Facebook for Android 2.0 launching later today; promises to no longer be the slowest buggiest app av - Polidicks

[url]http://www.theverge.com/2012/12/13/3763196/facebook-for-android-native-app[/url] [quote=The Verge]Facebook today announced the launch of its new Android app, which ditches HTML 5 "webviews" in favor of native code to speed up loading photos, browsing your Timeline, and flipping through your News Feed. If Facebook's native update for iPhone this summer was any indication, Facebook for Android should offer considerable performance increases when it hits the Google Play store later today. "It's twice as fast when looking at photos and opening up your Timeline, and noticeably quicker to launch," Facebook engineer Phillip Fung says. While Facebook for Android may not look very different, the company took the opportunity to bring over some features recently added to its iOS version, like the "new story" banner which pops up whenever posts load into your News Feed as you're browsing. More importantly, Facebook made some under the hood tune-ups to increase performance, like improving memory efficiency, improving "garbage collection," and switching from Android's stock scrolling engine to a custom engine of its own. "This new release creates a solid foundation for the Facebook for Android app moving forward," engineer Frank Du said. It remains to be seen whether iOS will always come first for Facebook, but the company has certainly noted Android's skyrocketing popularity.[/quote] [url]http://newsroom.fb.com/News/554/Facebook-for-Android-is-Faster-than-Ever[/url] [quote=Facebook]Today we're announcing a faster Facebook app for people who use Android devices. Facebook for Android 2.0 is twice as fast when looking at photos and opening your Timeline and noticeably quicker to launch. [B]Launch the app quickly[/B] When you’re on your phone, nothing matters more than getting what you want quickly. We're always working to make our apps faster, and in this update we've rebuilt news feed, notifications and Timeline for speed. [img]http://newsroom.fb.com/ImageLibrary/DisplayMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4300&SizeId=3[/img] [B]View photos instantly[/B] Tap on any photo to open it right away, and scroll through photo albums without leaving news feed. [img]http://newsroom.fb.com/ImageLibrary/DisplayMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4301&SizeId=3[/img] [B]Open Timeline faster[/B] Go to your Timeline and view updates and photos more quickly than ever. [img]http://newsroom.fb.com/ImageLibrary/DisplayMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4302&SizeId=3[/img] [B]How to get the update[/B] This update will be available later today. Get a link to the app texted to your phone or just search for ‘Facebook’ on the Google Play Store.[/quote]

Yeah, it'll be the second slowest buggiest app available. Second to the previous version.

They say it won't be buggy and slow but I'm seriously doubting it. Might try it out, if it still sucks, just sticking with the mobile website through Opera Mini.

We shall see. My i9000 sometimes just crashes simply due to the app being so heavy...

this should be good; native code is always faster than just using HTML5 so it should be much better to use, though like most android apps probably not as good as the iOS version

[QUOTE=Generic.Monk;38817642]this should be good; native code is always faster than just using HTML5 so it should be much better to use, though like most android apps probably not as good as the iOS version[/QUOTE] Google launched Maps for iOS today and even [I]it[/I] is better than the Android version [img]http://imgkk.com/i/91i6.gif[/img]

Apparently Facebook gave employees Android phones, and told them to use the Facebook app. It's a process professionally known as "eating your own dog food". [editline]13th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=smurfy;38817668]Google launched Maps for iOS today and even [I]it[/I] is better than the Android version [img]http://imgkk.com/i/91i6.gif[/img][/QUOTE] Despite the maps being shit, the app quality of Apple maps was actually pretty good. Google needs to compete on the platform.

I've been using the basic version of the app. The one that came installed on my phone. That one works great. I tried the update before and it just didn't load anything at all. Super annoying. If this new update fixes it, then thank god. If not. Oh well. I'm not too bothered by it.

I read the title as Facepunch for Android at first. I got really confused when I saw the blue bar. Also, I have some old version of the facebook app in my phone. It is tons better than the updated one.

The update just came out for me, but I had to go right into the Facebook app page on the play store to find it Installing now... [editline]13th December 2012[/editline] Still getting occasional 'network errors', still uses the menu button. But it's a useable app now

how not to advertise a new app: "look we got rid of the menu button" "woops we lied"

Weird. I've never had problems with the Facebook app.

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;38817675]Despite the maps being shit, the app quality of Apple maps was actually pretty good. Google needs to compete on the platform.[/QUOTE] "Ignoring the primary function of the app, its really quite nice"

I remember having this piece of shit nearly crash my really bad android device glad they finally did something

"the car doesn't run, but it looks like a lamborgini"

[QUOTE=smurfy;38817668]Google launched Maps for iOS today and even [I]it[/I] is better than the Android version [img]http://imgkk.com/i/91i6.gif[/img][/QUOTE] The reason for this is to make people switch to Google Maps instead of Apple's crappy maps, and the ad revenue and content/information it would harness from iOS users. It's kinda true how most iPhone users have mobile data while less have it on Android.

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;38818145]"the car doesn't run, but it looks like a lamborgini"[/QUOTE] It looks like a Porsche, [I]BUT[/I] the engine is from a Pinto.

I've come to like Friendcaster myself to be honest, seems to fulfil everything I need it to Might try this if it breaks for some reason

Just updated and its still as crap as before

[QUOTE=Van-man;38818453]It looks like a Porsche, [I]BUT[/I] the engine is from a Pinto.[/QUOTE] its probably better than a porsche then

It's faster but still looks like poop.

I would just use a web browser anyways

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38818643]Slightly too late for me I've moved to Google+, its worked flawlessly from day one.[/QUOTE] I'd be happy to move to G+ if my friends came along too

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38818643]Slightly too late for me I've moved to Google+, its worked flawlessly from day one.[/QUOTE] enjoy not talking to anyone ever

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38820056]Yes, I'll enjoy talking to 500 million non existent members... oh wait.[/QUOTE] And how many of those people do you actually know and talk to

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;38820141]30. Which is about the same as a non shitted-up Facebook contact list.[/QUOTE] Lucky, I know one person who has a g+ account spoiler: it's me

cool, it's finally usable on my phone

Finally it works on my I9000, its great Now time to put android 4.2 on it

[QUOTE=FlashFireSix;38820123]And how many of those people do you actually know and talk to[/QUOTE] lmao how many of facebook's members do you know and talk to on a daily basis? i think i speak for a lot of people when i say that i might have a few hundred "friends", but i really only actively talk to 20-25 of them.

I've noticed that iPhones are much smoother with just about any app than an android phone. I think that an iPhone app is always going to be faster and more responsive than an Android one. Pros and cons.