For some time now, I’ve wondered why Facebook didn’t release a proper iPhone application that would let you use Faceobok more, like you would do in a browser. With the current version, you’re missing out on some features that would be nice to have, in such an application. Not to mention, where’s push notifications?!
However, there’s some good news around the corner for the almost 25% of all iPhone owners which has the Facebook app installed, according to Joe Hewitt (lead engineer for Facebook’s iPhone application). Earlier this week Joe shared some details on the upcoming 3.0 version of Facebook for iPhone, here’s some of the new stuff:
- “New” News Feed
- “Like” function
- Events (including the ability to RSVP)
- Notes
- Pages
- Create new photo albums
- Upload photos to any album
- Zoom into photos
- Easier photo tagging
- Profile Pictures albums
- A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
- Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
- Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
- Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
- Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call
If you take a look at the screenshot above, you will notice a completely new and redesigned home screen, kinda like the home screen on your iPhone itself. You have easy access to all your stuff. This will definitely make it much easier to just go ahead and use the application and all its core features. I like what I’m saying and I’m looking very much forward to this next version…
But!
There’s no push notifications, yet! Version 3.1 which should be out later this summer, will have push notifications, says Joe Hewitt. This 3.0 version is “98% done” and has not been submitted to Apple yet, so it might be another few weeks before it’s out?
I wonder if Facebook will put ads or something into the application, since they miss out on potential ad revenue from users using the iPhone App instead of the full browser version of the site? I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.