Foursquare adds easier, more accurate duplicate reporting to iPhone app
Foursquare’s latest update for the iPhone contains a hidden feature that should make it easier for users to accurately report duplicate venues in foursquare’s database.
Swiping across a venue name in the check-in screen now presents two options: “mark dupes” or “suggest changes.” The latter simply brings the “flag” functions that have appeared on venue pages in recent versions a little further forward, where you can suggest name/address changes, report a place as closed or mark a mislocated map pin.
It’s the former option, “mark dupes,” that presents new functionality for iOS users (it’s been in the Android app for several months). Tapping the button presents a screen where users can mark exactly which venues are duplicates.
By marking the proper duplicates, users can speed of the process of getting duplicates resolved. Now instead of going through two superuser queues (the find duplicates and the merge venues queues), they only need to go through one. With the recent upgrades to superuser capabilities, some superusers will find that their duplicate reports are processed immediately in certain cases.
Foursquare has become the default location database for many developers, but to keep their standing and move on to even larger projects (e.g., replacing Yelp in Apple’s map data) they need the help of users to keep the data clean and free of extraneous duplicates and improperly categorized venues. This is one small tool in that effort.
What do you think of the change?
/Thanks to Bruno Ritter and Elliott Plack for pointing this out!
