First look at Apple’s new maps in foursquare

Over the past three and a half years, a lot has changed in foursquare’s iOS app, but one thing has remained the same: the Google Maps built into the app. That all changes today with the launch of iOS 6, which features Apple’s homegrown Maps app to replace Google Maps.

Like most other apps, foursquare’s maps were included based on the iOS Maps API, which has also been replaced with Apple’s own maps in iOS 6. The maps have a completely different, yet still somewhat familiar look. You’ll find that zooming and scrolling are, for the most part, much smoother now, since the data is vector based.

Here’s your first look at the new Apple Maps inside foursquare:

Sadly, tapping “directions” in the current version of foursquare loads a Google Maps mobile site instead of launching the new turn-by-turn directions included with iOS 6. I expect this to change in very short order, but for the time being its a big step back if you need directions.

What do you think of the new maps?