Facebook has just launched their new iPhone app and it is amazing. It’s one of the best applications I’ve seen on the iPhone so far and I actually like using Facebook on the iPhone with this new app more than on the actual Facebook website.
Chris Messina has a really good series of screenshots of the new Facebook iPhone app which will give you a better idea of what the various screens look like. The app was designed by Joe Hewitt, who joined Facebook through the recent acquisition of Parakey, the company he co-founded with Blake Ross. Both Joe and Blake worked together on Firefox and Joe is the developer behind the wonderful Firebug extension for Firefox.
Masable’s Pete Cashmore was tipped off about the launch of the Facebook iPhone app earlier today, which MacRumors followed-up on.
Ok guys, Facebook has raised the bar here. It would be great to see similar iPhone applications designed this well for the other web services I use regularly.
UPDATE: Joe Hewitt has made an official announcement on the Facebook blog regarding the release of the Facebook iPhone application.
The iPhone hasn’t even been out for two months yet, but it has already changed the way people think about the mobile web. Today we are taking our first step into that new mobile world with a new Facebook website designed just for iPhone at iphone.facebook.com.
Facebook for iPhone not only looks wonderful on that big touch screen, it makes it easier than ever to stay connected with your friends wherever you are. If you are like me you may find yourself updating your status a bazillion time a day once you have Facebook in your pocket everywhere you go. The site lets you search for people with just a few quick taps and call your friends directly from their profile. Facebook events become even easier with your iPhone, as you can quickly look up maps and directions on the go.
The iPhone site is the second in our family of Facebook mobile sites. If you don’t have an iPhone, check out the original Facebook Mobile at m.facebook.com.
via » Chris Messina via » Twitter
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From an insecurity perspective, this is majorly scary.
- ferg
Firefox, Firebug, is there anything Joe Hewitt can’t do!? This guy is a machine.
Hey Scott, I compiled those screenshots into a set that you should link to (instead of my “facebook” tag in my photos).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/sets/72157601448859006/
Thanks Chris, I was looking for that last night when I was writting the post. I’ve updated the link.
While this does look great, I’m not a fan of designing sites specifically for one device. Where’s the Blackberry Pearl version of Facebook?
There’s a video here: http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/communications/mobile_phone/facebook_on_your_iphone
What would be nice is if we could differentiate between an actual iPhone app (application that runs on the iPhone) and just a web page that is designed for the iPhone.
A facebook app for the iPhone would be cool. But this isn’t an app.
I have to say I am not a fan of the iphone version of the facebook site. They have paired down the site way too much. To the point where they have removed a lot of the functionality and features that make using FB fun. The interface is way too simplified and you lose that whole satisfyng experience of being able to move from page to page, search networks and groups, view apps related page content amongst other options that available on the computer based web version.
Designers are quick to make these dumbed down versions for the mobile web. But if you have these next gen phones coming out which improve one’s ability to surf the web and promise web experiences not far different from what you get on your computer. Why continue making simplified mobile websites, that take the meat out and leave you with the barebones?
It would be nice if the app could pull contact info such as: phone numbers, email, home addresses, etc. from the profile's of your friends and add the data to the contact list on the phone and then keep the data in the contact list up to date if it is updated. I did see that you can dial numbers from profiles, and while this does seem handy, I'd rather just be able to rely on my contact list. My apologies if this is feature, I haven't had the time to delve into the app yet.
that's an awesome updates come out from facebook. going to taste out the new features. thanks to share with us.
Does anybody know how to change the password for the iPhone app?
Once installed it seems to have a device to device authentication that does not require a password. If you change your password on the website, the device can still connect to your account. This is a major security hole, since iPhones are easily lost or stolen.
“This is a major security hole, since iPhones are easily lost or stolen”
i would presume that you would have had to authorize this app from within your facebook account.
if your phone is stolen, de-authorize the app.
j.
none of the links on Fan pages work. It always says NOT FOUND. Has been doing that since I got it.
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