Facebook Preparing A Pair Of Powerful Updates For Its iOS Apps
by Joe White
October 9, 2013
Facebook has impressive updates in the works for both its official iOS app and its free Facebook Messenger application, according to a recent report.
The news comes from 9to5Mac, which cites "a source familiar with the apps" in a new article. According to the website, Facebook's Graph Search tool is set to be integrated within the Facebook iOS app: this will make it possible for users of the application to search for friends who have "Liked" a particular Facebook page, and allows users of the social network to more easily find friends with similar interests while on the go.
Graph Search will be incorporated within the Facebook app's search bar, as in the above image.
In addition to this, 9to5Mac adds that an update for Facebook's Messenger application is also incoming. The website explains:
Facebook is said to be internally testing two new versions of Messenger. The first version is said to look largely similar to the Messages application bundled into iOS. That version includes green interface elements. The second version in testing, which the source says is more likely to ship to end-users, is heavy on white space and very fitting for iOS 7′s design. It is not filled with blue interface elements like the new Facebook app. The new app has tabs for active/recent chats, contacts, and settings across the bottom.The updated Facebook Messenger application will also integrate with the Contacts app, allowing iDevice users to see which of their friends can be contacted using the service, and it'll feature a refreshed app icon. Finally, 9to5Mac claims that new filters are being tested in a beta version of the Instagram app. It's not known, however, whether these will ultimately reach iDevice users. On a side note, the website adds that Greg Novik, who left Apple for Facebook in mid-2012, is reportedly planning on returning to his former company. Though this has yet to be confirmed, "sources" claim that Novik, who developed the first-generation iPhone's Phone and Mail apps, is indeed set to leave Facebook in order to return to Apple. We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it. In the meantime, see: Qualcomm Decides Apple's 64-Bit A7 Isn't A "Marketing Gimmick," After All, Cut The Rope Augmented Reality Spinoff Game Om Nom: Candy Flick Gets 2.0 Update, and DisplaySearch Claims Apple Is Planning Retina iPad mini, 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 And More.
