Facebook for BlackBerry has gone version 2.0 and there are a lot of users are dying to get their hands on this update. For some reason the Blackberry platform seems to be one of the last to get any major update to the most popular apps and Facebook for BlackBerry is no exception. Without reservation I must say that finally RIM is giving their Facebook app some love with a totally overhauled Facebook 2.0 social media application.
What does this mean for Facebook for Blackberry users? There are great new features built into this application including a brand new look with a completely overhauled User Interface that looks pretty much like the Facebook App for the iPhone with icons placed in a smokey gray backgroud.
Here are some other great new features:
- Facebook Chat
- Improved News Feed
- Drop-Down Navigation Grid
- “Today View” of new notifications
- New Profile UI and Profile Information Viewing
- Ribbon View of external notifications (e.g. BBM messages)
There are a variety of icons you can click on in the new menu, which is designed as a dropdown menu marked “Facebook”. The dropdown menu includes News Feed, Profile, Notifications, Search, Messages, friends, Chat, Places, Photos and Options icons.
To the right of the dropdown menu you can also click on the “today view” which includes notifications, messages and friend requests.
The Good
I personally think this is a massive upgrade to the previous v1.9 and I can’t wait for this to be available to everybody. The application is very responsive, smooth and just looks much better overall. All of the menus load up very fast and even the news feed loads up much faster on the Torch. It’s much easier to add a comment or “like” something with the new “+” button on the right of every post that gives you the option to do either. With better navigation and an easy to use menu system, I think this new app will be a winner with avid “Facebookers” on their BlackBerry devices.
The new Built in Facebook Chat works great as well. It gives you the option to go offline or online and view who’s online as well. The messaging style is very familiar and looks as though it takes from BBM with the chat bubbles.
The Bad
Eventhough Blackberry finally has an updated Facebook 2.0 app with lots of new features, it still lacks in comparison to its iPhone and Android competitors. Not only is this brand new app not taking the lead in regards to technology it doesn’t even catch up to the other Facebook apps out there.
I think it should have at least the ability to:
- Create and modify events.
- Modify your personal profile.
- Upload videos.
- Delete photos from Facebook (in case you uploaded something you shouldn’t have)
- Delete people’s comments on photos and videos (let’s face it, some people say some dumb things)
- Access to your Pages (other companies or things you have “liked”)
Other than lacking a few features, this app is great. The only issue that I’ve experienced so far is when I clicked on a photo nothing happened and I had to click the actual link attached to the photo in order to get it to load. I’ve already reported that to RIM so hopefully it’s resolved. Currently, the beta app is only available to OS 6.0 users and the full version should be out shortly with support for OS 5 and possibly OS 4.
Have OS 6 and want to give it a try? Head over to blackberry.com/beta to sign up and try it out today! You won’t be disappointed.
