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998 'Facebook' stories December 2010 - March 2013

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Facebook is the most popular social media service in the world with 2.32 billion monthly active users as of December 31, 2018

Facebook is the most popular social media service in the world with 2.32 billion monthly active users as of December 31, 2018. It also averages 1.52 billion daily active users as of December 2018.

Facebook was launched in February of 2004 (as The Facebook) for college students and then rapidly grew as it opened the service to more than those with a .edu email address. It was the subject of the 2010 movie called “The Social Network“.

In 2012, the social media giant offered its IPO and Facebook earned the title of the fastest company to grow to $250 billion market capitalization in the S&P 500.

In recent years, the company has been at the center of attention related to its role in the Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Since then, it’s been a continual stream of negative news for the company. They recently had all of their enterprise certificates for iOS revoked after it was discovered they had repackaged Onavo VPN as a ‘Research’ app and were paying teens $20/month to sneakily sideload it.

In early 2019, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a “privacy shift” for the company. He outlined a detailed vision for the future of the social media platform, specifically its messaging services. Notably, in contrast to how the company operates today, he says the future of the platform will be privacy-focused with features like end-to-end encryption, interoperability between its various apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, reducing how long it holds data, secure storage of personal data, and more.

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Twitter puts TweetDeck’s mobile apps out to pasture

9to5 Staff Mar 4 2013 - 4:16 pm PT

Twitter updated TweetDeck for Mac just last month with over 90 new fixes and features.

However, for those of you who use TweetDeck on iPhone, there is some bad news afoot:

To continue to offer a great product that addresses your unique needs, we’re going to focus our development efforts on our modern, web-based versions of TweetDeck. To that end, we are discontinuing support for our older apps: TweetDeck AIR, TweetDeck for Android and TweetDeck for iPhone. They will be removed from their respective app stores in early May and will stop functioning shortly thereafter. We’ll also discontinue support for our Facebook integration.

“Oh, and screw Facebook too.”

[tweet https://twitter.com/brucecaraway/status/308735851150573568]
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Yet another Java vulnerability discovered, researchers recommend disabling browser plug-in

Jordan Kahn Mar 1 2013 - 11:28 am PT

Following an attack on a smaller number of corporate Macs that exploited a flaw in the Java browser plug-in, researchers from security firm FireEye warned users of yet another new Java zero-day vulnerability. According to a blog post published yesterday (via IDG), browsers running Java v1.6 Update 41 and Java v1.7 Update 15 are now vulnerable to a malware attack that installs a remote access tool known as McRAT. The exploit is reportedly different from the one used to attack Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and several other companies last month. Following the earlier attack, Apple released an update to Java for users to version 1.6.0_41. These recent vulnerabilities come after several updates over the last year to Java addressing exploits.

FireEye recommended users disable Java until Oracle addresses the issue:

We have notified Oracle and will continue to work with Oracle on this in-the-wild discovery. Since this exploit affects the latest Java 6u41 and Java 7u15 versions, we urge users to disable Java in your browser until a patch has been released; alternatively, set your Java security settings to “High” and do not execute any unknown Java applets outside of your organization.

Oracle provided the instructions below for uninstalling Java on Mac:
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Facebook releases SDK 3.2 for iOS with better analytics, API improvements and more

Jordan Kahn Feb 25 2013 - 1:18 pm PT

Facebook announced on its Developers blog today that it is releasing version 3.2 of its SDK for iOS. The updated SDK makes it even easier for iOS app developers implementing Facebook features, with improvements to APIs and better tools for tracking usage and optimizing ads. Version 3.2 includes improved analytics and new metrics such as the ability to track “iOS 6 native share sheet and built-in native UI controls usage.” Facebook also noted that it is including a beta for select partners showing off upcoming support for “logging in-app purchase events.”

Better mobile analytics – We’ve added support for measuring additional usage metrics and optimizing ads to help improve an app’s quality and monetization potential
Enhanced error handling – SDK support and documentation now enabled for all classes of error responses
API improvements – A new FBAccessTokenData type makes it easier to open a session from token data explicitly, and to better handle app and deep linking

Facebook also said the updated SDK included enhanced error handling, improved web dialog support, and a several API improvements and bug fixes. Improvements to Facebook’s SDK are important, as the company’s noted over 45 percent of the top 400 grossing iOS apps are now integrated with the social network.

Version 3.2 of the Facebook SDK for iOS is available here.

Review: Tempo for iPhone – How smart does a calendar need to be?

Mike Beasley Feb 13 2013 - 7:59 am PT

Calendars. Contacts. Maps. Emails. Text messages. Facebook. LinkedIn.

There are a lot of things you can do with the iPhone. Each of those things is scattered across the phone in it’s own separate app, however. Sure, there’s some integration of those services, but most of the time you’re going to have to switch apps to get from one function to the other. It’s easy to get annoyed or overwhelmed trying to manage your time while everyone up-to-date on the things that matter.

Tempo is a new app from SRI (the company that originally developed Siri) that aims to bring all of those functions together—at least as far as the concern your schedule—into a cohesive system for managing your life. But how well do all of these different services coexist in the same application?

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Vine gets 17+ rating, ProCutX for Final Cut Pro, Gmail, Tweetbot, Poster, deals, more

Jordan Kahn Feb 6 2013 - 6:59 am PT

[hulu id=_cdivytk6g8qt3ggv4rw0a width=704 start_time=206 end_time=325]
Vine version 1.0.5: Twitter’s new short video sharing app Vine ran into a bit of controversy when pornography found its way into the Editor’s Picks section due to human error. The developers have since addressed the issues and today’s update not only brings new Twitter and Facebook sharing features, but also the ability to block and report profiles. As noted by The Verge, the 1.0.5 update also increased the rating of the app from 12+ to 17+.

• Share to Twitter or Facebook after posting. Find the post you want to share, then tap the “…” button in the bottom right.
• Report or block a profile. Go to the profile, then tap the newly added “…” button in the top right.
• Fixed an issue that caused a black screen to appear and uploads to fail after creating a video on certain devices
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

ProCutX for Final Cut Pro X: Final Cut plug-in maker & production company Pixel Film Studios is out today with a new app that allows iPad users to control a FCPX session running on their Mac. At first glance the app appears to provide a pretty slick UI and the developers said it offers access to all of the software’s editing tools to “control every step of the FCPX editing process.”

• Precision Timeline Scrubbing
• Quick Retiming
• Auto-Correct Color
• Color Grading
• Compound Clip Editing
• Import, Export, and Rendering shortcuts
• Quick Keywording
• Fast access to Tools
• System Volume Control
• Timeline Zooming
• Audio Enhancements
• Record Voiceovers

Tango version 2.6.36915: The popular text, voice, and video chat app Tango was updated today with a new central gallery for pictures and videos and a number of enhancements:

✔ New! Find all your pictures and videos in a central gallery.

✔ New! Improved call handling makes connect faster.

☂ Bug Fixes

Tweetbot version 2.7.1:
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Twitter launches ‘Vine’ video sharing app, 50% off Things for Mac, Textilus Word Processor, Cycloramic, more

Jordan Kahn Jan 24 2013 - 8:49 am PT

Vine — Make a scene: Today Twitter announced on its blog the launch of Vine, a mobile app it acquired a few months back that allows users to capture and share abbreviated, looping video clips. The free iPhone app is available now in the App Store and offers unlimited, free video uploads, Twitter and Facebook integration, and the developers noted a Twitter account would not be required to sign up.

Today, we’re introducing Vine: a mobile service that lets you capture and share short looping videos. Like Tweets, the brevity of videos on Vine (6 seconds or less) inspires creativity. Now that you can easily capture motion and sound, we look forward to seeing what you create.

Hotels.com version 3.7:

-You can now leave hotel reviews once you have completed your stay
-The app now supports iPhone 5
-Many bugs fixes

Cycloramic version 2.0: The app that uses your iPhones vibrating motor to shoot 360 degree video hands-free was updated today with new hands-free panoramic shooting modes and more:

Just place your iPhone in an upright position on a smooth and level surface and press GO. The Phone will automatically rotate 360 degrees while taking multiple pictures, instantaneously stitch them, generate the panoramic picture and finally open it and immerse you in our 3D viewer.

PANORAMIC PHOTO MODE
1) Guided Mode (iPhone 4/4S/5)
2) Hands-free Mode (iPhone 5 only)
With this update, Cycloramic brings you a whole new way to take panoramic pictures.

Textilus Word Processor version 1.5.9:

– New feature: Improved the file browser for local documents and Dropbox documents. Create, delete edit new documents and folders in Dropbox directly from the file browser
– New feature: Scrivener sync support (via Dropbox) for unlimited number of nested folders and sub-folders, preserving locally the document original path
– New feature: Green highlight color in Style menu
– New feature: Greek alphabet in the Math symbols
– New feature: Latest Dropbox SDK 1.3.3. Support for international characters in Dropbox file and folder names (Chinese, Japanese, etc.)

Call-It-Out: Officially launching today, Call-it-Out is a new app that aims to blend elements of YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest allowing users to “easily rate, capture, and share life through comments, images and videos.

Deals:

Things for Mac | 50% until Jan. 31 (usually $49.99)

Facebook Messenger, MSN, PDF Expert, Nike+ Running, BBVA Compass, Oceanhouse Media deals, more

Jordan Kahn Jan 16 2013 - 3:12 pm PT

Updates:

Facebook Messenger version 2.1.1: On top of officially rolling out free VoIP calling to all U.S. users today, Facebook also updated its Messenger iOS app to add back the “Swipe to Archive” function and improve reliability:

What’s New in Version 2.1.1
– Added back Swipe to Archive
– Message send reliability improvements

MSN version 3.5:

Remove Turkey and Italy from region list.
Turkish and Italian are not supported by this new version.
Support for iOS 6.
Support iPhone 5 4-inch screen.

PDF Expert for iPad version 4.5:

New in PDF Expert 4.5
– Annotate images
– Full screen reading
– Performance improvements

BBVA Compass version 2.2.1:

This version adds Mobile Deposit® for eligible customers and enhanced graphics for iPhone™ 5 users. Additionally, version 2.2.1 is bilingual (English/Spanish), has full Bill Pay capabilities (add payees, select pay accounts, etc.), transaction details with check and transaction images, account transfers, and an enhanced branch/ATM locator.

Nike+ Running version 4.1.1:

We’re listening. This update includes bug fixes related to the most recent upgrade.

Books:

Oceanhouse Media is releasing two new books from its popular Little Critter and Five Little Monkeys series:

Just Going to the Dentist | 99 cent introductory price

Five Little Monkeys Play Hide and Seek | $1.99 introductory price

Deals:

TextExpander for iPad and iPhone | now only 99 cents (was $4.99)

Facebook Messenger just turned into a phone & voice messaging app

Jordan Kahn Jan 3 2013 - 12:15 pm PT

Facebook is updating its Messenger iOS and Android app today with a couple of really interesting new features: the ability to record short voice messages, and a free calling service that utilizes users’ existing data plans but not their call allowance. Facebook noted on the app’s iTunes page that the calling service will roll out in the next few weeks, while the other features appear to be available to users today.

The new voice message feature will allow all users to record a voice message through a new record button (pictured above), but The Next Web explained Facebook is limiting the new VoIP calling feature to Canadian users initially. The app isn’t live on the U.S. store, but it has already landed in Canada and should be available everywhere soon.

To use the service, Canadian users will be able to log into their Messenger app, open a conversation with the person they want to call, hit the ‘i’ button in the top-right corner and selecting ‘Free Call.’ To send and receive calls, users will need to have the latest version of the app that is available today.
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Upper West Side NY Apple Store closes due to adjacent building fire (Gallery)

Jordan Kahn Jan 3 2013 - 7:17 am PT

As noted by several New Yorkers on Twitter, a fire in a building next to the Upper West Side NY Apple Store has caused the retail store to close temporarily. There was some confusion on Twitter from people who first reported that the fire was actually at the Apple retail location, but several have since reported the smoke is coming from an adjacent building. An Apple employee at the location confirmed to us that the fire is in a neighboring building, but he also said the Apple Store has been evacuated with all appointments cancelled for the time being.

[tweet https://twitter.com/TVMarci/status/286851827381698560/photo/1]

So this is happening right now…the store itself isn't on fire but an adjacent building is @ Apple Store http://t.co/tYWQkk6Y

— Dirty Steeeve (@DirtySteeeve) January 3, 2013

https://twitter.com/gregcmartin/status/286847786144653312

[tweet https://twitter.com/EtienneDMartel/status/286847511325446145]

[tweet https://twitter.com/MusicMumbler/status/286853102122962945]

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App Store stays ahead of rapidly growing Google Play in Distimo’s year-end app analytics report

Jordan Kahn Dec 21 2012 - 6:56 am PT

Analytics firm Distimo is out today with the full results of its year-end 2012 app analytics report (via Fortune). While Apple is still the clear winner in terms of revenue, Google Play showed significant growth in the last four months. Its daily revenue grew 43 percent in 20 major markets. Apple’s growth was smaller, increasing daily revenue by 21 percent, but Distimo’s numbers show Google still has a long way to go:

On a typical day in November 2012, the revenues in the Apple App Store exceeded $15M USD, while in Google Play the revenues are just below $3.5M USD in 20 of the largest countries in both app stores… Even though the growth in revenues in Google Play in the last four months is close to that of the Apple App Store in 2012, the growth in daily revenues in the Apple App Store was higher than the total daily revenues in Google Play when comparing absolute daily revenue values.

As for the most popular apps of 2012, Distimo said Asian publisher Naver was able to beat Draw Something’s record of 1 million users in nine day. Its app, Line Pop, got 1.75 million downloads in the first 72 hours. That’s something that took Facebook nine months to accomplish. The app also brought over 1 million in revenue for the developer in 12 days.

To round out the year in review, Distmo breaks down revenue by category in the charts below: the top 10 most grossing cross-store publishers, the top 10 publishers and apps by downloads on the App Store, and the top five highest growing countries by revenue. There aren’t many surprises:
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Apple, Google, Samsung and more team up in $525M purchase of Kodak patents

Jordan Kahn Dec 19 2012 - 7:03 am PT

Today, Kodak announced the $525 million sale of its patents to two firms, Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation. It is interesting that the two companies will work with 12 intellectual property licensee to pay a portion of the over $500 million price tag. The 12 licensees, who aren’t listed by name in Kodak’s press release, would all receive varying access to the digital imaging patent portfolio and other Kodak patents included in the sale. In turns out that Apple, Google, and many other large tech companies, will provide cash toward the purchase as licensees.

Under the agreements, Kodak will receive approximately $525 million, a portion of which will be paid by 12 intellectual property licensees organized by Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation, with each licensee receiving rights with respect to the digital imaging patent portfolio and certain other Kodak patents. Another portion will be paid by Intellectual Ventures, which is acquiring the digital imaging patent portfolio subject to these new licenses, as well as previously existing licenses.

Bloomberg is reporting, as relayed by Business Insider, that the 12 companies are made up of Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Facebook, and just about every major player in the tech business:

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Facebook joins the local discovery and sharing game with updated Nearby feature (video)

Élyse Betters Dec 17 2012 - 11:13 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqocJOQMVwQ&feature=youtu.be]

Facebook just announced an update to Facebook for iOS and Android that helps users discover new places their friends like.

The latest version of the popular app features a refreshed Nearby tab, which, according to a post on the Facebook Newsroom website, now shows recommendations from friends:

From the app menu, open the tab to find local spots your friends have recommended, checked into, or liked. If you’re looking for a place to eat, choose a category like Restaurants to see what’s nearby. When you find a place that looks interesting, tap to see info like friends who’ve been there and business hours.

The new Facebook for Android and iOS further allows users to share their own opinions by rating or recommending places. Facebook warned the update is an early release, however, and “there’s lots more to do.” So, results will improve the more people use Nearby.

“We also plan to add places info from third party services in the near future,” Facebook explained.

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Orbitz, Pinterest, Sky Gamblers, Foursquare and others added to Apple’s App Store Hall of Fame

Jordan Kahn Dec 12 2012 - 7:35 am PT

Apple is once again inducting new apps into its iPhone and iPad Hall of Fame, a section on iTunes that it launched back in 2010 to feature its “the best of the best on the App Store,” and Orbitz is one of many apps listed on Apple’s new inductees page. The company issued a press release announcing Orbitz induction into the Hall of Fame for iPhone (pictured below) along with 13 other apps and six games this week. Other new inductees listed include Foursquare, Walking Dead: The Game, Action Movie FX, Airbnb, Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy, The World Ends With You, Pinterest, and more.

“Whether you are a long-time iPhone user or hope to get one as a holiday gift, this Hall of Fame recognition confirms that the Orbitz app for iPhone is the go-to travel tool to have,” said Chris Orton, president of Orbitz.com.

Check it out: App Store Hall of Fame

The iPad Hall of Fame is also listing new inductees, with some iPad specific apps that aren’t on the new iPhone list, including: National Parks by National Geographic, The Room, Mint.com Personal Finance, Paper by FiftyThree, Kayak, Barefoot World Atlas, and Adobe Photoshop Touch. We have seen a few of these apps in the Hall of Fame before (Facebook, Things, Skype), but the majority of new inductees listed are making their first appearance. All new inductees in the iPad and iPhone Halls of Fame are below:

iPhone Hall of Fame new inductees:

iPad Hall of Fame new inductees:

Facebook adds iTunes digital cards to Gifts

Élyse Betters Nov 26 2012 - 11:22 am PT

Facebook just announced that Gifts, the website’s latest endeavor into social e-gifting, would now offer iTunes digital gift cards starting today.

Facebookers can send the digital cards to their friends along with recommended albums, movies, apps, etc. The iTunes cards come in $10, $15, $25, or $50 price points through Facebook Gifts.

Get more details at Facebook’s Newsroom page.

In related news: Sam’s Club is now offering four $25 iTunes gift cards for $79.88 (over 20 percent off), while Best Buy has 15 percent off all cards.

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Apple Maps alternative Nokia HERE now available, featuring offline maps and coverage of 200 countries

Jake Smith Nov 20 2012 - 3:14 am PT

As promised, the folks at Nokia launched their alternative to Apple Maps for iOS: a new cross-platform solution called “Nokia Here”. Based off HTML 5, Here is now available on the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad this morning, offering users full map views, the ability to save maps for later viewing, coverage of 200 countries, search history, Facebook login integration, step-by-step voice-guided navigation for the car and walking, offline map viewing, and social features that allow users to share their location. Offline Maps only work with one-specific map area, as users are only able to download 10MB of mapping data for offline use. We’re giving the app a first run right now and will let you know our first impressions. In the mean time, the full list of features and a gallery are below: [App Store]

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Letterpress 1.1 released with new ‘Rematch!’ feature, bug fixes

Jake Smith Nov 16 2012 - 8:42 pm PT

Game Center’s shining light, known as Letterpress, which is a free word game created by Tweetie founder Loren Britcher, has been updated to version 1.1 this evening. The popular Words With Friends competitor now features a prominent ‘Rematch!’ button that allows you to quickly fire up another game with the opponent you just lost to. Additionally, Britcher and his company have added new words to the game’s dictionary, a slew of bug fixes, and a lot more in tonight’s update, as seen below. Haven’t tried Letterpress yet? It’s available free on the App Store.

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Skype updated for iPhone 5, TiVo, Overgram, Adobe Photoshop Express, Spotify, more

Jordan Kahn Nov 13 2012 - 6:15 am PT

Skype for iPhone version 4.1.2: The Skype iOS app finally gets official support for the iPhone 5’s taller display this morning:

-Support for iPhone 5 display.
-Bug fixes.

Adobe Photoshop Express version 2.6: A nice update for Adobe’s Photoshop Express iOS app brings new sharing and editing features including the ability to “tap to eliminate red-eye” and and make more precise edits with numerical values:

• Easily tag faces while sharing photos to Facebook.
• Share photos more quickly with updated sharing screens.
• Simply tap to eliminate red-eye.
• Make more precise edits now that adjustment sliders display numerical values.
• View animated Help content to get up and running quickly.
• Use the app on the latest Apple devices thanks to support for iOS6.
• Count on bug fixes, performance boosts, and in-app notifications for greater speed and ease-of-use

Overgram: Creators of the Over iPhone app for adding creative typography to photos and sharing them on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr & Instagram is out today with a free version of the app called Overgram. The free version provides 10 of the 225 fonts found in the paid Over version.

In only a few seconds you can add captions, quotes, jokes, memes, poems or anything else you can think of to a photo… STUNNING FONTS: We ♥ typography! We carefully selected 10 amazing fonts that will make your photos beautiful and engaging.

TiVo version 2.1: Official iPhone 5 support and performance improvements for the TiVo iOS app:
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Amount of text messages decline in Q3, thanks to iMessage and other Internet services

Jake Smith Nov 12 2012 - 1:08 pm PT

According to research from Chetan Sharma Consulting, the amount of text messages sent during Q3 2012 showed the first decline ever. The fall can be attributed to Apple’s iMessages (when it is up), along with other Internet services like Facebook Messaging, Skype, AIM, Google Voice and more that use Wi-Fi. With less text messages being sent monthly, this has lead to less revenue in the text message area for carriers, however, they are still making plenty of money off data. The research released today says data makes up for 43 percent of carrier revenue generated, with Verizon and AT&T accounting for 69 percent data revenue during the quarter. Mobile data is expected to slow down after growing rapidly over the last five years, perhaps thanks to Wi-Fi.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said he is losing sleep over services like iMessage cutting into revenue, while speaking earlier this year.“You lie awake at night worrying about what is that which will disrupt your business model,” Stephenson said. “Apple iMessage is a classic example. If you’re using iMessage, you’re not using one of our messaging services, right? That’s disruptive to our messaging revenue stream.”

Facebook product manager talks Facebook for iOS & retooling the mobile development process

Jordan Kahn Nov 9 2012 - 9:55 am PT

Facebook has been doing a lot of work to improve its mobile experiences, most notably the release of a faster, rebuilt native Facebook for iOS app in August and the more-recently promised timed release cycles for its mobile apps.

Today, Facebook product manager Michael Sharon took to the company’s blog to share more on how it has retooled its development process and integrated features from its standalone apps into Facebook for iOS. If you’ve ever wondered the focus behind Facebook’s strategy on iOS, Sharon provided some good insights…

On Facebook’s mobile development process:

By retooling our development process–from making every product team responsible for their experience across desktop and mobile, to switching to native code and timed release cycles–we’ve been able to make sure the best of each standalone app is represented in the core app experience…

Facebook has historically had a small, nimble engineering team with separate groups dedicated to desktop and mobile experiences. In fact, the first core iOS app was originally built and maintained by one person, and later developed by a single small team…Within the last year, our engineering teams have taken ownership of their product experiences across both desktop and our mobile apps. These teams know their product, features, and users better than anyone and are sensitive to the nuances of developing and adapting these experiences across multiple platforms.

On integrating features from standalone apps:

Not every feature from the standalone apps makes sense for the core app, so as the Facebook for iOS PM, one of my jobs is to make sure that the features we share across apps result in the best user experience. So while the swipe gesture to reveal the camera roll works really well within the Camera app – we chose not to include this in the core app because the gesture doesn’t make sense with our persistent top navigation bar. To make it into the core app, a feature has to add significant value to the integrated experience, regardless of how critical it is in one of our standalone apps.

The core app is not just composed of features from standalone apps – there are many teams that own key portions of the core app and continue to iterate on them. Timeline, Groups and Events are sections that are completely owned and maintained by their respective teams.

As we continue to develop Facebook across platforms, we will continue to use our standalone apps to push the limits of each product and leverage new, battle-tested features to create the best possible core app experiences on every platform.

Clear, Pinterest, Jingu Friends, Square Wallet, Fantastical for iPhone, iDisplay, more

Jordan Kahn Nov 8 2012 - 6:42 am PT

News:

Pay with Square at Starbucks: We already knew Starbucks was signed up to bring Square payments to 7,000 of its stores via the newly renamed “Square Wallet” app. Starbucks just confirmed in a press release that starting today it will officially begin accepting Square payments via a scanned QR.

Fantastical for iPhone: Those familiar with the Mac OS X desktop version of the Fantastical app will be pleased to know developers Flexbits have announced an iPhone version is in the works and coming soon. The Mac version is a slick, menu bar item calendar app for access to reminders and calendar functions, but also has support for iCal, BusyCal, Entourage, Outlook, iCloud, Google Calendar or Yahoo! Calendar. You can sign up to find out when it becomes available here.

New app releases:

Clear for Mac: We knew it was coming and today the Mac App Store version of the popular Clear to do app for iPhone officially makes its way to the Mac.

Jingu Friends:Originally available as a BlackBerry app with more than a million downloads since May 2011 and 3.5 million messages sent monthly, the developers of the Jingu Friends app have released an iOS version of the app today on the App Store. The app allows you to discover new people to chat with through a lounge environment that “immediately drops you into a global conversation stream where you can listen or participate.” From there you can find out more about the messaging apps participants use:

All messages posted on Jingu Friends are public, but users can take their conversations private through seamless integration into smartphone messaging apps like BBM, Hookt, WhatsApp and Kik.

Dragon’s Lair: The classic arcade game already made its way to iPhone and iPad earlier this year, and now the Mac version is available on the Mac App Store for $9.99 now.

FreshBooks for iPad: FreshBooks is coming to the iPad today with version 1.1 introducing a universal app that now supports both iPhone and iPad.

FreshBooks – The Fastest Way To Track Time, Organize Expenses & Invoice Your Clients, Anytime, Anywhere.

Updates:

Pinterest version 2.1: Pinterest is introducing a new feature today that allows users to create up to three secret boards to share with friends and family. In a blog post, Pinterest explained how to use the new feature: “go to your profile, tap on the Boards tab, and scroll down to the bottom until you see a button that says Create a Secret Board.”

• Block or report other users
• Create up to 3 secret boards
• Edit boards from your device

Clear version 1.2: Clear for iPhone gets a big update today that brings iCloud support, the ability to share quotes on Twitter and Facebook, quick list switching, and more:
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Facebook iOS app updated with new messaging features, multiple photo sharing, & Facebook Gifts

Jordan Kahn Nov 5 2012 - 1:48 pm PT

Update: As noted by commenters below, you might want avoid this 5.1 update. It appears to have made the app unusable for some.

Update 2: Facebook gave us this statement:

Facebook found the issue and have addressed it server side. It should be working fine as of 30 minutes ago.

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5mac/status/265767333723791362]

Facebook updated its iOS app today to version 5.1 with a number of new features including the ability to send real “Facebook Gifts” (for U.S. users)—a feature previously only available through the desktop app. There are also a few new messaging and sharing features included:

• Swipe left anywhere in the app to quickly see who’s available and send a message
• Add friends you message most to the top of your Favorites
• Share multiple photos fast
• Give real gifts to your friends using Facebook Gifts (US-only)
• When sending messages, see who’s active so you and your friends know how soon to expect a reply

AAPL hovering at 590 following executive level shifts

Jordan Kahn Oct 31 2012 - 7:41 am PT

Apple stock isn’t doing that great today following the announcement of major executive level shifts in the company earlier this week. AAPL dipped slightly below 600 following Apple’s Q4 earnings call earlier this month, which many thought was due to less than expected iPad sales for the quarter. Today AAPL is floating under the 590 mark as concerns over iPad shortages leading into the holidays continue to increase. This puts AAPL at its lowest levels since July.

Following earnings call, AAPL drops below 600 for the first time since July (9to5mac.com)
iPad mini delivered to customer ahead of Nov. 2 launch, unboxed (9to5mac.com)
Apple removing delivery dates for LTE iPad mini preorders (9to5mac.com)

Need For Speed Most Wanted, Nike+ Kinect Training, Yahoo!, ooVoo Video Chat, Google Search, more

Jordan Kahn Oct 30 2012 - 6:21 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvbRqpik2A0]

Need for Speed Most Wanted: EA is out with the iOS version of its latest Need for Speed title today. It previously released Most Wanted for consoles and teased the iOS version, but now the app is officially on the App Store for $6.99. The game features over 35 customizable cars, touch and tilt steering, and EA Origin support to check leaderboards across platforms.

Evade a relentless police force while you clash with street racers. Race and chase hot cars like the SRT Viper GTS, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Hummer H1 Alpha, and many more. Feel the intensity of no-brakes-allowed street racing with realistic full-car damage for the first time on mobile.

Nike+ Kinect Training: Nike already has a few different iOS apps tied to its Nike+ gear. Today the company launched an iPhone app designed to work exclusively with Nike+ Kinect Training for Xbox 360. The app syncs with your personalized training workouts from the game, allowing you to access all of the content from your console on your iPhone.

You can track your programme progress, explore your workouts, get Challenge reminders, connect and cheer on friends and prepare for upcoming sessions.

ooVoo Video Chat version 1.3.0: A nice update goes to the free, 12-way HD group video chat app today:

* Support for iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation with 4-way display
* Landscape video mode on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
* Improved connectivity
* Bug fixes for iOS 6

Yahoo! version 2.3.3:
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Angry Birds Seasons, Opera Mini, Square in Canada, Music Unlimited, more

Jordan Kahn Oct 24 2012 - 10:02 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa_QVIprn8Y&feature=youtu.be]

Angry Birds Seasons version 2.3.0: Rovio updated its Seasons edition of Angry Birds with 30 new levels for Halloween and much more. The HD iPad version gets the same update.

BOO! The pigs are hiding in their spookiest location yet: a haunted house! The Angry Birds will have to brave ghosts and ghouls to get their eggs back — if they can survive the house first! Are your eyes playing tricks on you or did that painting just move?!

-Explore the scary secrets of the brand new haunted house!
-Try to survive 30 all new spooky levels!
-Shiver and shake to the ghostly new Halloween music!
-Use the brand new ghost bricks for fun trick shots!
-Say hello to Frankenswine and the other pigs, all dressed up for Halloween!

Square Register version 2.4: Square is officially rolling out its payment service internationally today with the Canadian launch and an updated Square Register iOS app. Full details in the company’s press release here.

– Square Register is now available in Canada!

Opera Mini version 7.0.5:

– Integration with iOS Facebook framework (iOS 6+)
– Improved performance when saving large images
– Fixed freeze after sharing via email
– Fixed video playback on youtube.com (iPhone and iPod)
– Performance and stability fixes
– Added support for iOS 4.2.1
– Various iOS 6 related fixes

Music Unlimited version 1.2: The iOS app for Sony’s subscription music service gets a decent update today with the ability to “Create channels inspired by your favorite artists” and more:

· My Channels – Create channels inspired by your favorite artists.
· Playlist management – Create and edit playlists on your mobile device.
· Some features have been improved.

Lumify version 2.0: One of our favorite new social video apps gets a big update:
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