Facebook is fast becoming the center of our digital social interaction, and having access to Facebook from our mobile phones keeps us connected while on the go. The iPhone was among the first of the new generation of smart phones to see a beautifully-implemented version of a mobile Facebook iPhone app, with similar hopes being thrust upon other smart phone devices that are featuring iPhone-like functionality such as touch screens and app platforms.
The Android-supported mobile devices, for instance, offer new opportunities for Facebook to further appeal to a mobile audience. When compared to the iPhone’s Facebook app, however, Android’s recently updated Facebook app (free) is still quite dismal and leaves a lot to be desired.
The Facebook iPhone app is well integrated with the device’s existing capabilities, making it simple to share media, access various portio
ns of one’s Facebook account overall, and supporting the bulk of the actions one would be able to take if they were logged onto Facebook’s site.
The new Android version of the Facebook app is far less usable, with the only major update being the ability to view friends’ profiles and galleries and leave comments on media and wall postings. Everything else for basic or advanced account interaction, such as creating messages, viewing comments left by others on friends’ content, or readily accessing anything besides your news feed, will still need to be performed on the Facebook mobile Web site.
The most frustrating thing about the Facebook app for Android is that it does not optimize its use of supported devices. The menu button, for instance, could offer immediate access to messages, or even one’s own profile and notifications.
In Facebook’s defense, the devices supporting Android vary, whereas the iPhone is produced solely by Apple. Facebook has also had more time to put into the development of the iPhone app vs. Android, giving the iPhone Facebook app the winner’s bow across the board.
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