Facebook Introduces New 'Home' Screen for Android Devices, Arrives April 12th

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg today introduced a new home screen experience for Android devices. The company is trying to flip the user experience on phones so users will navigate their phone "through people, not apps".

During the question-and-answer session after the event, Zuckerberg said bringing Home to iOS would not be as easy as with Android and would have to happen via the company's existing partnership with Apple. Because Android is 'open', Facebook isn't required to work with Google on the project.

Instead of seeing an app icon or name, Facebook has designed all interactions to focus on individual people rather than keeping emails and text messages from the same friends separate.

Facebookhome
Facebook claims users turn on their phone 100 times per day, and, among other things, is redoing the lock screen on the Android phone to give users a slideshow of photos and updates from their Facebook News Feeds.

'Home' includes another new feature called 'chat heads', allowing users to keep their ongoing SMS and Facebook messages on top of every app on the phone for easy access. The company is putting a huge amount of emphasis on 'content' and 'people' rather than 'apps', and, as a result, Facebook has put itself in the middle of everything the user does on their phone.

Chathead
Engadget is reporting Facebook Home will be available on select Android devices (HTC One X, HTC One X+, Samsung Galaxy S III and Samsung Galaxy Note II) on April 12th. Interested users can view the livestream at Facebooklive.com. Facebook expects Home to arrive on Android tablets within several months.

Additionally, Facebook is offering a program for carriers and device makers to bundle Facebook Home into devices from the factory. HTC and AT&T are the first companies to sign on, with the 'HTC First' coming out April 12 for $100.

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Top Rated Comments

ECUpirate44 Avatar
158 months ago
That looks awful....
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nikhsub1 Avatar
158 months ago
That looks like an utter nightmare. I use my phone as a tool more than a social hub. Call me crazy.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AndyDiamond Avatar
158 months ago
so is the pic of Zuck the home icon or does it make farting sounds when you press it?
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KdParker Avatar
158 months ago
Not interested in Facebook being in the middle of all my mobile online experiences.

Seems silly to have Facebook phone, I don't even like the facebook app...
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
s8film40 Avatar
158 months ago
So when everyone changes their profile photo to whatever the "cause" of the week is it will get real confusing.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Number 41 Avatar
158 months ago
Based on my facebook feed, it'd be a phone that would display nothing but baby pictures, wedding/engagement shots, and unfunny eCards 24/7.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)