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Facebook Introduces the "Home" for Android
After a few days made a curious, Facebook finally launched
the "new house" named Facebook Home Thursday (4/4/2013) at 1 pm
Eastern United States time.
"We cannot build a cell phone, and we could not develop
its own operating system," said Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on stage,
as reported by Engadget. And if Facebook Home?
Facebook's true Home is an application that is a little
different than other smartphone applications because it runs on an operating
system but be under other applications, such as the elaboration in the image
below.
Platform choice falls to the Google Android operating system
hosts. The reason is called Zuckerberg not far from the "open" nature
of the open-source OS.
So run, Facebook Home will change the Lockscreen and
Homescreen Android with a new look called the Feed Cover.
As the name suggests, Cover the Feed presents an update of
the latest news feeds of Facebook users in the form of drawings or photographs
that meet the screen, also a bit of affidavits regarding the feed in question.
All of these feeds to be updated automatically in the
background. Users need not open Facebook applications or even opening the lock
cell phones to follow the latest development of social life.
A feed can respond directly-for example to write comments by
doing double tapping.
What if users want to access another application in the
Android smartphone hers? Simply apply it with fingers of a user photo in the
bottom Cover Feed, and all applications can be accessed from the launcher
Android as usual.
Well, as long as the user opens a folder application,
Facebook Home (by tamilan Cover Feed) will continue to run in the background,
as can be seen in the image below.
If there are friends who send messages on Facebook Chat
users, then the notification form friends photos will be displayed at the top
of the screen, even when the user is in another application.
The user could then direct respond by touching pictures of
friends and opens the chat interface. This feature is called "Chat
Heads".
Facebook Home will begin on April 12, available through
Google's upcoming Play Store. Unfortunately, this application can only be used
in certain types of smartphones, the HTC One X, One X + HTC, Samsung Galaxy,
Samsung Galaxy SIII Note.
Support for other smartphones such as HTC Galaxy S4
following One and tablet device will be added in the future. As for Android
device manufacturers who are already partnering with Facebook to provide Home
is the HTC, Samsung, and Sony.
Is Facebook Home Worth Installing?
Facebook Home launched recently for Android devices. However, there are some devices like tablets and Smartphones that are not yet supported including Google Nexus 7. The fascination with this new arrangement of including MMS, SMS, applications and various other fully integrated Facebook features has caused a lot of interest in it. Now the question is, do you really need it? Let us find out all about Facebook Home when you decide to use it on your Samsung Galaxy S III.
Cover Feed
As soon as you install the app on your Smartphone you will be greeted with scrolling status messages, profile picture bubble and news feeds. To reveal your last used app press and scroll to the right, for messenger left and for revealing Apps tap the home key or move upwards. If you want to through your news feed then either flick right or left, you can also hide your profile picture by taping on it. Other features include liking and commenting. To blow up a picture on your screen just press and hold down.
Unified Messaging and Chat Heads
The Messenger app enables integrates MMS and SMS messages. This immediately alerts you as soon as you get an update or receive a message. Tap to reply the message that appears on the middle of your screen, this now opens up a Chat Head. Chat Heads depend upon the number of people who are chatting with you. If you find your screen cluttered with it then flick to bottom to remove it. However, there are some disappointing aspects about it as well. Although this does seems like unified messaging option but at times you will be confused as to which kind of message is being sent. It is easy getting confused between text and Facebook messages amongst the clutter of messages. Additionally, other platforms like Google voice, WhatsApp and Kik seem to be more popular amongst young users, why would one like to be confined within the walls of SMS and MMS. At times, you might feel annoyed with the bubble of Chat Head that keeps hanging until you flick it to remove it or answer back.
Security Concerns
Facebook Home sits on your screen and the moment you switch on your phone you start receiving the Cover Feeds. For those who are hooked on to it will enjoy instant updates of friends and their social network. As for those who have concerns of privacy and security might be annoyed by this and feel infringement of privacy as anyone who picks up your phone will be able to access them directly flashing on the screen. If in any case, you misplace or your device is stolen then anyone can easily misuse your Facebook account. To avoid all this you can make changes in the settings, Menu->Home Settings, uncheck the box next to the See Home When Screen Turns On. This revert back the lockscreen functionality. Again, what is the use of Facebook Home if you are removing the updates from your home screen.
Data Consumption
Updating the Cover Feed requires constant data packet exchange. This will result in quick battery drain and hiked bills. The higher amount of data exchange is used in pictures and updates, you can fix it by making changes in the settings.
Why you will not like Facebook Home?
The first thing to notice is the Android Jelly Bean that is all about keeping it clutter free and invisibility. With Facebook Home, it is just the opposite. Additionally, the folders and widgets are replaced by the app drawer divided into four screens with quick utility that includes photo, check in and status.
The biggest concern is about the privacy. Installing the app requires no permission from your device. Additionally, you will always be logged in your account and your location will be monitored including apps downloads and the apps you are currently using.
Is it a thing to be alarmed about?
It is true that Facebook Home will be monitoring your activities, your phone activities and your downloads. However, the same goes with Apple and Google but because these are well-established brands, so it seems safe. Still it is too early to assume that Facebook Home might be malicious.
Conclusion
If you are totally hooked to this social networking website then you will enjoy using it. For those who are not as active on Facebook this may seem the biggest annoyance ever. The Chat Heads for instance might cause clutter and the confusion with messaging is yet another factor. Interestingly HTC shipped their Smartphone with Facebook Home this indicates that there is hope for this app to catch on with technology enthusiasts.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7666178
Tag :
Facebook
Facebook Home Preview
Recently the most popular social connect website Facebook has introduced its latest mode of reaching out to mobile users. The Facebook Home interface is designed for Android Smartphones. Let us find out more about it and its functionality.
The Home will be available on April 12, 2013 with AT&T ($99.99). Additionally, this app will be pushed on to the HTC One series including One X+ and Samsung Galaxy series with Note II.
What is Facebook Home all about?
The best feature seems to be the ability to fling away an icon from the screen with a mere flick of your finger. This is indicative of the highly advanced and responsive UI while making things easier for a user. Another thing to notice is the scroll functionality that is swift and smooth. You will find it easy to navigate between pictures without any lag in response.
Fetching E-mails Made Easy
Facebook Home is a surprise to those who have long been hooked on their Android and iPhone devices. This is because basic functionality like e-mail alerts is easy to fetch, it can now be dragged down to the bottom of the screen to be used later on as per your convenience. Now you need not access the menu functionality to access your e-mails.
Home and Display
You will be greeted by a home screen as soon as you will launch the app. The home screen displays an array of your news feed from your Facebook account. This functionality is a bit similar to that of News Feed. You will also be able to view the traditional layout of pictures and stories that you are able to see on the original website. Additionally, all your notifications that are related to your account and system updates will be made available to your with one tap. On the home screen, you will also see a News Filter item that is customized according to what you have chosen and how you want to see it appear on your screen.
Initially you will find the Facebook Home free of any ads.
Apps and Other Functions
The app launcher is yet another interesting aspect that will pleasantly surprise you. This software is built from scratch to be compatible for the mobile utility. The launcher at the first glance might seem like a standard Android app interface that includes familiar buttons that can be tapped and are arranged in a row. You have the freedom to switch between most used apps to fully functional app menu. You will be easily able to move an app from within a menu to another menu.
The addition of Chat Heads is yet another surprise for users. This is a system that manages your chats including text messages, IM's from Facebook that will run effortlessly on the background. Even if you are busy with other app on the home screen or performing some other functionality the chat is still running.
With Facebook the Chat Heads gives you the extra benefit of providing you the visuals of the contact with whom you are chatting. The chat is displayed within a bubble with the picture of your friend appearing at the top of the chat screen. This allows you to quickly access a chat without having to go through the entire menu.
When you want to chat the bubbles transform into tabs on your chat screen. You can easily switch between your text conversations. Flipping between multiple chat users is easier while talking to them simultaneously. Just tap on the bubble and switch between chat users. On an average touch enabled screen display you will be easily able to view at least 6 tabs of conversation on your screen. If you are using a phone/ tablet like device then you will be able to accommodate more chat conversations simultaneously. It is like the larger the screen the better advantage you have of utilizing the Chat Heads. However you need to remember that if you have been idle for a long time then to resume your chat back you need to re-launch it again.
Conclusion
It is quite early to say anything about it yet but there seems to be some interesting features that have been incorporated in Facebook Home. The best seems to be the Chat Head as chat is the primary communication tool amongst most of the people online. Still some improvements can be made including adjustments in the idle time that will not log you off automatically. Other changes can be made on customizing more options for a user.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7619567
Tag :
Facebook
