Facebook is preparing an iPad app

According to the New York Times, Facebook is finally making an official iPad app. While Facebook's iPhone app has been in the App Store from day one, it's been a long, long wait for an iPad version of the popular social networking site. When asked about the possibility of an iPad app last November, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg reportedly said such an app wasn't in the works because "The iPad isn't mobile."

It looks like that was an ephemeral "no" worthy of Steve Jobs. According to the Times, Facebook's iPad app has been in testing for nearly a year, and Zuckerberg himself has been closely involved in its development. People familiar with the app's development say its design is "slick" and well-optimized for the iPad's screen, and it includes photo/video uploading features tied directly to the iPad 2's built-in cameras.

Thus far, iPad users unsatisfied with the way Facebook's site functions on a touchscreen-based device have had to make do with third-party applications. I've been using Friendly for iPad, but I'm still curious to see how Facebook's official app turns out. As we heard earlier, Facebook is also planning an HTML5 application platform called "Project Spartan," but according to the Times' source, that is intended to "supplement" the iPad app rather than compete with it.

Like the iPhone app, Facebook for iPad will be free. It is expected to debut on the App Store within the next few weeks.

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Source: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/facebook-readies-an…

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According to the New York Times, Facebook is finally making an official iPad app. While Facebook's iPhone app has been in the App Store...

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Dustin Cromwell

I'm getting sick of reading this Mis-quote. I watched the video. Zuck never said the app wasn't in development. ITo me, he was simply saying that that even twasn't the place to talk about the iPad or tablets because it wasn't a phone. The event, or their focus was on Mobile.. or phones. SOmeone asked about the iPad and all he said was that it wasn't mobile.

June 17 2011 at 3:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

isnoop

Like.

June 17 2011 at 2:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ben

Seems like the wise move would be to put solid effort into html5/css3 and build something that will provide a consistent interface across all platforms. I'm all for something that feels like an app, but why not build something that could benefit all iOS, Android and Web users...and not have to be maintained independently?

June 17 2011 at 2:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mike D

I hope this app is good... I did NOT like Friendly cuz it wasn't.

June 17 2011 at 10:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kevin

Personally I would say its too little too late. They should work on fixing the iPhone app because most people with an iPad like me have found other apps like Friendly that we have used for months and love. Granted Friendly did have an issue for those two weeks while it was being fixed, but it still is an extremely well designed application that does hold up to regular use. Just about the only way that I would switch to using an official facebook app is if they released it in tangent to another new feature that only they had initially.

June 17 2011 at 8:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply