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Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

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Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#11
post #9
post #6

Maybe I am just not getting it, maybe I am in my sceptic mood or maybe I am getting sensationalist news fatigue. It's an iPad app yes, so what? Where someone expecting that FB wouldn't do an iPad app? Why is it secret? Does it do anything remarkable? It seems like this is news because it's FaceBook not because the app in itself is interesting.

Mark Zuckerberg mentioned several times how an iPad app would be wrong, because its not really mobile or something like that and it came so incredibly late. The second most visited site, over thousand employees and a iPad app is such a big problem. Hackathons, lockdowns, expensive Ex-Googlers, new campus and i am again totally unimpressed.

I think there is some real intrigue going on related to this. I don't really see the cost of developing a FB iPad app being the problem. I call BS that there is no demand for such an app. Didn't "unofficial" FB apps for the iPad start appearing the first week the iPad was out?

Also, IMHO touch.facebook.com and running the iPhone app on the iPad are both shitty experiences (the iPhone app less so but the low res on images and keyboard are pretty painful).

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#12
post #5

As an aside, this is the most ridiculous pageview-inflating image gallery I've ever seen on a tech-tabloid site. It's not even possible to advance from one image to the next, you have to always go back to the main article!

I was just going to comment on this. I was curious to see what the new Facebook campus looks like, and it was the same way. "For sure, this is just that writer doing her job wrong," but no, MG's article does the exact same thing. How can you do a complete redesign, in this day and age, and not provide a usable image gallery?

Sadly, usable is not their primary goal.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#13
Just tried it out now and it has almost everything that the website has, but in a better and more enjoyable package. Other than for business purposes (ads and managing pages) I see no reason to use the website anymore.

Here's how you get it:

1. Jailbreak your iPad

2. Install OpenSSH and Installous through Cydia

3. Download http://fileape.com/dl/avaCHTLpuYmtodJi

4. Connect through SSH or SFTP to the IP of your iPad with user root and pass "alpine"

5. Transfer the .ipa you just downloaded to /var/mobile/Documents/Installous/Downloads

6. Open Installous, click Downloads and then you should see your Facebook .ipa without an image. Click and Install.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#14

As an aside, this is the most ridiculous pageview-inflating image gallery I've ever seen on a tech-tabloid site. It's not even possible to advance from one image to the next, you have to always go back to the main article!

I am really hoping that this was an oversight from their new redesign, and not an intentional thing from either them or their AOL overlords.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#16

As an aside, this is the most ridiculous pageview-inflating image gallery I've ever seen on a tech-tabloid site. It's not even possible to advance from one image to the next, you have to always go back to the main article!

Middle click (open in new tab). At least it's not flash or something where you can't do that. Definitely annoying though.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#18
post #10
post #6

Maybe I am just not getting it, maybe I am in my sceptic mood or maybe I am getting sensationalist news fatigue. It's an iPad app yes, so what? Where someone expecting that FB wouldn't do an iPad app? Why is it secret? Does it do anything remarkable? It seems like this is news because it's FaceBook not because the app in itself is interesting.

I agree. It is not even that good a re-release of the iPhone app. I was hoping for something to keep them relevant with what google has done. This is nothing special or groundbreaking at all. I expect better from a company that has such resources both in financial as well as people.

Have you actually used it?

I am right now, and I couldn't disagree with you more.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#19
post #6

Maybe I am just not getting it, maybe I am in my sceptic mood or maybe I am getting sensationalist news fatigue. It's an iPad app yes, so what? Where someone expecting that FB wouldn't do an iPad app? Why is it secret? Does it do anything remarkable? It seems like this is news because it's FaceBook not because the app in itself is interesting.

My take has been that Facebook has been reluctant to do an iPad app because that keeps their cookies out of iPad's Safari.

Re: Facebook’s Secret iPad App Exposed [Pictures]

#20

As an aside, this is the most ridiculous pageview-inflating image gallery I've ever seen on a tech-tabloid site. It's not even possible to advance from one image to the next, you have to always go back to the main article!

FWIW, this is WordPress' default behavior if you use the [gallery] shortcode to display all images attached to a post.

That said, I strongly dislike it as well, and I think they should change it.

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