UpNext Updates -- Friends, HyperLocal Ads and a Compass!

NY-based 3d mapping service UpNext has released the next version of their beta application. We met with the UpNext team in late 2007 and if you are new to the service, check out our review. I spoke with co-founder Danny Moon who noted that the site is much more compatible/stable and load time is much faster. He also provided the following updates and enhancements:

Community:

• Overlay buttons – on the top right of the map are now 3 buttons that bring out more content. We wanted to elevate the content being contributed to the site and show what people were reviewing and marking.
• Friends – shows you what your friends have marked (requires an account)
• Community – shows the latest actions from the community
• My Profile – shows you what you have marked or commented on (requires an account)
• Notes – you can now at notes to a location once you mark it as “I’ve Been Here” -- this was one of my suggestions :)
• Friend Slider – at the top of the map there is a pull down for seeing people in the community

Other updates:

• Highly geo-targeted ads from Lat49 in the bottom left. Move the map around and zoom in and out and the ads dynamically change based on what area you are looking at.
• Compass in the bottom right for another way of navigating