Facebook unveiled its new set of mobile apps this week, called Facebook Home -- a move to more fully integrate the Facebook experience into the mobile habits of an increasingly tech-connected public.
Contrary to some speculation, Facebook did not release a new mobile phone otr an operating system. Instead, Facebook Home is a series of apps that act as a skin, much like HTC's Sense interface or Samsung's TouchWiz, that overlays the stock Android operating system.
Facebook Home turns the home screen into Cover Feed, which continually displays updates from Facebook friends. Messaging through Facebook is integrated into the contacts list, and notifications from other non-Facebook apps and contacts still show up in the interface.
Facebook did unveil a partnership with HTC, and they have produced the HTC First, a mid-level Android phone designed specifically for Facebook Home. The First will be available on Apr. 12 from AT&T for $99.99.
For customers who already have a phone, Facebook Home will be released on Apr. 12 as a set of free apps through the Google Play Store. For now, it will only work on certain HTC and Samsung phones: the HTC One, the HTC One X, the HTC One X+, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2.
New features in Facebook Home include:
* Cover feed: A constant, fresh stream of photos and updates from your newsfeed, cover feed is always present when you wake up your phone. It lets you stay up-to-date on your friends' latest activities in real-time, all the time. You can swipe through to see more photos and updates, double tap to "like" a post and comment right from cover feed. To learn more about cover feed, check out this video.
* Notifications: Notifications from apps and friends appear right on your home screen. It's easier to see when you have a missed call, calendar reminder or new message. Open a notification with a double tap or clear them away to see your Cover Feed. To learn more about notifications, check out this video.
* Chat Heads: The mobile messenger lets you jump in and out of conversations while you do other things, like watch a video and browse the web. Reply right from chat heads, or move them around if you're not ready to respond. Plus you can send and receive texts and Facebook messages from the same spot. To learn more about chat heads, check out this video.
* App Launcher: See your favorite apps and post right to Facebook from the same spot. You choose what's on your app launcher-press and hold an app then drag it anywhere.
* Instagram: HTC First is the only phone that comes with Instagram pre-loaded.
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