The new version of Loopt is available today for the iPhone (download here), Android is coming soon! Here’s a video that will give you a good overview of the new features:

Here’s how to get up and running with the new Loopt — just a few simple steps:

1.  On your iPhone or iPod Touch, open up the App Store, either download Loopt for the first time, or update your current Loopt app.

2.  In Loopt, go to Settings, and “Connect to Facebook.” You’ll then be prompted to enter in your Facebook log-in details, and you’ll be good to go! (Note: we don’t share anything to your Facebook wall without your permission. Ever!)

3. Now that you have pulled in Facebook updates to Loopt, here are some things you’ll want to check out:

– Friends using Facebook Places will populate your Loopt map, giving you a clear view of friends nearby. (The people that appear on your map are your Facebook friends that have checked in someplace using Facebook Places.) For many, this will translate to a big boost in activity on your map.

A Facebook friend popping up on your map:

– Your Loopt friend list will have your Facebook friends on it, too! (These are also your Facebook friends who have checked in someplace using Facebook Places.) They will be marked with a Facebook graphic in the corner.

Your Friends on Loopt:

– You can comment on Loopt updates, and those comments will transport to Facebook, as well.

A stream of all the latest activity, on both Loopt and Facebook Places:

– You can click on a friend (whether it’s a Facebook or Loopt friend), and you’ll get a view of their location history.  This comes in especially handy when you are heading to an unfamiliar city, but you have a Facebook friend who knows the area well. You can see where they like to go regularly, plus their comments and photos they’ve taken, if any.

A friend’s profile:

As always, Facebook activity through Loopt will respect the privacy controls set on both Facebook and Loopt.

Have fun! And let us know if you have comments or questions. You can comment on the blog post below, or, better still, go to our Facebook page and leave a comment there. http://www.facebook.com/loopt. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.