Foursquare (News - Alert) is a free app that allows its users to share and save the places they visit, while providing personalized recommendations and deals based on where users and their friends, as well as people with similar tastes, have been. While this isn't exactly like other popular location services such as Yelp (News - Alert), the latest Foursquare update for iOS demonstrates that the app aims to be the only location services app a person will ever need.

This update has added ratings to locations, providing a better idea of what other users think of each location at a glance. Users with the update only need to tap the Explore tab to search for a place to visit and a new 1-10 rating will now appear next to the location.


Image via www.foursquare.com

While this may seem contrary to the spirit of the app — that is, personalized recommendations — Foursquare says the ratings aren't based on one-time user experiences, as is often the case with similar competing services, by way of a unique rating system based on the tips, dislikes and popularity from all of a location's past check-ins from over 25 million Foursquare users. The company says that the more people use Foursquare, the more accurate its ratings will get.

This update is available now.

Last month, Foursquare was used by NASA's Curiosity rover to check in from the planet Mars. Obviously, this marks the first time a check-in was made on another planet. The rover will continue to use Foursquare to check in at locations of note as the exploration of Mars carries on throughout the remainder of its 23-month mission.

In July, Foursquare introduced a new feature called "Local Updates," which enables companies and businesses to interact with Foursquare users from within the friends tab. The company also introduced "Promoted Updates" under the Explore tab, adding a way for local businesses to promote on the mobile app.