Android Apps
UPDATED: Official Facebook Android app now in Android Market
September 8, 2009 | by Andrew Kameka
Lifestyle
UPDATE: Yesterday, there were some questions about about whether this was the real Facebook app. Despite the Gmail address associated with the app and the Facebook app page saying that this was not created by Facebook, I believe this is the official app.
The official developer listed in the Android Market is “Facebook,” a registered trademark that would be pretty stupid for a third-party to violate. As others have pointed out in the comments section, this app doesn’t require authorization, something ALL third-party apps have done quite annoying in the past. Until Facebook comes out and says otherwise, this is the official Facebook Android app in my eyes.
—————————-
The official Facebook.com Android application has finally entered the Android Market. After months of openly ignoring Android and leaking info that it would eventually appear, the world’s most popular social networking website has released an official client for the Android platform.
Facebook for Android looks just like the leaked screens we saw last month and comes with the features we would expect:
- Expandable friend feed and the ability to comment or like updates
- A widget to display new items on the homescreen
- View a friend’s wall or a user’s full profile
- Upload photos and take a picture within Facebook
Note: Facebook does not browse photo galleries or images posted by other users within the app. It instead links to the mobile website and loads in your browser. - Receive notifications for messages, requests, invites, pokes (each can be turned on or off)
- Facebook Live folder that contains the phone number of your friends
Facebook obviously didn’t put as much effort into this app as it did the iPhone version but its not bad and some will find it easier to use than either of the third-party apps. Search the market for Facebook for Android and test it for yourself. What will this mean for Facebook alternatives like Babbler and Bloo? Who knows.
About time :p
It is indeed about time! Now all I need to do is unload Bloo, which frankly was high on my shortlist of apps. that would be first up against the wall come the revolution.
Crashes on CyanoGen rom.
Works fine on Cyanogen 4.1.7.
@Bartosz Switch the language to English and it should stop the force closes
Apparently, all mobile apps with the exception for the iPhone's, say they were not developed by Facebook. My guess is that this is the real deal, but just really lacking which is incredibly disappointing for its initial release.
I believe this is real simply because it wouldn't be pretty foolish for a developer to try to impersonate Facebook by creating an account with that name. This is the legit service and I'm kind of shocked they released it lacking some key features available in the alternatives. I give them credit for being faster, but a native app shouldn't force me to go to the mobile website and lack major features available by third parties. Disappointed of course but this is 1.0 and I can only hope that it improves.
definitely real. the login process doesn't require a bunch of hoop jumping, which every other 3rd party fb app does.
Excellent point. I think between that, the "unofficial official" status of the Pre version and the fact that Facebook hasn't openly put out that this isn't theirs makes me believe this is the real thing.
It says it's not developed by facebook though… http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=7…
More evidence that the recently published Facebook app ISN’T actually official: http://www.facebook.com/mobile/ Can anyone spot the missing operating system in the list???? BAD FACEBOOK!
(
This is the official client, as confirmed by the UK Android advocate, who’s an ex-colleague of mine…. Stop