Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Odds and ends, Internet, Surveys and Polls, iPhone
Social networking getting bigger on mobile phones
This is a big duh to anyone (like me) who's switched to a smartphone within the last year or so, but according to "new research" (I've never heard of them either), social networking applications and websites are blowing up on mobile phones, including none other than the iPhone.
Things are going both ways -- social networks are reaching out to mobile users with mobile versions of their sites and device-specific applications, and mobile phones are reaching back by allowing quick and easy ways to take pictures or upload text or video. That dude on his phone in the bar next to you is just as likely to be texting his entire network as he is texting that friend he's waiting for.
The end of The Guardian's article about this notes that search is up on mobile phones, too. Throw one more tick on the list of ways the iPhone has influenced how, when, and where we're using the Internet on our phones.
[via textually]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xpunksbeendeadx said 12:26PM on 12-23-2008
This would be more true if facebook could get their app to work properly. One of the worst apps ever, makes me cry that myspace's is better.
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Enrique said 12:46PM on 12-23-2008
Seriously! The Facebook iPhone app crashes at least twice per session...
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aaron said 12:50PM on 12-23-2008
It has NEVER crashed on me. Wierd.
Rudy said 5:33PM on 12-23-2008
im surprised to hear all these crash stories, it rarely crashes on me. they update that app every 5 months it feels like.
jonathan ober said 1:00PM on 12-23-2008
no issues with the facebook app for me. wondering why its happening for you two.
anyways, I actually facebook via my iphone more than the web page, perhaps its a good thing that all of my updates happen on the road or when there is less time to be surfing facebook...I know it's helped minimize those days and hours wasted...
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Xpunksbeendeadx said 1:08PM on 12-23-2008
Well ever since the iPhones firmware got updated facebook has been screwy for me. I can't even look at notifications without it crashing. It's basically a sure thing that as soon as I open those notifications it crahses.
Sucks too because this app was perfect before. Saved me so much time, never had to use my desktop anymore.
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mmendoza27 said 1:28PM on 12-23-2008
I haven't had any crashing problems with the facebook app. The 2.0 version of the app really has set the bar for all social networking apps. I prefer facebook over MySpace soooooo much more.
Only thing I've noticed is a redraw issue. Whenever I click on a picture and go back to my "Top Stories", everything disappears. I can scroll up and down, but it's all gone. I'm sure they'll fix it soon.
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prdbgt said 2:19PM on 12-23-2008
Same thing happens to me.
conigs said 5:45PM on 12-23-2008
I wouldn't hold your breath with fixing it soon. The last update was nearly three months ago. They have yet to address basic problems like inaccurate times/dates in the news feed which have existed since the 2.0 update.
Their "support" link in the app store sends you to the generic Facebook help page (a search for iPhone yields nothing). Once you do get to the actual support page for the iPhone app, it's only a contact form (and listed as being developed by "External Developers").
I don't know if Facebook only wants to release full point upgrades (1.0->2.0->3.0) or what, but they don't seem to eager to fix these small but annoying problems in an otherwise great app.
Chase said 3:22PM on 12-23-2008
That is really weird as well. I have never had issues with Facebook's app. I have tons of trouble with MySpace's because it is really slow for me. I try to avoid MySpace if at all possible. After the initial Facebook upgrade the app has worked very well for me. No complaints here.
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Rudy said 4:27PM on 12-23-2008
facebook on the iphone is like crack. i think i use it more than the desktop version.
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Tripp said 4:58PM on 12-23-2008
After getting iPhone on day one I stumbled across a iPhone specific social site that blows my mind.
If you get a chance check out the stream at www.Irovr.com.
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Stuart said 5:06PM on 12-23-2008
Yeah mine keeps crashing and the times are wrong
Come on Facebook, sort it out
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Rudy said 5:30PM on 12-23-2008
yeah the times are so messed up.... it can get annoying
BT said 3:41AM on 12-24-2008
Just got my iphone and was excited to see facebook as an app but for the last two days, still can't log on using the iphone app to facebook... anyone else having this problem? web version works but not the iphone app.... vlingo is cool.. voice activated updates right into facebook for your status.
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