Facebook To Launch Native iPad App At Apple's iPhone 5 Event After All?
by Joe White
September 26, 2011
In an exclusive article published moments ago by Mashable, it is claimed that Facebook will launch its native iPad application at Apple's iPhone 5 event on October 4, along with a variety of other goodies. This article comes following the news the app's lead developer leaving the company, and claiming that we might never see Facebook the iPad application.
In the article, Mashable claims it's learned that Facebook's iPad app (which leaked earlier this year) will finally launch to the public on the same day Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the fifth generation iPhone handset. But that's not all. According to Mashable, the social network is also planning on releasing "a revamped version of its iPhone app," and is rumored to launch "an HTML5-based mobile app marketplace," too.
This app marketplace (a.k.a. "Project Spartan") "is designed to be a platform where developers can bring their Facebook apps to mobile devices via an HTML5 platform," Mashable explains. The website elaborates:
What we’re hearing is that Apple is actually working with Facebook on perfecting the HTML5 platform. It could even launch at Apple’s upcoming iPhone event, though our sources wouldn’t commit to a specific launch date for the platform. Facebook decided not to launch it at f8, as it didn’t want to water down the announcement of the new Facebook Open Graph and Timeline.Facebook is also expected to release a new, revamped version of its iPhone app, which features "design and speed improvements that mimic the iPad app." Back in July, Facebook users were able to activate the native iPad application by applying a simple hack to the free iPhone app. However, shortly after the news of this hack hit the Web, Facebook restricted access to the iPad application. Since, we've been waiting for the social network to release its iPad app, and as of this moment we haven't seen it hit the App Store. According to Mashable, this is due to "a combination of timing and a strained relationship with Apple." (The website also notes that this is the reason Facebook has yet to be integrated within the iOS.) However, if Mashable's sources are correct, we haven't long to wait until "Facebook for iPad" storms into the App Store. Earlier today, we told you how one of Facebook's developers has left the company for Google because of Facebook not having yet released the iPad application. The developer noted that he thinks the application might never be released, leaving many of us stuck wondering exactly what Facebook's motives are. It would indeed appear that Apple and Facebook haven't exactly been seeing eye to eye. However, if Mashable (and Robert Scoble, who has been claiming the October 4 release date for a week now) are right, Facebook could indeed make its native iPad app available at the iPhone 5 event. While Apple has yet to announce a date for its iPhone 5 event, All Things Digital has stated that it's scheduled for October 4, and that it will take place on the Apple Campus. Hopefully, we'll not only see a much improved iPhone handset launch on that day, but - if Mashable is indeed correct - we'll also see the release of several exciting, new Facebook products and services. We'll keep you posted.