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Untappd adds messaging for all your beer-related chats
Untappd has long been the app of choice for many beer drinkers looking for the best brews in town. To make it easier to find out what's worth checking out at your local bars or share that great IPA you just found with your friends, Untappd has added direct messages. You can plan an outing with your buds or simply share your knowledge of excellent beers, breweries and venues with them.
Untappd puts Foursquare-like beer recommendations front and center
The beer-focused app Untappd is a handy way to keep track of what you've tasted, what you liked and what your friends are drinking. This week, the suds social network completely redesigned its mobile software to add a bunch of new features. On top of a revamped UI, the app's directory of Foursquare-like events, venues and beer recommendations is now a central focus. Each time you fire up the app or go to check in a beer, you're greeted with those options in addition to trending beers, top rated brews, a global feed and trending locations.
Beer-tracking app Untappd gets barcode scanning, hails an Uber
If you're a dedicated beer geek, chances are you're using the app Untappd to track your libations. For the unfamiliar, the mobile software allows you to log and rate beers while following what and where your friends are drinking. With a new update to the iOS version, the app is getting a load of new features. First, there's a new barcode scanner that'll make searching for beers you're drinking a breeze. Rather than having to manually search, all you'll have to do is point your phone's camera at the barcode on a bottle or can.
Beer tracker Untappd goes 'to the next level'
Beer fans are probably already familiar with Untappd, an app (Google Play, iTunes, Windows Phone Store) that piggybacks on Foursquare's check-in system. Instead of just tracking where you go, it keeps a database of what you drink, what your friends drink, and what's on tap at pretty much any bar. Until now its creators have been working on it only part-time, but announced recently that through a "strategic merger" with fellow alcohol startup Next Glass, they'll be able to work on it full-time. Next Glass has an app that also keeps track of what you've been drinking, manages ratings and can recommend something else to try. Still, the founders say this won't change things much, simply promising more updates, badges and cool features faster.
Facebook lets you choose what to share with 3rd party apps
For ages, whenever you've wanted to use your Facebook credentials to log into a third party app like Foursquare or Candy Crush, you've had to give the app access to any and all data that FB has on you. There's simply been no way of choosing what information you can share--until now. Facebook announced last year that it would be implementing a new API this spring which allows the user, not the developer, to decide what sorts of private information each app is privy to. Well, that year is up and now whenever you "Log In Using Facebook," you'll be redirected to a landing page where you can select which individual data sets you want to share. Only want to tell Groupme your birthday and location? Done. Don't want to give Untappd access to your contacts? Easy.
Untappd comes to Windows Phone 8, forgoes Metro
The social beer tracking service Untappd is finally available on Windows Phone 8 as a "native" app. The popular check-in platform has long been available on iOS and Android, and it was one of the few must-have titles available on BlackBerry 10 at launch. Finally those whose loyalties lie in Redmond can take advantage of all that Untappd has to offer, and remove the bookmark to the spartan mobile site from their home screen. While the free download is definitely a vast upgrade over using the browser, there is room for improvement on this 1.0 release. Most notably is its non-native appearance and lack of live tile support. In fact, we're pretty sure the Windows Phone version is simply a port of the Android app. Still, if you enjoy a fine craft brew and like sharing that experience with friends, this should be an indispensable part of your arsenal. Plus, if you look hard enough, you might just find an Engadget editor or two frequenting the virtual stools at the Untappd pub. Update: It's been brought to our attention that Untappd was built using the cross-platform development tool PhoneGap. That means that the various versions of the app share much of the same code (primarily HTML5 and JavaScript) which would explain the similarities in appearance.
Arduino Kegerator hack checks in your homebrews on Untappd
Quite possibly the two greatest things in the world -- beer and Arduino -- have been married once again in a hack does them both justice. Accomplished maker and alcohol enthusiast Jeff Karpinski turned a spare Uno and an Ethernet shield into a gadget that automatically checks him in on Untappd. The build is connected to his kegerator through a hall-effect flow sensor that sits in his tap lines. Every time he pulls himself a pint of homebrew, the Aruino makes an API call to the so-called Foursquare for beer nerds, and updates his profile. Obviously, publishing to the site every time the keg is tapped could get messy, so there's an automatic five minute time out to avoid getting repeat hits just for topping off. There's also a button that manually engages the five minute lock out, allowing Jeff to pour his buddies a cold one without claiming the drink for himself on Untappd. And updating is a snap thanks to the simple web server that's integrated. Changing what beer is on tap in the API call is as simple as opening a web browser. Interested in upgrading your own kegerator? Check out the source link for complete instructions and a parts list.
Foursquare Connected App platform lets other apps interact with check ins
It turns out Foursquare's massive 5.0 revamp was just the start of the changes, as the location sharing app unveiled a new twist with the launch its Connected Apps platform. Available as a developer preview, it lets the makers of apps like Untappd, Instagram or The Weather Channel connect directly with the Foursquare app. Many apps were already connected via the API, and once users upgrade to the latest version on Android or iOS their checkins pull information from those apps into Foursquare itself. That means they get things like the weather forecast on their first check in of the day from The Weather Channel, see what songs their friends have shared at a particular location via Soundtracking or beer recommendations from Untappd. Developers can get all the info on how it works at the overview, the rest of us can see the list of enabled apps on the official blog post.
Untappd releases iOS app, out now
As you may already know, I am a big fan of the hops, barley and yeast drink that's the world's oldest alcoholic beverage -- that's right, beer. And I've always been intrigued by the idea of Untappd, a social network built around sharing and discussing all of the various varieties and microbrews of beer out there. But of course no social network is complete without a mobile app that allows users to update while out and about, and that's exactly what Untappd's new iOS app does. You can of course track and rate the various beers you're drinking and buying, and because it's all social, friends can see what you're tasting and share what they're tasting as well. Everything is of course geotagged (so you and a group can conquer the same bar's draughts, even if you're not there all together), and there are even badges to earn in the app itself. I'm sure a lot of badges were earned this weekend at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. I really like the look and feel of the app, and while we've seen this kind of thing tried before, Untappd seems to have another thing all strong social networks need: an actual network of people to follow. If you're also a fan of the pint and the brew, definitely check it out.
