LinkedIn redesigns homepage, Foursquare makes changes to its app; What's new

Professional networking site LinkedIn has redesigned its homepage with a new look and feel, while the Foursquare app has also undergone a number of changes. Here's a look at what's new.

LinkedIn

The company claims this will make it easier to navigate the page and find updates like news articles and profile changes.

Relevant updates on top: Users will now be able to view all the important network updates and articles (based on their profile and interests) at the top of the feed. They can also select the 'recent' view from the drop down list (that shows 'all updates') to view a complete list of recent updates. Additionally, the navigation bar will also sport a new look.

News: users can now browse news articles right from their homepage, without leaving their updates stream. For doing that, they will have to move their cursor over 'All Updates' and select the LinkedIn Today option.

Other changes include automatic scrolling, which allows users to see more updates at the bottom of the page without having to scroll down the page and larger images. The articles in the updates stream now feature larger images for easier scanning.

"This is just the beginning of many new features we plan to bring to the homepage to offer more customisation and functionality this year. This newly redesigned homepage is rolling out to all members over the next few weeks," wrote Caroline Gaffney, product manager at LinkedIn, in an official blog post.

The company had earlier redesigned LinkedIn Today, its social news product, by tweaking its user interface and providing news customisation. Early this month, it severed its ties with micro-blogging site Twitter as a result of which Tweets will no longer be displayed on LinkedIn.

Foursquare

The location-based app that enables its users to share and save the places they visit (via check-ins), unlock discounts and rewards and get recommendations based on their locations has also undergone a number of changes. The app now has only three tabs that include 'friends', 'explore' and the profile tab.

Friends tab: The tab now has big photo slideshows that can be swiped and shows information like tips, lists and more check-ins. Users can now also 'like' and comment on the activities.

Explore tab: It now shows friends nearby and provides the users with personalised recommendations for nearby places, even before they search for it.

Profile tab: Users can now add a bio to their profile tab, see stats and scroll through their Foursquare activity.

Also, the check-ins have been made faster, which means that users can now check-in by simply tapping the top right button, no matter which tab they are on. In addition to updating the app, the company has also updated its 'privacy policy' that now details when, where, and how many prior check-ins the user's friends can see.

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)

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