The Facebook Android App was updated yesterday to version 1.9.2 following a recent update to version 1.9. The previous version was heavily criticized by users because of the addition of Facebook Messenger and Camera shortcuts that were automatically added alongside. This caused confusion for users who already had the individual apps installed and the move cluttered up the Android App Tray as well since they did not replace the standalone apps already present, if they were.
The icons were confusing as well as they were too similar to the stock Android icons. This was fixed recently, and the icons modified so it would be easier to tell them apart from the stock icons.
Users were still not happy at all. Facebook is an immensely popular social network and has reached nearly a cool billion users. Sadly, Facebook has largely been unable to please mobile socialites thus far and each new version of the Facebook app is scrutinized and then labeled imperfect. The icons bundled along the last version Facebook app especially angered users and were subsequently deemed useless, confusing and unnecessary.
For all such users there is good news. We recently wrote about how you could remove the Messenger and Camera icons. Such methods are no longer required though. Version 1.9.2 of the Facebook app itself removes the Messenger and Camera shortcuts entirely.
The update may be thanks to the negative customer feedback about the shortcuts added, but then again Facebook may have some other reason to remove them. Either ways it’s great for the majority of mobile Facebook users.
Apart from this, the Facebook Messenger App for Android has also been updated. The official changelog for version 1.7 of the Facebook Messenger App is as follows:
Now it’s even easier to reach groups of friends on the go:
- Text friends for free, using your existing data plan
- Reach friends wherever they are now – on their phone or the web
- Know who’s seen your message, and who hasn’t
- See where friends are messaging you from
The most notable change here is that users can now ‘text’ their friends for free using their existing data plan and actually know who has read your message(s) via what is essentially a ‘read’ receipt, much like in BBM or iMessage. Location sharing is also included and while this feature can be turned off, you can no longer pretend you haven’t read someone’s message. That feature cannot be opted out of.
As far as the Facebook Messenger for iPhone is concerned, it has also been updated. The change log is identical to that for Android but has two additional features as well:
Also includes:
- Typing indicator – see when your friend is replying
- Bug fixes
Facebook for Every Phone has also been updated. After Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram, such a move was expected. It’s strange that this is for feature phones though and smartphone owners don’t have the option yet and even the Facebook site itself does not have such a feature yet. Two filters can now be applied from feature phones; sepia and black&white.
Overall, all the apps have been improved. If you are still not satisfied by the official Facebook app for Android you may want to check out an alternative – Friendcaster.
In other Facebook related news, the social network recently made free antivirus software from leading software companies available to everyone in an attempt to prevent malware and spam from spreading which can be downloaded from the Facebook Antivirus Marketplace.
Download Facebook App for Android [Google Play Store link]
Download Facebook Messenger [Google Play Store link]
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