Michael Lipson » Facebook

Android Application Review: Facebook (Updated!)

Michael — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:04:59 +0000

While I’m certain I’ve missed a lot of updates to the Facebook application, since my first review, the most recent version really has appeal. In the previous review, I was rather disappointed as the phones browser seemed to support more features at similar speeds. I had begun to recommend http://touch.facebook.com/ as an alternative, after the site became live a little while back. For me it has been about speed and accesibility. For the most part, I found that the mobile site would load quicker then the application could fetch the data and http://touch.facebook.com/ had a slightly better interface.

This has changed, with the newest version of the application being as fast as the mobile site and containing more features. The biggest feature for me, while a petty one, is the addition of the Facebook phone book. While it doesn’t merge the contacts with the ones in your phone, as per Facebook’s TOA, it does allow you to call people who have listed their phone number on Facebook from a quick menu on your home screen. What I’d really like to see is integration with Contacts, at least (for us G1 owners?). Either way, the feature is greatly appreciated.

As for functionality, I’d say that it really feels more responsive with a bit more pep. I could attribute the speed to T-Mobile’s recent upgrade to 7.2mbps, seeing 900kbs+ practically, however I think the architecture of the application has improved too. While the data comes quicker, navigating through the application itself has improved as much. Going from friends to view my wall seems almost as though the data is saved on the phone, despite having just posted a new status update. Other improvements come with the design, which strongly resembles http://touch.facebook.com/. This comes as no surprise though, as I imagine the design of both are a deliberate attempt to unify the user interface across mobile platforms.

If you don’t have the app, or had removed previous versions, it’s definitely worth checking out.

New comment system in place!

Michael — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:55:54 +0000

After much searching and several headaches, I’ve finally installed a new comment system on my blog. Instead of requiring information, name, email and such, the system allows for users to securely use their Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo and OpenID accounts to comment on my blog. Aside from removing the need to moderate comments, the system should allow better discussion then the built-in WordPress solution.

Right now, as far as it has been tested, there’s a couple issues using Facebook connect. If anyone would be gracious enough to comment using Yahoo or Twitter, I’d appreciate the help.

Android > iPhone

Nick — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:20:47 +0000

After a few years of “dealing” with AT&T I have most recently switched to T-Mobile about 6 months ago. For the longest time I was one of the people that always said “Oh nothing will ever be greater than my iPhone.” Well truth be told the Motorola Cliq has just hit a home run with me, that’s right android has won my heart haha. Granted the iPhone was a pretty big hit over the past 2+ years but in retrospect I only ever used the phone for games or apps that helped pass the time while I was sitting in sociology lectures. Sure they had some decent apps for your social networking sites, but this is where the Cliq stands very strong. One touch status updates will automatically direct all status’ to Facebook, Twitter, Myspace wherever all at once. The iPhone forces you to select app, wait for it to load, and then login. With the Cliq it’s simply, touch and go. This phone is a socializing giant and I have a feeling iPhone app developers are falling all over themselves to try and jump on the bandwagon to try and compete. They better be working quickly because the MOTOBLUR is expected to be running on more than ten devices in the coming months.

Like I’ve stated I have had T-Mobile for a while now and it’s not just the new phone that I am so happy with, I am more so overwhelmed by their generosity and customer service. The last thing I remember getting from AT&T was my iPhone and I was “assisted” by some cold, hard headed, foreign bitch that didn’t want to do anything! I straight up left the store and ended up ordering one online instead of dealing with that. After my contract ended there was no way I was staying with AT&T. I was either going to hack the iPhone and use it on T-Mobile or just get a new phone when I switched. Long story short I gave up on the iPhone. After a few months of using a Blackberry 8320 and a Moto Zine I decided to look into upgrading my plan which consisted of 600 minutes and unlimited texts. After a day of deliberation and much help from T-Mobiles customer service and billing department I decided on getting the new Moto Cliq and the Even More Plus plan that included 1000 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited data which only amounted to $20 more a month than I was all ready paying.

All in all T-Mobile gets a well deserved 10 out of 10. With such strong phones like the G1, Moto Cliq, MyTouch, and numerous others that will come out running android, you pair that up with their new rate plans and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if people start dropping their current providers at the end of their contracts and start switching.

Facebook Android application review

Michael — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:04:14 +0000

I don’t really know where I stand with the app. Since Androids browser supports full html, I have been using facebook.com’s full site because their mobile site annoys me. Thus, when I heard of the applications release yesterday I was anxious to give it a shot and not have to bother with the browser.

Initially, my first response was feeling less than impressed because I thought back to the days I used Facebooks app on my old Blackberry 8320. The reason I liked the bb application so much was because it was simple and fast.

Now for the Android application, it seems to be pretty smooth and functional. I have not put it through rigorous testing, as I do other apps I write about, but I have come to the conclusion that it is an app for “the new facebook.” While I can appreciate the continuity here, I am not the biggest fan of the new Facebook design.

I am yet to receive notifications from facebook over my phone, however the settings for the notifications seem rather limited. However, the basic notification settings are probably ‘just right’ for the more popular Facebook users.

I have seen numerous complaints on the Android market about chat being disabled. I didn’t write the application, but I’ll take a guess at the thought pattern behind ditching chat (which is available through other applications). My primary guess is that writing it in to the app would have concluded with large headaches, as the primary focus is showing friends activity on the ‘wall.’ My next guess, would be that it would be a bother to most people, in the case that you accidentally left it ‘online’ and drained battery like woah.

Anyway, the end result is a functional app for Facebook, which isn’t exactly what I want but will settle on.