A New Sort of Blog
A new Year, a new sort of Blog is necessary for us to serve you! We don’t care about being the first to tell you about new badges and ‘stuff’ like that. Simply put, we want to pump as much info into 4sq as possible. The reality is foursquare has grown exponentially in the last few months and we’re proud to have been part of that user experience! You should expect more posts from us in the coming weeks. ‘Stuff’ redefined!
The Most ROCKING Venue on foursquare
When the temperatures were blazing across the east coast this summer, there was no doubt that the hottest venue on foursquare was ‘Heatpocalypse NYC’ (Now closed). Now the east coast has endured a 5.9 magnitude earthquake (with the epi-center near Virginia), there is no doubt the most rocking venue on foursquare is ‘Earthquakepocalypse’ with over 14,000 check-ins within an hour of the quake striking. If you need any swarm badge, this is where you should be checking in!
Ala Runkeeper, there’s a New Badge to stay in shape!
Fitbit.com is a social workout website, designed to help you keep track of your milage when running, biking or other such activities. Similar to runkeeper.com, who launched a series of badges last year for accomplishing an assortment of workout tasks, fitbit.com is offering their first two badges; the Fitbit 1k Lifetime Miles and the Fitbit 20k Step Day.
These badges (just like runkeeper.com) moves away from a designated check-in location and closer to accomplishment badges like getglue. The theory behind it, is to obtain it, you have to be out there moving and discovering your city, which is what foursquare is all about.
Fitbit 1k Lifetime Miles; Fitbit 20k Step Day
To obtain: Follow Fitbit, sync your fitbit account to your foursquare account and
1. Complete 1000 miles of physical activity
2. Complete walking 20,000 steps in a day.
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, its about the journey to earn them.
A Sweet New foursquare badge!
foursquare has unveiled a new badge today called ‘Baker’s Dozen’. It rewards those who check in to bakeries a bakers dozen amount of times (use the badge image to figure out a baker’s dozen). Places like Dunkin’ Donuts, and Krispy Kreme may also count towards the badge depending on how they were categorized in their area. The badge design is clean and very sweet, the colors are soft and the image looks simply delicious.
Bakers Dozen
To obtain: Check into venues listed as Bakery 13 times
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, its about the journey to earn them.
The Power of foursquare and Cheese-steak
I’ve always been a firm believer in the power of foursquare to not only connect its users, but to give us real data on ourselves and our communities. Phillysteakout.com has utilized foursquare data to solve one of the most pressing questions of our time, ‘Where in Philly can I find the best cheese-steak?’ The last I visited Philadelphia I didn’t have foursquare at my disposal, so I ate some regular ‘run of the mill’ cheese-steak and was unimpressed. However, now with foursquare at my side, and this awesome infographic one can make better decisions about where they would like to try their first or next cheese-steak. Check out this awesome site, and let me know if you agree with their findings.
foursquare gives Android Users a Facelift!
Just like foursquare’s last big update, Android users get first dibs on a new improved interface for their foursquare app. foursquare has improved the UI to give it a cleaner simpler look. The check-in button is now on top, to help promote checking in with ease. Also, they have changed the color scheme for a darker tone, replacing the top bar gray with a black, and the main area from foursquare blue, to foursquare gray. They have made a few other additions including after a picture is taken, prompting the user with additional options about its visibility. Update your Android app now, and let us know what you think!
Man V Food Badge!
If you’ve ever found yourself eating 5lbs of hot wings or a burger the size of a cow, then we have the perfect badge for you. ‘Man v Food’ the food challenge show on the Travel Channel in which host Adam Richman pushes his mind and his stomach to eat insane quantities of food in challenges in restaurants all across America, is offering up this food based badge. The Travel Channel has scores of venues eligible for you to check-in to earn this great foodie badge, most of which have been previous challenges for Richman.
Man v Food Nation Badge
To Obtain: Follow Travel Channel and check in to venues recommended by Adam Richman, Man v Food host.
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them (and eat 30lb burgers)
I want my MTV…Video Music Awards Badge!
As with last year, this year MTV is offering up a Moonman for all of the foursquare universe in honor of their MTV Video Music Awards (Live August 28th). Getting the badge is way simpler than creating an expensive music video and getting aired on MTV (details below). foursquare users who earn the badge are also automatically entered into a sweepstakes to actually attend the show! This year’s performance list is slowly growing, but already has the likes of Adele, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown.
The badge design is in-tuned with MTV’s color scheme for this year awards show, and is a color scheme that is not often seen in foursquare badges. The stripes are a rarity in foursquare universe, and the purple is also a not often seen color. This is MTV’s fourth badge, joining GYT, GTL and last year’s Moonman Badge.
MTV Video Music Award Moonman Badge
To obtain: Follow MTV and check into a music venue before the awards show completes (August 28th).
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, its about the journey to earn them.
Shop your way to a new badge! Like Eater.com’s badge, Racked badge has a simple and clean design, however it does slightly resemble the ‘Washington Redskins Badge’ in design. As with the Eater badge, the Racked badge is based on the recommendations Racked.com has listed on their foursquare page.
Racked 38 Badge
To obtain: Follow Racked.com on foursquare and check-in to 4 recommended venues
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them. (Shop away)
Eat Your Way to a New Badge!
Eater.com has launched a new food featured badge today. The badge has an elegant typographic design and is based on checking in to eater.com recommended locations. They were an already popular page on Foursquare with their top tip garnering over 300 likes, and with this badge, we will see their deserved popularity soar.
Eater Badge
To obtain: Follow Eater.com and check-in to 4 of their recommended spots.
Remember foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them. (Eat away)
New Semester of Badges!
Today foursquare has debuted a whole new series of badges geared towards universities. Previously available were the Syracuse badge, the Harvard Yard Bird badge, and the Stanford badge. 
Arizona State University had a partnership with foursquare previously as well, however their series of badges were made available to non-“sun devils” in the form of the ‘Campus badges’.
Now there are 17 schools who will be participating with their own branded badge. foursquare has released art-work for 7 of the new schools (plus 3 original) on their blog.
These badges represent foursquare’s continued efforts to reach out to their target user demographic and secure a place in their everyday activities.
The badges are set to launch this fall in time for the new semester, and will most likely follow the form of the previous University branded badges to be earned. foursquare has also reached out to students who wish to be involved with the ‘foursquare on campus’ initiative by reopening their ambassadorship program, Sign up here!
The 17 schools are Harvard, Stanford, Syracuse, Arizona State University, Texas A&M, UCLA, University of Oregon, Texas Tech, USC, Duke University, West Virginia University, University of Oklahoma, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Kansas, Virginia Tech, UC Berkeley, and The Ohio State University. You can follow these schools by following the links attached. So prepare for the fall with a new laptop, expensive books, and a slew of new foursquare badges.
New Comic Con South Park Badge!
This year’s annual proud to be a geek festival Comic Con will feature a ‘South Park’ themed badge. As the fanboys and fangirls swarm the San Diego Convention Center to buy collectibles and experience the ‘Year of the Fan’, they can also pick up this sweet badge.
Comedy Central is the official sponsor of this badge, and like their huge role in Comic Con this year, the badge features one of their stars. ‘Cartman’ (one of the loudest rudest and most popular kids from ‘South Park’) is the face of the badge, in a simple yet colorful design.
If you make it to Comic Con, make sure to show your badge to receive a free T-Shirt, and enjoy all the other activities they have to offer in the ‘Year of the Fan’.
Comic Con 2011 Official Badge
To Obtain: Check into Comic Con in San Diego, or more specifically the South Park Experience
Remember Foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them!
Accio! The Long Awaited Harry Potter Badge
One of the most requested badges in Foursquare history has arrived tonight in time for the World Premiere of the 7th installment of the Harry Potter Series. As Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 is seen all over the world tonight, bringing an end to the magnificent series, Foursquare is offering the aptly named Harry Potter badge. Alohomora (spell for unlock) this badge tonight and this weekend as you check out the movie!
Harry Potter Badge
To obtain: Check in to a movie theater and shout ‘Harry Potter’.
Remember Foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them.
CONGRATULATIONS IT’S A BADGE!
CONGRATULATIONS!
After 9 months and what seems like an eternity of labor, “It’s a Boy” & “It’s a Girl” badges. In honor/correspondence of Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley’s brother (Jonathan Crowley) newest addition, Foursquare has two new badges celebrating the joy of life! These two badges will serve as a reminder of one of your happiest days and your child’s birth (no 16 Candles moments here).
Since Foursquare’s inception there have been 1,061 child birth announcements (including my nephew earlier this year), but with a new badge as inspiration, I expect we will see a baby boom like never before. The badge designs are modern,simple and beautiful. So take home your bundle of joy, and a new badge. (Stuff on 4Sq does not condone engaging in “activities” to simply earn a badge)
It’s a Boy /It’s a Girl
To Obtain: Check in to a Hospital or Medical Venue and shout either ‘It’s a Boy’ or ‘It’s a Girl’ (depending on what sex was delivered).
Remember Foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them! (and the lifetime to raise them)
30 Minutes or Less Badge
A new badge debuted today associated with the new movie (opening August 12th in theaters nationwide) 30 Minutes or Less.
This new badge is based on the movies’ plot which is: two fledgling criminals kidnap a pizza delivery guy, strap a bomb to his chest, and inform him that he has mere hours to rob a bank or else…
OK so, you don’t need to do any of that stuff to earn the badge, but you do have to follow 30 Minutes or Less and check into banks and pizza places. Pretty simple and awesome cross promotion for the upcoming film. The Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland director) movie stars Jesse Eisenberg (Social Network), Aziz Ansari (Parks & Recreation) and Danny McBride (Pineapple Express), just to name a few. Badge details below:
30 Minutes or Less
To Obtain: Follow 30 Minutes or Less & check-in to banks and pizza places
Remember Foursquare isn’t about badges, it’s about the journey to earn them!
