Facebook 4.1 For iOS Enables New Timeline View

The recently launched Timeline view for Facebook profile pages is now officially live in the iOS app. Up until the new 4.1 update, users ha to view the mobile Facebook web page.

In our usage of Timeline on non-desktop devices, we feel it’s overall nicer looking. Certainly a lot better than it was. Let’s hope the notorious repeat notifications are finally fixed too.

Facebook Page Private Message Feature Leaks. Release Unknown.

Facebook page owners: Receiving/replying to followers’ comments is about to get a lot more private. The new feature was initially spotted by WeAreSocial.sg, and then later confirmed by Facebook to Read Write Web.

While some would compare the Facebook Page private messaging feature to Twitter’s own private Direct Message, there is one difference that could be highly useful — Facebook Page private messages will not require the page/page admin to be following hopeful commenters. On Twitter you can’t send someone a Direct Message unless they are following you.

For now, the image above and confirmation from Read Write Web are all we have proving said functionality is real. Once a release date for Facebook Page private messaging functionality is published we’ll certainly pass it along.

Early Build Of Facebook Messenger iOS App With Video Calling Leaks.

Is this what Facebook’s official video chat functionality will look like in their iOS Facebook Messenger app when it is eventually pushed to end users? Almost certainly not. While the work-in-progress UI is understandably simple, the reveal via iPhoneItalia confirms that Facebook is in fact working on bringing simple, quick video chat to their popular Facebook Messenger app.

iPhoneItalia is promising more info from the same source regarding Facebook Messenger for iOS and it’s upcoming video chat service. Stay tuned.

Poll: Would you use Facebook Messenger video chat over FaceTime — why or why not?

Motorola Introduces Their Own Facebook Phone: The MOTOKEY SOCIAL

Love the idea of a “Facebook Phone” but just can’t see yourself climbing into bed with HTC? How about some dedicated hardware from Motorola? The company slipped out a couple images earlier tonight of the new “MOTOKEY Social”, a low-end device with a heavy focus on Facebook sharing. Specs include 2.4″ QVGA display and 3-megapixel camera along with a 910 mAh battery. Hardcore mobile enthusiasts are no about already yawing, but those looking for a low cost device to feed their social hunger need look no further.

We’re fishing for a more complete spec list including processor, memory, and storage. Stay tuned for release date and pricing too…

Beluga Shutting Down For Good December 15th.

For a short time, Beluga was a rather good looking, multi-account messaging app for iOS and Android — and then it was swallowed up by Facebook as part of the company’s plan to develop and release their own standalone Facebook Messenger application. In most similar situations the smaller, original company/product is discontinued. And so will be Beluga.

Today the company announced that “Beluga is swimming off into the sunset”. Beginning November 11th Beluga users will no longer be able to send messages with the Beluga app, however, you will still be able to access old messages via the app and website. A little over a month later on December 15th the app/website will be completely closed for good.

Facebook Messenger has since become one of the top free apps in the App Store and Android Market. As we’ve discovered from our own tests, it’s pretty stable/reliable and feels at home on iOS due to a pleasant, simple design. Nonetheless, we’re sure some Beluga users are less than thrilled.

So tell us, disgruntled Beluga users: What app did you replace Beluga with?

Facebook Announces “Trusted Friends” And “App Passwords” Security Features.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard of horror stories from Facebook users telling of their horrible ordeal of trying to reclaim passwords belonging to the accounts of deceased or incapacitated loved ones. Nonetheless, we’re sure the problem has continued on outside of the limelight. Today those issues (theoretically) go away with the introduction of a new “Trusted Friends” feature. Trusted friends will allow you to choose 3-5 Facebook friends who can be given unique key codes to access your account should something happen to you.

Also announced today is a new “App Passwords” feature that allows you to assign passwords to specific apps you frequently use.

Both features are currently undergoing testing and should roll out to the public once testing finishes in the next few weeks.

In other news: The same post in which Facebook announces the new features they also detail that “only 0.06 of Facebook’s 1 billion users are compromised every day”. 0.06% sounds like next to nothing but taken out of a billion users that equates to roughly 600,000 — ~600,000 Facebook users per day, every day, have their accounts compromised. Damn.

Facebook Begins Construction On Massive European Data Center In Northern Sweden.

Swedes will soon have a new neighbor and all of Europe (in theory) more reliable Facebook service. The U.S. based company has announced plans to build a massive new data center with three 300,000 sq. ft. buildings in the remote city of Lulea in northern Sweden roughly 1,000km from Stockholm. According to Facebook, the data centers will be the largest of their kind in Europe and feature environmentally friendly features such as (possible) hydro-electric power and reduced energy needs thanks to the cold climate providing a natural cooling solution.

The first phase of the project (data center building number 1) is said to cost around $121 million (800 million crowns) with construction “beginning instantly” and completing within a year with the other two buildings being completed and fully operational by 2014.

Facebook For iPad Goes Live!

The repeated false alarms and missed (rumored) release dates can now be put into memory and forever forgotten. Facebook has finally, finally released the official iPad app from the confines of Facebook prison.

The biggest “feature” of Facebook for iPad will be the seamless (in theory) integration of other 3rd party apps. Click on a particular post that contains content from a Facebook app that just so happens to have an iOS/iPad equivalent and your iPad will automatically fast-app switch into said app. Bonus: This works on the mobile Facebook webpage too!

Outside of support for 3rd party apps, Facebook for iPad is as one expect, home to a well laid out tablet UI and comes packed with all the usual Facebook features such as chat, check-ins, photo/video uploads, etc.

The app is now live in the App Store — Get it now.

Let us know what you think and if the long delays were warranted.

Facebook Timeline Rollout Delayed By Timeline.com Trademark Lawsuit.

Ready for Facebook’s new Timeline view? If you haven’t taken the manual approach yet you’re going to have to wait a bit longer. What was supposed to start rolling out over the next few weeks has been delayed until an as of now unspecified date. The reason? Another lawsuit.

The lawsuit was revealed late last week but is already quickly moving along. So far the judge overseeing the lawsuit, Edmond Chang, has ordered Facebook to delay the mass public rollout of Timeline though has stopped short of enforcing a request by Timeline.com asking that Facebook actively block developers from singing on and being able to view the new Facebook Timeline view. With that said, Judge Chang has mandated that Facebook must track how many new “developers” sign up and log in through the Open Graph-powered Timeline feature — a number that is already over 1 million and growing by 100,000-200,000 per day.

Timeline.com’s biggest complain: Facebook’s Timeline feature will “destroy their business”. Ridiculous indeed.