Facebook

Facebook's not-a-phone gets not-a-commercial

By Rene Ritchie, Saturday, Apr 6, 2013 a 7:43 pm

Facebook, like Microsoft before it, chose to pitch their new Home interface as people-centric. That's in contrast to the app-centric approach of Apple's iOS Springboard, and other platforms before it dating back to Palm and Newton. To emphasize the difference, and in hopes of selling it to the masses, Facebook has released a commercial of sorts. And... I'm not really sure what vibe they were going for. It seems to land somewhere between the original Palm Pre lady and Google's give-us-all-your-kids-stuff on the creepy scale.

The Facebook not-a-phone is targeted at people for whom Facebook is the primary purpose of the internet. If you're one of those people, chances are you're already okay with Facebook getting all up in your information in exchange for socially sorted communications and connections, I don't know how this commercial helps make you feel good about giving them that level of trust. If you're scared of Facebook and don't want their tentacles anywhere near your life or loved ones, I don't know how this commercial helps move you from that opinion.

Facebook announces Facebook Home for Android, HTC First for AT&T

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Apr 4, 2013 a 2:16 pm

Facebook has just finished their new Home on Android event -- see our live blog for the blow-by-blow) and... it pretty much went as expected. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg showed off their new home screen experience for Android, which he described as people-centric vs. app-centric. HTC's Peter Chou introduced the first phone that'll ship with it built-in, the AT&T-bound HTC First. Beyond that, Facebook Home will also be coming to existing Android devices.

And yeah, the HTC First hardware design outline is pretty iPhone-like, which is either conveniently consistent, or depressingly dull, depending on your point of view...

Our Mobile Nations sibling site, Android Central will have continuing coverage throughout the day, so keep it locked there for more.

Meantime, let me know, anything compelling enough about HTC First + Facebook Home to make you consider switching? Or does the mere idea of Facebook getting all up into your phone jammy make you run screaming from the internet?

Facebook's new home on Android

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Mar 31, 2013 a 7:30 pm

Next Thursday our own Phil Nickinson will be heading over to Facebook's third event of 2013, and their first that promises to be focused on mobile. Perhaps even disruptive to mobile. Phil has questions about the Facebook Android event, important ones, and rightly so. I have no answers, but I do have this.

Facebook holding Android event on April 4

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Mar 28, 2013 a 11:06 pm

Facebook is holding another mobile-centric event, this time seemingly specifically for Google's Android operating system. Invitations for the April 4 -- not April 1! -- event went out earlier today:

Facebook Messenger now offers free voice calls for users in the UK as well as the U.S. and Canada

By chrisoldroyd, Monday, Mar 25, 2013 a 8:31 am

After launching its free voice calling option for its Facebook Messenger app earlier this year in the United States and Canada, Facebook has has quietly rolled out the same service for its UK users. The new calling feature for UK users is built into the Facebook Messenger app and if one of your contacts is online and capable of receiving a voice call you can now easily make a call.

Facebook app updated so you can set your cover photo on the go!

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Mar 18, 2013 a 8:40 pm

The Facebook app for iPhone and iPad has been updated to version 5.6 and the major new feature is simple yet convenient -- you can now set cover photos on the go, right from your iOS device. If that's not enough, Facebook has also reduced the amount of taps it takes to start a group message.

Free - Download now

Facebook announces major redesign for web and mobile

By Joseph Keller, Friday, Mar 8, 2013 a 2:08 pm

Facebook has announced a major redesign of their News Feed yesterday, aiming to make it less cluttered. The new design is aimed at reducing clutter and focusing on content from your friends. To that end, Facebook has tweaked features like the sidebar, and added different news feeds in order to make specific content easier to access.

Facebook app updated with free calling to U.S., Canada

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Feb 24, 2013 a 5:35 pm

Facebook for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad has been updated to version 5.5. New features include an improved button design, intended to make commenting, liking, and sharing easier on News Feed posts, and the inclusion of free VoIP calls for users in the U.S. and Canada, something previously introduced in the separate Facebook Messenger app.

VoIP requires Wi-Fi or cellular data. And, of course, reports of bugginess are already coming in... If you've tried out the latest Facebook update, let me know how it's working for you. If you haven't tried Facebook for iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad yet, grab it from the App Store via the link below.

Follow Friday: Get your daily dose of iMore on Twitter, ADN, Facebook, or Google+!

By Rene Ritchie, Friday, Feb 8, 2013 a 10:11 am

If you're new to the iPhone, iPad, or Apple, if you just discovered iMore, or if you've only begun signing up for Twitter, app.net (ADN), Facebook, or Google+, then you may not be aware of the wonderful confluence that brings them all together -- you can follow iMore right on your favorite social networks!

And as a bittersweet aside to those who have been following iMore for a while, our own Georgia has finally changed her Twitter handle from @GeorgiaTiPb to @Georgia_Prime. It's been just over a year since our site name changed from TiPb to iMore, so it made sense, but it was still a little sad to see that remnant fade away.

But that was then and this is now, and if you haven't followed iMore or your favorite writers yet, now's the time to do it. Don't forget to leave your Twitter, ADN, Google+, Instagram, and other links in the comments either, we'd love to know where to find you as well!

iMore: Twitter, ADN, Facebook, Google+
Rene Ritchie: Twitter, ADN, Google+
Georgia: Twitter, Google+
Leanna Lofte: Twitter, ADN, Google+
Ally Kazmucha: Twitter, ADN, Google+
Chris Oldroyd: Twitter, Google+
Joe Keller: Twitter, Google+
Simon Sage: Twitter, Google+
Chris Parsons: Twitter, Google+
Michelle Haag: Twitter, Google+

Facebook's busted, taking the web down with it

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 a 7:54 pm

Looks like Facebook Connect has gone a crapper, and sadly it seems to be taking a lot of the internet down with it. If you're having trouble getting to where you want to go, logging out of Facebook seems to sort things out again. Not much else is known at this point, other than maybe being dependent on single-point-of-failure networks isn't a great idea. Hopefully they fix this up quickly.

Meanwhile, let us know if you're having trouble, and when/if things start working again.