Facebook has finally launched its new home

Yesterday April 4, at its Menlo Park headquarters, Facebook has launched its much awaited “new home on Android”. And after various speculations, it is now clear that Facebook’s new home is not a Facebook mobile phone but it is Facebook integrated into a mobile phone.

Facebook Homescreen. Credit: Phandroid

Facebook has launched a new homepage on Android OS (Operating System) using HTC First phone as a platform. The homepage is expected to notify users of Facebook of what is happening on Facebook, especially what their friends are doing. This is in a bid to increase the time users spend on the mega social site.

“You’re going to be able to turn your Android phone into a great social phone,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the press conference.


“We’re calling this Home.” HTC’s Peter Chou at the launch said, “people, not apps?”, “We want to build the best experience for every person, on every phone.”

Coverfeed (an app) overhauls the homescreen and lockscreen, giving you updates on what your friends are doing without you having to launch an app, or even unlock your phone. You can also like or comment on posts from your homescreen.

Facebook Home. Credit: Phandroid

Mark Zuckerberg in talking about Android allowing Facebook to change a lot about the OS said, “You don’t need to fork Android to do what Facebook is doing. And for Facebook, it all starts with the homescreen.” He also included that we look at the homescreen of our phones on average, 100 times a day.

Facebook Home will be available as a download for smartphone directly from the Google Play Store with plans for monthly updates.

April 12th is the launch for other group of Android devices (HTC One and One X, Samsung Galaxy SIII, Galaxy Note II, and coming Galaxy S VI for a start). It will be on tablet in few months time.

The Facebook Home is not yet available for iOS powered Apple devices.

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