http://www.todayonline.com/tech/facebook-tweaks-android-phones-build-new-home
The idea behind the software is to bring Facebook content right to users’ home screens, rather than requiring them to check various apps to see what their friends are up to, or to chat. Down the line, Facebook will integrate its existing camera app and other features.
Though cameras and calls won’t be built into the initial version of Home, Zuckerberg promised the software will be updated at least once a month to add more features and fix bugs.
“Home” comes amid rapid growth in the number of people who access Facebook from phones and tablet computers. Of the social network’s 1.06 billion monthly users, 680 million log in using a mobile gadget. Taking over the entire screen of smartphones and, eventually, tablet computers will provide Facebook for a larger canvas for selling mobile ads.
Recognising that text messaging is one of the most important tasks on a mobile phone, Facebook programmed Home to include a feature called “chat heads”. This lets users communicate with their friends directly from their home screens — without opening a separate app.
“Why do we need to go into all the apps in the first place to see what is going on with the people we care about,” Zuckerberg asked.
Zuckerberg said users can have an experience on Android phones unavailable on other platforms because Google makes the software available on an open-source basis. That allows phone manufacturers and software developers to adapt it to their needs.
Apple had no immediate comment about Home.
A phone from HTC that comes pre-loaded with Home will be available in the US starting April 12, with AT&T as the carrier. The HTC First will sell for US$99.99 (S$124) with a two-year data plan from AT&T.
No comments:
Post a Comment