In the past few days, Foursquare has made two major changes.
On Monday, Foursquare announced on its blog that expertise badges would now have different levels, allowing users to level up.
Just the next day, Foursquare also had a completely redesigned website.
The badges that now level up are the core 24 category badges, such as the Zoetrope badge for checking into movie theaters, Swimmies for checking into locations near water, and the Bookworm badge for checking into places of knowledge.
On the day level-up badges were released, Foursquare released the new Herbivore, Hot Tamale, and Bento expertise badges and plan to release more. A full list of expertise badges can be found on the About Foursquare blog. To see what expertise badges you have earned and what level they are, there is a new “Expertise” section of your Trophy Case page.
The badges range from level one to level ten. In order to level up, the requirements are the same for every category of expertise. To unlock level one, you can either check-in five times to a place in the category or check-in to three unique places. For all other levels, you will level up by checking in to five more unique places. At the launch of the badges, your existing data was analyzed so users won’t have to start over if they have already checked-in to many places in a category.
In the future there will be more ways to level up, such as having your tips done by many people. The badges are supposed to express who you are, what you know best, and reflect your real-world expertise. Your expertise will be used to help other users checking in to locations in that category. For example, if someone checks-in to a movie theater and you are a level 10 Zoetrope, your tips for the venue will be seen before tips from a level 1 user.
The new website (dubbed #new4sq), has a new focus on discovery and according to Mashable, may give sites like Yelp a run for their money. Your foursquare.com page will now have a large map at the top that shows everything interesting nearby, all color-codes. Your friends will be shown in yellow, places on lists in green, specials in orange, and popular places in blue.
The map is accompanied by other new features, such as recommendations based on the time of day. For example, when you go to foursquare.com at, say, 11:30 a.m., and it will give you suggestions for lunch venues. On a Saturday, it may recommend popular weekend activities. In addition, they have added List discovery and venue pages have gotten a makeover.
I find the new website to be much more attractive, and look forward to leveling up my Bookworm badge! What do you think of the new changes?

Wednesday, November 16th, business leaders from across New York will gather at the world famous Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the 6th Annual NY Xpo for Business. This highly acclaimed show is expected to draw upwards of 15,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors as the largest business-to-business marketplace in the region. The eZanga team will be exhibiting at booth 211 so stop by and chat with us, and drop in your business card for your chance to win an iPad!
What is a QR code?
Salman Rushdie uses Twitter to solve his Facebook problems
Just when you thought you could forget about
November 9th and 10th the eZanga team will be exhibiting at 
If you have never heard of