For as long as Facebook has been using its famous 'Like' button, people have wondered when they would be able to click on something a little less jovial when the need arises. We've all been forced to 'Like' a friend's status update on Facebook when the situation really demands something quite the opposite. With people posting about things ranging from bad days at the office and pets being ill to marriage breakups and loved ones dying, hitting that 'Like' button as a form of acknowledgement feels crass at best, and downright cruel at its worst. And it seems someone at Facebook would agree.
Facebook's Messenger app has come along in leaps and bounds over the past twelve months, and today, the Menlo Park-based social company has announced a substantial update to the Android version of the app, with the iOS version being in the pipeline for an update as well. As well as affording the IM app a few aesthetic touch-ups, it would seem as though Mark Zuckerberg's team is seeking to further differentiate it from the standard Facebook app by placing more emphasis on messaging itself.
Windows 8 users have been waiting patiently for the arrival of the official Facebook app for quite some time. Back in June of this year, Microsoft did their best to raise excitement levels by pre-announcing that the world's largest social network would be releasing a native app for the platform along with other respected offerings like Flipboard. The privately held session during the company's BUILD event even went as far as showing off the wondrous new apps on a touchscreen tablet device. The teasing and waiting is eventually over for Windows users as Facebook has released their official app just in time for the launch of Windows 8.1.
Facebook may have once been a small hiding place where people who knew each other could chat in private, and share photos that they could feel fairly sure wouldn't be found on the greater web. That's been steadily changing over the last few years as Facebook tries desperately to reinvent itself in the face of stiff competition from Twitter, and in some ways from Google+.
Facebook may have been around for what feels like forever, but the social network is still missing one or two features that some of us have been crying out for. One of those features is something that seems rather simple on the face of it, and today Facebook announced that we will soon be able to edit our own posts on the social network.
Not so long ago, Facebook's mobile prowess, or lack thereof, was a frequent criticism of the social network, but ever since version 5.0 landed for both iOS and Android, things have taken a dramatic upturn. Mark Zuckerberg and his team have been making frequent announcements of new features and enhancements just lately, and as a part of this progressive effort to improve the service, the iOS app has today been afforded a healthy update. Details after the break.
As part of Facebook's ongoing efforts to expand its mobile prowess, the social network is plotting a news service for smartphones and tablets. The app will, according to insiders of The Wall Street Journal, take a very similar form to the popular Flipboard, helping users dissect and digest the news in a neat, easy-to-read format. It’s safe to say that Facebook is preparing itself well to take over the crown of Google Reader, which will shut down on the first of July. More details can be found right after the jump.
As you're probably aware by now, this week was big for the Facebook-owned social network Instagram. After months of speculation, following the release of Twitter's Vine video sharing app / service, Instagram finally introduced their competitor to the short six second video network taking the world by storm. What makes this a nice addition, is that it's a new built-in feature to already existing Instagram app. No new icon needed.
Facebook is always looking to improve and update its market-leading social network, and as part of that, it looks as though the ability to add images into comments is forthcoming. Users of the world's foremost social network can already to as such with their status updates, but this new update, which will initially roll out on the Web, will allow images to be added to comments as well.
According to a new report, Instagram will be launching video sharing later on this week. Facebook is holding a big idea event on Thursday, June 20th, and with Facebook having been reportedly testing a Vine-esque feature for Instagram not so long ago, it would appear as though those plans are now being put into action.
