Did a tiny, self-loathing part of you quietly lust after one of those "Facebook phones" that came out last year? Well, you (and I) are in luck. Facebook version 1.9 for Android (free) practically turns your device into one, by adding not one, not two, but three icons to your app drawer: the main Facebook app, a camera shortcut, and message inbox shortcut. I actually liked the shortcuts as they just remove an extra step to posting things on Facebook, but if you don't want them polluting your app drawer you're out of luck. The Android APK won't let you delete associated icons, which is sure to infuriate some Android owners; don't they get enough bloatware?
Android-centric Interface
Most of you know what Facebook is, so I'm just going to highlight all the mobile nuances. After installing the app, you're given the option to sync your FB contacts to your phone's contacts.
The interface is gorgeous, changing little from a big UI update last November. Your news feed takes up most of your mobile display, apart from shortcuts up top for Notifications, Messages, Inbox, and Status updates. You can slide across to pull out a scrollable drawer of shortcuts, including buttons for your profile, photos, messages, events, friends, apps, and groups. Facebook Chat is in there too, but it is essentially a replica of your inbox.?
Refreshing news feeds and loading data within Facebook for Android is still sluggish compared to the iPhone version (3.5 stars, free).
I tested this app on a Motorola Droid with Android 2.2.2. It took 5.5 seconds to refresh my Facebook news feed in the Android app?accomplished by pulling down the task bar?and 3 seconds on an iPhone 4 (both were connected to Wi-Fi). In general use, the Android version still just feels slower.
Facebook for Android is a perennial Editors' Choice app in Google Play, even though it gets updated so infrequently. Other Facebook clients, such as Friendcaster, offer much more customization to your Facebook skins and such, but I don't know anyone who uses it. I think that's proof positive that Facebook's own mobile client is already pretty good.
One thing the app could improve upon is implementing CodeGenerator, a spiffy mobile security feature that is only available to Android users?iPhone users have another workaround. CodeGenerator can be found within Account Settings, and simply prompts a user to enter a 16-digit code to log into Facebook from an unrecognized device. I couldn't activate it within the Android app, and was directed outside the app to set it up. A less determined user would probably drop the idea altogether.
Android-only: Camera, Message "Widgets"
Version 1.9 adds two so-called "widgets"?Camera and Messenger?to your device app drawer. They are essentially shortcuts to these features within Facebook.
YOU CANNOT UNINSTALL THEM. I like the shortcuts, but they do take up precious internal memory.
Tap the camera icon to quickly launch your phone's camera and immediately post a picture or video onto your wall. You can also tag friends, add your location, and choose which list ?friends you want seeing the footage. It's so simple and so fast, that I have no doubt I'll be posting Facebook photos and videos more often. Unfortunately, there's no sign of Facebook's recent Instagram acquisition yet.
The Messenger widget is essentially a shortcut to your Facebook inbox, and makes the standalone app Facebook Messenger redundant. Tapping the Messenger widget opens your Facebook message inbox. From here you can write messages to friends and add other users to the conversation along the way.
Unfortunately Facebook doesn't send you a pop-up alert when you receive a message; the push notification only shows up in your taskbar. Furthermore, it won't be as robust until iPhone users get the widget too. Facebook Messenger isn't replacing WhatsApp anytime soon.
Facebook for Android: Like
Facebook version 1.9 for Android is the best way to access Facebook on an Android device. I love the two associated icons?camera and messenger?and know the shortcuts will encourage me to use those two features more. However, I hate that you don't have an option to remove the icons. Loading data is a smidgen slower in the Android version than in the iPhone app, but a robust UI and the few Android-only features make Facebook 1.9 for Android a step up, and well worth a download.
For more Android Software, see:
??? Facebook 1.9 (for Android)
??? ICQ Messenger 3.1 (for Android)
??? Wolf WiFi Pro (for Android)
??? Instagram (for Android)
??? Opera Mini 7 (for Android)
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