Facebook goes to the next level

Facebook, the most addictive( sorry I mean engaging)  app on Android has unveiled the next stage of its mobile strategy and is releasing a new launcher app that will effectively turn your Android phone into a Facebook phone.

Over in the USA this week, Mark Zuckerberg, (Facebook’s head honcho)  announce Facebook Home, the new replacement Android launcher that they are launching on April 12.

People Centric User Experience

It seems that the clever bods on the facebook team, have taken the opportunity to rethink exactly what a mobile experience should be like and their answer (unsurprisingly) is: People!

Facebook are going to be launching the app with the following key features:

Cover feed
From the moment you wake up your phone you become immersed in cover feed. Cover feed replaces the lock screen and home screen. It’s a window into what’s happening with your friends – friends finishing a bike race, your family sharing a meal or an article about your favorite sports team. These are the beautiful, immersive experiences that you get through Home.

Chat heads
With chat heads you can keep chatting with friends even when you’re using other apps. When friends send you messages, a chat head appears with your friend’s face, so you see exactly who you’re chatting with. Messages reach you no matter what you’re doing – whether you’re checking email, browsing the web, or listening to music.

Notifications
Cover feed is great for seeing everything going on in the world. But when something happens that’s more important and directed at you, like a friend posting on your timeline, you’ll receive notifications with their profile pictures.

Apps
It’s as easy to get to your apps in Home as it is on any other phone. Swipe up to see your favourite apps in the launcher. There’s also a screen containing all of your apps, and you can drag your favourite apps to the launcher.