Laying months – nay – years of rumors to rest, Zuckerberg and company finally dropped details on the long-awaited “Facebook Phone” during this morning’s press conference. Facebook showed off plenty, but the announcement was definitely more focused on software than on the fully-fledged smartphone you mayhave been hoping for.
The new mobile-optimized suite of apps (dubbed Facebook Home) basically puts Facebook first on your device. Once installed, the app pulls everything from your News Feed and displays it on your homescreen and lockscreen in an interactive slideshow, so with just a few taps and swipes you can check your feed, Like a friend’s post, or leave a comment.
The Facebook-forward design of Facebook Home is pretty nifty, but perhaps the most notable feature of Facebook Home is the messaging platform Facebook is calling Chat Heads. This feature makes it easier to chat and text with your friends by making messaging less of an “app” in the traditional sense, and more of a “layer.” When somebody shoots you a message, their head pops up, allowing you to respond with just a quick tap instead of whisking you away to a separate application.
Check out our full posts on Facebook Home and Chat Heads to find out more.