Foursquare just launched their new version of their location check-in app for iphone and driod users tonight.

Instead of just being a mobile phone app where people can check-in and tell others where they are, the new update is all about finding new places geo-targeted to the location.

New foursquare is all about personalized recommendations and exploring in real-time.

Users can click on explore and search by specials, sights, food, coffee, nightlife, shopping, arts and what is trending in the surrounding area (aka places where many people are currently checked-in)… All based on the type of places they check into, foursquare even takes weather and time into consideration to suggestions.

For example - A Starbucks special and Russian River Brewing Company suggestion both come up at the top of my own “Explore” tab – both places myself and my friends frequent a lot.

The Explore tab is perfect for those visiting other cities and want to learn more about what is nearby… Or even for those looking at what is happening in their hometown.

After playing around with the update, so far… I like it. Just like Google Places, businesses can control their own pages. Foursquare users can LIKE or dislike places, get directions, menus, user pictures, tips, visit a website and can even call the places (some restaurants also link to open table for users to make reservations through their phones).

I hope this new change will encourage more businesses to test out specials, lists and tips in the area surrounding their places of business.

I am curious how having ALL my friends in my newsfeed vs. just local friends will affect my opinion of the app.

For more information on the new foursquare update, visit ReadWriteWeb’s post The all new foursquare launches to cash in on “making the real world easier to use” or Mashable’s post “Foursquare Gets a Makeover: Here’s What is New.”