Two of the more popular Android apps on the block, Temple Run and Foursquare, received updates last evening. For Runners, you finally get to purchase game-themed wallpapers in the store, assuming you have enough coinage. There are three of them:  the Evil Demon Monkeys (pictured above), Temple Wall, and Guy Dangerous. Along with the new ‘papers, “all sorts of improvements and bug fixes” were also included.

Foursquarians, the app now has a mini-map that is displayed when you hit the “Check In” button. Seems like something we should have had ages ago, but nevertheless, we’ll take it.

Play Links:  Temple Run | Foursquare

Google Maps received an update last week that was supposed to improve battery life while using Latitude, only that’s not all that came with it. If you use the location and check-in service in Maps, you will notice that after a check-in, you are awarded points and a fancy animated leaderboard appears. From there, you can tap to see a full leaderboard that shows an all-time list, current week, and even last week. This new social check-in addition pulls from your Google+ Circles to let you compete with your friends or the world for that matter, similarly to what Foursquare offers.

Google has yet to officially mention that the service exists and has simply posted a brief 1 sentence section in their Maps support section. I’m sure we’ll see more before long.

My question is, does anyone actually use Latitude? I have always been intrigued by the idea of it, however, it’s difficult to find anyone that even knows what it is or how to use it.

Via:  Engadget, Google Support

Forget the new Google+ update that just went live, today is all about the fact that Foursquare included Android Beam support in their latest update. Now, when you are out with your crew and one of them checks into the strip chess club before you, a simple butt-to-butt rubbing between your Galaxy Nexii will get you checked in right behind him. No need to put your dollars Rook down for any two-thumbed typing. Bump Nexus, tap to Beam the venue, and check-in.

This is all with me assuming that you know another person that owns an NFC device. Love me some Beam.

Market Link

Not sure what the deal is, but I had like 12 apps asking to be updated this afternoon. Flash Player 11 received some security fixes, Tumblr fixed bugs and added new post screens, Foursquare changed icons, Swiftkey X improved, and Evernote made it easier to go “Premium.” Nothing major from most of these, but you may want to cruise into your market if you haven’t been notified yet and see if anything has a new version. I guess Friday is now a prime time to update your apps before the weekend.

Cheers Mike!

Social check-in apps are doing their best to take over the universe and whether you are into them or not, it’s hard to deny their popularity.  Foursquare (personal fav) received an update last night that took it from “This is a fun and addicting little app” to “Damn you! I better go check-in somewhere now!”  They introduced new leaderboards that allow you to crush your friends in bar-hopping competitions, an “Explore” tab that can recommend a new sushi joint, and more convenient “specials” searching for your area.  

OK, so when I wrote that post title, I was feeling all awesome about my Foursquare achievements and then once I actually pulled up the new trophy case feature, all of the awesomeness that had been built up was lost.  Only 14 badges unlocked and a bunch that probably should have been (Gym Rat anyone?)…not bad, but not brag-to-your-momma-worthy.

Anyways, Foursquare on Android received an update yesterday that gave us this new sweet looking trophy case for all of your badges plus a couple of other minor tweaks.  It’s available in the market now if you haven’t updated yet!

Anyone out there with a ridiculous number of badges?  Show me!

Stalker app update!  FourSquare, one of our secret app addictions, received a nice update today which makes it much easier to add even more people for you to creep on.  Really they just updated the “Me” tab to make friend requests not such a painful process and we thank them.

In the market now.  Free!