Facebook Home Reviews: For Facebook Fans Only, Addictive, Too Simple

[MacRumors]

The first reviews for Facebook Home, the social network's new Android home screen experience, are out. Home isn't quite a "Facebook Phone", but it also isn't a full-fledged operating system. It slots right in between the two segments.

Dieter Bohn of The Verge details the two main components of Home:

Facebook Home essentially consists of two parts. The first is Facebook Home proper (henceforth "Home"), which replaces your homescreen and your lockscreen with Facebook's News Feed and app launcher. The second is a major update to Facebook Messenger which lets you receive and reply to texts no matter which app you're using.

Bohn mentions that the Chat Head feature, which overlays Facebook Messenger chats over any app a user may use, was a highlight.

The difference in immediacy and convenience is huge. What Facebook has figured out is that people usually have messaging conversations with somebody for a little while, but are doing other things on their phone while they do it. Being able to reply without losing your sense of place is incredibly convenient.

Walt Mossberg of AllThingsDigital thought that the two-pronged set-up was simple to use.

I found Facebook Home to be easy to use, elegantly designed and addictive. Although I'm a regular Facebook user, I found that, with Home, I paid more attention than ever to my news feed, Liked items more often and used Facebook's Messenger service more often. So, if you are a big Facebook fan, Facebook Home can be a big win.

Although The Verge says that Home's simplicity also hurts it as it lacks key Android features like Widgets and Folders. They also mention that although Home has its own version of notifications, most apps do not support it and default to Android's notification pane. Both Bohn and Mossberg conclude that although Home is simple-to-use and addictive, only Facebook fans should take notice as it lacks key features for most smartphone users.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that bringing Home to iOS would not be as easy as it was on Android because Android is "open" and Facebook would have to go through Apple and its existing relationship with the company while they don't have to go through Google for Home.

Facebook Home will be available to download for select Android devices (Samsung Galaxy SIII, HTC One X, HTC One X+ and Samsung Galaxy Note II) on April 12th for free. HTC and AT&T will also be offering the HTC First, a $100 smartphone that will have Home preloaded.

Article Link: Facebook Home Reviews: For Facebook Fans Only, Addictive, Too Simple

 

[KieranDotW]

Something about that Zuckerberg icon always makes me burst out laughing.

 

[SDAVE]

Something about that Zuckerberg icon always makes me burst out laughing.

Hate that guy.

 

[longofest]

Something about that Zuckerberg icon always makes me burst out laughing.

Kind of reminds you of "Tom"...

Seriously though. I think I like some of the concepts that Facebook is introducing here. A people/interaction centric device vs. an app centric device has merit. Seems like the 1.0 version is lacking, but if they can build on it, they could have something.

 

[madsci954]

Hate that guy.

Same, but my hatred stems from envy, as we have the same first name, and he's 10 days younger than me. My wife teases me "I married the wrong Mark"

 

[64Mario64]

Wait, how did Dieter Bohn get it running on an iPhone? Is it on Cydia?

 

[sulpfiction]

Epic failure. I'm totally content with my FB app and would never buy a phone geared around it.

 

[b166er]

Something about that Zuckerberg icon always makes me burst out laughing.

well his head is floating in a rather close proximity to a crotch.

 

[buysp]

Next.....

 

[Frank Gore]

Not sure what kind of phone that is but it reminds me a lot of the 1st generation iPod Touch

 

[DipDog3]

Seriously, kids don't use facebook anymore.

It's either twitter, instagram or snapchat... not facebook.

 

[b166er]

Kind of reminds you of "Tom"...

Seriously though. I think I like some of the concepts that Facebook is introducing here. A people/interaction centric device vs. an app centric device has merit. Seems like the 1.0 version is lacking, but if they can build on it, they could have something.

This really isn't too far off from what WP8 is at its core. You can see twitter and facebook feeds from specific groups that you choose without ever opening apps. That's what WP8 is really all about.

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Epic failure. I'm totally content with my FB app and would never buy a phone geared around it.

This isn't a phone, it's a launcher. Able to be used on several phones.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'm surprised the reviews are so positive.

I feel like this will be a fad kind of thing... it'll be neat for a while, just like Facebook Chat was, but then people will go back to other things and only occasionally appreciate it.

 

[Bill Killer]

Seriously, kids don't use facebook anymore.

It's either twitter, instagram or snapchat... not facebook.

Be more wrong.

 

[brayhite]

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that bringing Home to iOS would not be as easy as it was on Android

good, keep it. there's an app for that. and jailbreak widgets. jeebus.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

If Jobs were alive, he would positively have Zuckerb's head on a pike greeting visitors at 1 Infinite Loop.

 

[sundragon]

Seriously, kids don't use facebook anymore.

It's either twitter, instagram or snapchat... not facebook.

I disagree with everything you've said.

My 15 year old niece is on it 24/7
My friends who are from 20s to 40s are on it 24/7

I still wouldn't recommend Facebook Home to anyone as it's a waste of time and productivity (data mining security/privacy issues aside)

 

[skellener]

Seriously, kids don't use facebook anymore.

It's either twitter, instagram or snapchat... not facebook.

Yup. Or even something else - but not FB - that's for old folks now. FogieBook

Very happy this won't be coming to iOS. I don't want any single app to take over - especially FB. I don't even have the preference login set up on my iPhone. Just the regular app.

That being said, I do think that going for a more people centric experience over simply an app centric one could be very compelling. That's the part of it that is in fact interesting. We'll see with the next rev of iOS or even the one after what Apple plans to do. iOS app grid is geting a bit stale five years on now.

 

[OrangeSVTguy]

well his head is floating in a rather close proximity to a crotch.

Nice choice in the use of the word head.

 

[JayCee842]

What's a FB?

All jokes aside, this looks pretty neat (for the addictive user) and I would definitely give it a try if I had a FB.

----------

Hate that guy.

What has he done to you that caused you to hate him?

 

[bidwalj]

I like the concept but I feel it will work better for something like twitter. A constantly updating twitter home screen is far more useful than a Facebook feed. I don't know about other users, but my feed doesn't have much change within a few hours. Not enough for me to miss out on something.

 

[hugo7]

No interest in FB but...

this is a seriously smart move by the Facebook team and it looks very slick on those Android devices. Forget about bringing out a dedicated phone. Just provide a new launcher to 'own' so many existing devices. Great strategy.

I've no interest in ever using Facebook, but credit where credit is due.

 

[SDAVE]

What's a FB?

All jokes aside, this looks pretty neat (for the addictive user) and I would definitely give it a try if I had a FB.

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What has he done to you that caused you to hate him?

You know, very well...

 

[QCassidy352]

It actually makes me sad that anyone could be so addicted to Facebook as to want this.

 

[AppleFanatic10]

Epic failure. I'm totally content with my FB app and would never buy a phone geared around it.

Same here. I'm not exactly sure why we need a Facebook device/phone. I'm just content with the actual app.