip. You do realize that when you check in, you have the option to not put it on twitter, right?!? Yes, we are all happy that you got your oil changed and tires rotated then kept your Proctologist appointment, but twitter and facebook is not the place to tell everyone. Foursquare has its own timeline for a reason. Those who care about your current location will look it up there.

We all want the points and mayorships, but those who don’t play the game couldn’t care less! I assume that the number of twitter followers and facebook friends is important to you; after all, that is kind of the point isn’t it? Posting every single stop you make in a day is going to cost you followers/friends. I speak from experience! If foursquare is to survive, it is going to have to avoid a negative connotation. A connotation that we as users create by annoying people with it.

Strive to understand the purpose of foursquare.

The purpose of foursquare is to share venue information. If you go to a new restaurant and it is horrible, by all means leave a tip on foursquare so others don’t make the same mistake! If you know of something that is spectacular at your favorite eatery, post that as well! Foursquare is not meant for you to keep a log of every stop you make in a day. No one cares that you are at work. In fact, if your employer offers prizes/awards to the mayor, you are probably banned from checking in there anyway.

Stop trying to cheat

Adding a venue for every room in your house (and for some people, different locations within each room) is not only annoying, it is cheating. Though points accrued are not currently used for anything except bragging rights, one day they might be. Those who use the app for what it is for get irritated by the “Relaxing (@ my couch)” and “Time to get some rest (@ my bed)” and “Making dinner (@ the kitchen)” posts that we all know you are only doing to get the points and become the mayor for.

The problem is, right now there is no way of regulating what qualifies as a venue. I can only assume if the points were one day used for some type of prize that there would have to be some sort of regulation in place. I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult that would be to implement, but it will be a necessity in order to keep people from adding a new venue every 5 feet from the car to the office just to get points.

Limit your number of check ins per day.

They created the Overshare Badge for a reason. And yes, I have it.

If you are annoyed, let us know!

If you are the type of person who has never tried foursquare, yet still manage to hate it because you are annoyed with the twitter/facebook posts, how about letting the offender know instead of simply unfollowing/unfriending them? As with any new “toy” one acquires, there is a period of knowledge building. People who have just started using the app are excited about it and want to try it out. Have you thought about this: if you are annoyed because everyone you follow/friend post incessantly…there is probably a reason they do it! Instead of getting furious because everyone is clogging your timeline, how about giving it a try. If they are doing it and enjoying it, maybe you would enjoy it as well. You will never know until you try!

Likewise, if you get unfollowed/unfriended because you are being annoying, knock it off or don’t complain! You have to make a choice. If you are at Starbucks getting your iced, quad, venti, vanilla late like you do every day, you might not want to post that to twitter and facebook. If you are standing on top of the Empire State Building getting ready to base jump it, there might be a person on twitter/facebook that might want to know. Then again, you might not want to post that at all, as I am relatively certain that base jumping off the Empire State Building is illegal. Anyway, you get my point.

As I stated in the beginning of this post, when I began using foursquare, I was guilty of a few of the offenses listed above. I think the majority foursquare users have been. The point is, just because you think something is right, or not annoying, does not make it so and a little courtesy will go a long way.

Is there something that irritates you that you think should be listed? Have any comments or suggestions? We would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

Interested in foursquare? Read this post or head over to the foursquare website to download the app for your phone.

Foursquare Etiquette: A Guide for the Misinformed is a post from: thekruser.com

UPDATE!!

This post has been updated to a new page! Please make sure to update your bookmarks. The new page, and the most complete list, is at http://thekruser.com/foursquare/badges/.

I have been asked on more than one occasion about foursquare badges. What are they? How many are there? How does one acquire them? And so on, and so forth. Well, my friends, without further adieu, here is a list of what I know. Albeit incomplete, it is a list, nonetheless; there are several more to go. The more I learn, the more I will post. Until then, enjoy! Where you see a city in parenthesis, that is a city-specific badge.

The Badge	The Name	What to do to get it
	Adventurer	Check in to 10 different venues.
	Babysitter	Check in to venues tagged “playground”. Unknown number of check ins required.
	BART	Check in 10 times on the BART system. (San Francisco)
	Bender	Check in 4 nights in a row.
	BFF	Check in 10 times with the same person.
	Birthday	Send 5 birthday shout outs.
	Boat	Check in on a boat, I guess? No idea.
	Boxee	For taking the L train to Brooklyn to attend a software party. ‘Cause, why not?!? (New York City)
	Brooklyn for Life	Check in 25 or more times in Brooklyn. (Brooklyn…duh!)
	CES 2010	For checking in at the Los Vegas Convention Center during CES 2010. (Las Vegas…again, duh!)
	Crunked	Check in 4 or more times in a single night.
	Digg SxSW	Check in to the Digg party. (Austin)
	Douchebag	Awarded for checking in at places tagged with “douchebag”. Unsure as to the number of check ins required.
	Entourage	Check in with 10 people at the same time.
	Explorer	Check in to 25 different venues.
	Far Far Away	A local badge. Differs from city to city. (Various)
	Internet Week	For checking in during Internet Week. Again, no idea. (New York City)
	Jetsetter	Check in to 5 different airports.
	Jobs (old)	Check in to 3 Apple Stores.
	Jobs (new)	Same as above, but the icon has changed. Special thanks to TraumaHoundNDS for letting me know!
	Don’t Stop Believin’	Check in to 3 different venues tagged as “karaoke” in a month.
	Karaoke RV	Check in to the Karaoke RV. No idea what that is either. (Austin)
	Local	Check in 3 times at the same place in one week.
	Newbie	Awarded for your first check in.
	Overshare	Check in 10+ times in a 12 hour period.
	Panel Nerd	Check in 3 times at the Convention Center before noon. (Austin)
	Party Crasher	For checking in to the Brightkite Party. (Austin)
	Photogenic	Check in to 3 different venues tagged as having a photo booth.
	Pizzaiolo	Check in to 20 different Pizza Shops.
	Player Please	Check in to a place that has three members of the opposite sex currently checked in.
	Porky	Checking in at a BBQ place? (Austin)
	School Night	Check in after 3:00am on a school night.
	Super Mayor	Achieve 10 simultaneous Mayorships.
	Super Star	Check in to 50 different venues.
	Super User	Check in 30 times in a single month.
	Survival	You survived SxSW (whatever that is). (Austin)
	Swarm	Check in to a place where 50+ other foursquare users are currently checked in. My question is, if you are number 49, do you get the badge when number 50 checks in? Special thanks goes to @karianne for clearing this up. Apparently, you do get it if you are number 49! Thanks, @karianne for letting us know!
	Thriving Ivory	For checking in to the Thriving Ivory Fillmore Show. (San Francisco)
	Trifecta	Check in to 3 of the Big 6 Name Brand Parties: Frog, Digg, Facebook, Goog, 32-bit, and The Decider. (I have no idea what this means!)
	Warhol	Check in to 10 different venues tagged “gallery”.
	Zeotrope	Check in to 10 different movie theaters.

Have a correction or addition? Please comment and let us know! Thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoyed your stay. While you are here, check out some of the related posts!

UPDATE!!

This post has been updated to a new page! Please make sure to update your bookmarks. The new page, and the most complete list, is at http://thekruser.com/foursquare-badges/.

Foursquare Badges: A Not-So-Comprehensive List is a post from: thekruser.com

Foursquare announced in an email to beta testers that their BlackBerry app is set for release next week. For those who are not familiar with foursquare, read my post titled What the Hell is foursquare, Anyway? Let Me Explain.

Foursquare rolled out its BlackBerry beta just a few short weeks ago. Originally, it was released to 1,000 beta testers, but that number quickly increased to 5,000.

This past Thursday, to use their words, “a few hundred of you (our most loyal checker-in’ers!)” beta testers received an email with the link to the first “release candidate,” version 1.0. Surprisingly, the very next day they informed testers of the arrival of v1.0.1. This time, all 5,000 of them.

While the newest beta version is much better than the first, it still has a way to go; however, I think basic functionality is the goal at this point, and rightfully so. BlackBerry is still #1 in the US and it is the one smartphone that does not have a foursquare app. If they want to capture the BlackBerry audience and get that piece of the market, they have to provide a usable product to consumers. Spin-offs are already popping up. They are running out of time.

Once the foursquare releases their BlackBerry app to the public, you will be able to read about it here. Keep checking back, or add me to your RSS reader!

Foursquare for BlackBerry to be Released Next Week? is a post from: thekruser.com

I have been asked by several people about foursquare (probably because they see me check-in on twitter every 5 minutes). What is it? Why should I use it? What is the point? Et cetera, et cetera. I thought I would take a minute or two to type up a quick post about it. This is not meant to be a guide or a walk-through, nor is it all-inclusive. This is just a quick explanation of what foursquare is to me and how/why I use it.

What is foursquare?

Foursquare is a game. Think of it like a city welcome guide meets twitter. It allows you to “check-in” whenever you go somewhere: the grocery store, the mall, a conference out-of-town, a restaurant, a bar…you get the idea. The more places you go, the more points you earn and more badges you unlock. The more points you earn and badges you unlock, the more smack you can talk to your friends!

What happens when I check-in?

Your friends are notified when you check-in to a place. You can set it up to tweet your whereabouts or to post it on facebook.

You can leave tips at places. What you are trying to do is give hints to other foursquare users that maybe people without foursquare won’t know about. Not really a review like “A wonderful venue with an exciting menu and fantastic variety of cuisine!” More along the lines of, “Talk to Sam and ask for the secret menu” or “Ask for a Katy, it’s not on the menu, but the best sandwich they have!” When a person checks in to a place you have added a tip to, they are notified. Every tip you leave is discoverable to others.

One could create one’s own “virtual scavenger hunt” with a little time and imagination. If a person goes to a place you have left a “clue” at, they are notified. If they figure out the “clue” and go there, they might find another “clue” that you have left.

You can also create a “To do” list for the next time you check-in to a venue. Something like “Try the veal next time” or “The filet mignon was horrible” where you would remind yourself of what you were thinking last time you were there.

What are these “points” for?

NOTE: This point system is no longer used. I have a new list at http://thekruser.com/foursquare/foursquare-points-list/.
Right now, bragging rights. The leaderboard displays who has the most points between you and your friends, or overall. The point system is rather complex, but here is the gist of it:

• Each time you check-in for that day, you get points. 1 for the first check-in, 2 for the second, 3 for the third, and so on. I am not sure if there is a limit on the amount of points awarded (i.e., is your 25th check-in worth 25 points, or is it capped at 10?). If you figure it out, let me know.
  UPDATE: It seems as though 20 is the max.
• When you add a new venue (you are the first one ever to check-in at a place), you get a bonus of 5 points if you add the venue’s info.
• The first time you check-in at a place you get a 5 point bonus. If you are the first one ever to check-in there and you add the venue as stated above, you get both sets of bonus points plus the check-in point(s).
• If you drag a friend along, you get points for that, too!

Example: You go to BestBuy.

• You are the first one ever to check-in there, so you add the venue to foursquare (+5 points).
• It is your fourth check-in today (+4 points).
• It is the first time you have checked in there, obviously since you added the venue, (+5 points).
• 5 + 4 + 5 = 14 points for that check-in. Confused yet? Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it!

Points are not awarded for multiple check-ins at the same place within minutes of each other or for checking in during business hours (sorry, delivery guys…you can’t cheat!). Some people find ways to cheat and get points for stupid stuff like adding a venue for their bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and garage. Great…you have successfully cheated your way into more points. I hope you drop your phone in the toilet!

That’s not fair! I just joined foursquare. I will never have as many points as people who have been using it for a long time!

Fortunately, foursquare has made this argument null and void. The leaderboard resets every Sunday at midnight. So every Monday, everyone goes back to square one! Even the owners.

What if I want to still earn points, but not notify everyone of my location? (Shhh…I’m not supposed to be here!)

Foursquare has thought of this, too. You can check-in and earn points, yet remain incognito. Your friends will be notified that you have checked in, but will not know where. A simple “Off the grid” message is displayed instead of the venue that you are at.

What is a Mayor, and what does that do for me?

If you are the person who has checked in to a venue the most, you become the mayor. Some establishments will offer the mayor a free or discounted item or service depending on the place (e.g., a free beer of drink, a $5 gift card, a free night stay, etc.) Don’t believe me? See for yourself. However, mayorships are pretty competitive at places like this. Don’t plan on staying mayor for long.

Some business owners ban foursquare check-ins for employees. Why, you ask? Because they are there every day! The mayor would, in this instance, be the person who got to work the latest (or just the last person to check-in) since they would all have approximately the same amount of check-ins. It would make it impossible for a customer to become the mayor, therefore making the “Mayor Prize” contest a moot point.

What is a badge, and how do I get them?

Badges are virtual awards for completing different tasks (e.g., your first check-in, checking in four nights in a row, checking in to 10 different venues, checking in four times in one night, 30 check-ins in a month, etc.).

Why would I use foursquare?

Foursquare is a social networking site. It allows you to connect with others who have similar interests evidenced by frequenting the same venues. When you check-in to a place, you can be notified if any of your friends have checked in there recently, or are possibly still there. Some circles of friends have foursquare “parties” or “mashups” in which the organizer announces the venue and it becomes a contest to see how many foursquare check-ins that party can register.

Ok, I’m sold. Now, how do I get it on my phone?

Foursquare is available on BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, and Palm. The BlackBerry app is still in beta, but is scheduled to be released soon next week now open for public beta. If you have a supported phone, head over to http://foursquare.com and click the appropriate link. For BlackBerry and all other users, you can go to http://mobile.foursquare.com from your mobile phone and still enjoy all the benefits!!

In short, foursquare is simply a fun, addictive game that allows you to connect with people. To add friends, they have integrated an app that “scans” your twitter, facebook, and Gmail accounts (with your permission of course!) and add any foursquare users it finds to your friend list once they have approved your request. Give it a try, you are sure to love it!

Follow @foursquare on twitter for the latest updates and info!

What did you think about this post? Did it help? Do you have another tip or suggestion? I would love to hear it! Please, leave a comment below!

What the Hell is foursquare, Anyway? Let Me Explain. is a post from: thekruser.com

SocialScope is a new application for BlackBerry that allows users to simultaneously post to Twitter and Facebook. They are also working on Flickr and FourSquare integration. Unfortunately, they are still in private alpha. You can get on the waiting list by signing up at socialscope.net. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have been sent an invitation to SocialScope have discovered just how hard it is to live without it.

Those of us who have been lucky enough to beta/alpha this amazing app have been given the warning to not post screen shots or “word pictures” of the application or it’s functionality, lest our invitation be revoked. In light of this, I will not be reviewing the app until it’s release, though many others have done so. However, in an attempt to share info for those who are interested, I am posting this list of shortcuts.

To keep up-to-date with SocialScope, you should follow them on twitter at @socialscope.

Are there any shortcuts that I have missed? Have you stumbled upon any other intriguing facets of the software? Please comment below.

A Guide to SocialScope Shortcuts is a post from: thekruser.com