Android gets Facebook application after all

13 November 2008 by Staff Editor

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Not long ago we told users that Facebook was probably not going to join MySpace in the Android Market because of the relationship with Google. There were even claims that Facebook executives were saying such things as “Android sucks, it doesn’t matter.”

Little did we know that there was a Facebook application being worked on at the time. Now adults who do not believe in MySpace can get in on all the social networking action on their Android-powered handset. fBook is the first Facebook application to hit the Android Market. Facebook did not actually create this application; it was the guys over at Next Mobile Web.

They say this application is a wrapper that not only optimizes the Facebook iPhone web application, but also fixes all the problems associated with it. It appears to be the same as going to m.facebook.com on your browser, but with the addition of picture uploading and push capabilities integrated into the phone itself. I wonder what the guys over at Facebook are going to have to say about this.

Join the Discussion (35 comments)

jmejiaa

11-13-2008 04:40 PM

I'm only posting so no one says FIRST!!!!

This is awesome news
Jsteed59

11-13-2008 04:42 PM

same as the website nothing major....
JaceMan

11-13-2008 04:42 PM

It's OLD news. Keep in mind, it got "A" Facebook app. It didn't get "the" Facebook app. That's the good thing about having an open SDK for Android though. If an organization doesn't want to provide something, they don't have to. Someone will fill the need.
Sheraz150

11-13-2008 04:44 PM

The Facebook application for the iPhone is amazinggg, I just wish Facebook would give in to developing an app like that for Android.
Re@lly Dope!

11-13-2008 04:45 PM

Don't really have an interest for facebook. Same goes for myspace as well.
JaceMan

11-13-2008 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Re@lly Dope!

Don't really have an interest for facebook. Same goes for myspace as well.

Isn't that kind of like posting to a "Best Spaghetti Recipe" thread only to respond with, "I don't like spaghetti."

Um, thanks for contributing!
jayroam

11-13-2008 05:02 PM

I've downloaded this, and the notifications haven't worked for me. It uploads pictures to the mobile uploads, but it doesn't show up as a post on your profile.

Good attempt, just need to get the bugs worked out.

kommodore

11-13-2008 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaceMan

It's OLD news. Keep in mind, it got "A" Facebook app. It didn't get "the" Facebook app. That's the good thing about having an open SDK for Android though. If an organization doesn't want to provide something, they don't have to. Someone will fill the need.

Werd.

Anyone can make a Facebook app. It wasn't put out by Facebook though.

rafiparrr

11-13-2008 05:18 PM

I love that this thing exists at all, but it's still horribly flawed. Picture uploading is broken because to upload a picture the app sends you to your browser so you can authorize the app to change your account, but evidently the app isn't something that facebook itself supports. The notifications are also nice (though not push: it just checks every five minutes) but they're mostly useless because the app logs you out after you close it, and thus can't access your messages, etc. But I don't mean to be so harsh on Next Mobile Web, because it's so nice to see a third party solution to Facebook's silly stubbornness.

JaceMan

11-13-2008 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafiparrr

I love that this thing exists at all, but it's still horribly flawed. Picture uploading is broken because to upload a picture the app sends you to your browser so you can authorize the app to change your account, but evidently the app isn't something that facebook itself supports. The notifications are also nice (though not push: it just checks every five minutes) but they're mostly useless because the app logs you out after you close it, and thus can't access your messages, etc. But I don't mean to be so harsh on Next Mobile Web, because it's so nice to see a third party solution to Facebook's silly stubbornness.

That authorization only has to happen 1 time. That's not the app, that's how Facebook requires it to be done. When a third party program (or web script, such as LiveJournal) wants to make modifications to your profile, you must give that app the "ok" to proceed. After you do it once, you don't need to do it again.

vbreal

11-13-2008 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheraz150

The Facebook application for the iPhone is amazinggg, I just wish Facebook would give in to developing an app like that for Android.

its pretty damn good man. hoepfully facebook will change their mind and put something out.

clhtkeforlife

11-13-2008 06:01 PM

Just to note: Facebook appears to have changed the name of the site for mobile browsers to x.facebook.com. This used to be iphone.facebook.com, as Facebook optimized the page for the iphone browser. Appears that Facebook has decided to change the url so all touch screen phones can access the same page now. Now if only myspace would change their layout for finger friendly functionality.
vbreal

11-13-2008 06:04 PM

i figured that was why they changed it.
*susan*

11-13-2008 06:49 PM

As you can tell by my signature, I love facebook. It is great for keeping in touch with old friends, making new ones, etc. This new app is pretty good, but it doesn't keep me signed in. I would also love to see Facebook actually make one.
tymewillcome

11-13-2008 07:47 PM

Why is this facebook a scaled down version of the Iphone version?? I own a 3g Iphone, and the G1. SO far, G1 wins my heart. But seriously, the Facebook app should be equivalent, if not BETTER on the g1
HeezDedJim

11-13-2008 10:19 PM

I think one shouldn't have both Myspace and Facebook. I unfortunately have Myspace...but not Facebook. But I may make a Facebook account too now. I've noticed i've been signing up to more "community" sites like Twitter and others since i've gotten this phone. Now if only they'd combine Myspace and Facebook to make something like: SpaceFace...
nextmobileweb

11-14-2008 01:35 AM

Hi it's Ajay from Next Mobile Web.

We are aware of the frequent logouts, which happen more frequently the more places you are logged into Facebook. We're working on a fix.

Also, we noticed that people aren't able to upload bigger images, that too is being resolved.

Feel free to email us at android@ with feedback on the app.

We're planning on adding more features once these bugs are solved.
shaky777

11-14-2008 03:52 AM

just a quick note, don't forget to clear cache on facebook app from the menu, mine was 4mb now is 596kb
texasaggie1

11-17-2008 03:21 AM

This "app" is just a wrapper that points to iphone.facebook.com !! You guys are being duped...
ghoonk

11-17-2008 04:02 AM

Then how is it that I can do pic uploads and not have to refresh the app to get my updates?
nickbunyun

11-17-2008 09:20 AM

I do not get any notifications.
Do you guys ?

I wish it had a button for notifications
nathvg

11-17-2008 03:06 PM

Hey what about Google's Orkut?
Cranky Bear

11-17-2008 03:26 PM

I don't get the notifications either.

My understanding is that Orkut has a big Brazilian following, but not much anywhere else.
*susan*

11-17-2008 10:27 PM

I had never heard of Orkut before. I may just have to go take a peek for curiosity's sake.
justinCO

11-19-2008 11:13 PM

So, is anyone having problems uploading pictures using fBook? It keeps sending me to the "Allow" screen to allow the fBook app just like it does for any facebook app (doing this on my G1 after attempting to upload photo). It never seems to work, I click Allow app and it sends me to facebook login page. I login (even though I was already logged in) and try again and it just loops me to the Allow app screen again.

EDIT: never mind it worked for some reason just now...didn't do anything different. Weird..

Justin
dflipb

01-17-2009 11:57 PM

I'm getting the same error and it's Uber frustrating!
jcastro20111

02-14-2009 03:26 PM

does the facebook chat feature work with fbook for the android?
boilermaker

02-14-2009 04:15 PM

as far as I can find, no, chat does not work
JohnnyLicious

02-14-2009 04:54 PM

this app needs major updates seriously,

picture upload
nofitications
all DO NOT WORK on all the updated versions they released.

blah.
omnibot

02-14-2009 05:41 PM

there's a pathectic 18 people on the "Facebook for Android" group on FB.

everyone who wants it should join, get others to join AND send a suggestion to FB also.

link to group.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=52977728744

and the link to the suggestions page
http://www.facebook.com/help/suggestions.php

go go go!
secrecyguy

02-14-2009 06:11 PM

Too bad the programmer who made Facebook for Android abandoned his software.
*susan*

02-14-2009 06:17 PM

There are over 500 members in this group:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr...id=30076312297
omnibot

02-14-2009 06:18 PM

much better! i must have missed that group in my search, thx susan
*susan*

02-14-2009 06:19 PM

Your welcome!
fagmango

09-14-2009 12:45 PM

Well, it's better than what we had since the rest were just wrappers for the mobile site. It's pretty weak but, I'm sure it will get better with time. The notifications are very hit and miss and a lot of times simply send you to the mobile facebook site in the browser. I do like the widget and some of the features are nice. I just hope this was an attempt to just get something out there for us and they will continue to improve it. I love my android phone so I'll just wait to see what they come up with.