Facebook for iOS update adds new Recommendation system, tickets to movies & more

Facebook recently announced that a new update for its social networking application is now rolling out to iOS devices. Along with the update’s announcement, Facebook also released a detailed changelog that includes all the new features and improvements added to the app.

The latest Facebook update is meant to offer users additional ways to take action faster once they have found something they wish to purchase or a place they want to go.

For example, when you’re ordering food, you will now be able to do that directly from restaurants Facebook Pages. There’s a new “Start Order” tab on any restaurant’s Facebook Page that uses Delivery.com or Slice, so make sure you tap on it to get your food ordered faster.

Also, the update adds a new option that allows users to get tickets to movies and events much easier. They can be bought directly from dedicated Facebook Pages via Fandango. The new feature has been implemented in partnership with Ticketmaster and Eventbrite, and users will now be able to get tickets to other events, free or pair, directly from the event page on Facebook.

Another new feature included in the new update is the option to request an appointment at a local business, such as spas and salons. You will now be able to request a time via the business’ Facebook Page and view the entire range of services and offerings. You will receive your appointment confirmation via Messenger.

There’s also a new “Get Quote” feature, which allows you to request a quote from a business. This only works with some local business Pages thought.

The new version of Facebook for iOS comes with a new Recommendation system. Whenever you write a Facebook post looking for advice on local places or services, you will be able to turn on the Recommendations option for that particular post. Once you turn it on, friends can comment on your post with suggestions, which will then be able to see on the map.

According to Facebook, these new features will be initially rolled out in the United States in the next couple of days. Facebook also states that it will announce new features in the coming months.

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Did you know that there’s a “Yellow” Facebook App for iPhone?

News about a yellow facebook application are spreading out over the Social Networks, with bunch of new features.

So here’s what’s all about:

Mark Zuckerberg showed off an internal Facebook-only version of its iPhone app during a live video this week, as part of the introduction of Facebook’s live-broadcasting feature.

As previously noticed by The Verge, the app includes several features that you can’t get on the normal iPhone app.

First, as he opens it, he mentions that this is the “yellow version of the Facebook app, which is our internal build.” You can see it briefly on the screen here:

Later, as he demonstrates one way to start broadcasting live video, he says “you can tap on the composer at the top,” as he selects the “Whats on your mind?” button:

And that rolls out a new kind of menu with a list of content types you can post.

Facebook confirmed to The Verge that this interface has rolled out to some people already, although it’s not on my version of the Facebook app.

Within that list, there are buttons for posting Music, Slideshows, and GIFs, suggesting some pretty cool new features could be coming to the mobile app soon.

Rumors have swirled that Facebook’s been building a music service since at least last summer, and it’s supported posting GIFs since May 2015, but there hasn’t been any specific button for them. “Slideshow” would presumably let you post a bunch of related pictures in slideshow format, like another test noticed last summer, although it may also refer to the new type of Slideshow advertising format that Facebook introduced last year for emerging markets.

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Zuck cautioned that not all of the features in the video would show up in the live app, and Facebook tests different interfaces all the time. But it’s still a tantalizing glimpse of how Facebook works and some of the things it’s considering to increase user engagement.

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Facebook disabling messaging in main mobile app, forcing users to install Messenger

It appears that folks using Facebook’s Messenger service will soon have to download the standalone app, or look at other messaging options. Over the next few days, the social network is going to disable messaging from its main iPhone and Android apps.

The move is an attempt to push users over to Facebook Messenger, which the company says will have several benefits. For one it will enable it to streamline the mobile chat experience, and two, Facebook says users respond faster when using Messenger…

TechCrunch has a statement from Facebook:

“In the next few days, we’re continuing to notify more people that if they want to send and receive Facebook messages, they’ll need to download the Messenger app. As we’ve said, our goal is to focus development efforts on making Messenger the best mobile messaging experience possible and avoid the confusion of having separate Facebook mobile messaging experiences. Messenger is used by more than 200 million people every month, and we’ll keep working to make it an even more engaging way to connect with people.” 

Up until now, Facebook users could send and receive messages to other users from both the main Facebook app and Facebook Messenger. Now all you will see are notifications in the main app, which you can tap on to send you to the standalone Messenger app.

Facebook has already done this in certain parts of Europe, and it says it’s seen positive results thus far. And while it might make sense for the company from an operations standpoint, it’ll be interesting to see what its notoriously-outspoken-userbase thinks.

If you haven’t already downloaded them, you can find the main Facebook app in the App Store for free, and the Facebook Messenger app here for free. Messenger was recently updated with iPad support, instant video, Big Likes, and other improvements.

Facebook for BlackBerry updated, brings BBM integration!

The Facebook client for BlackBerry has been updated to version 3.3. This latest version brings a number of improvements and cool features that will surely be appreciated by BB users.

First of all, the application has gotten a visual overhaul with refreshed navigation icons and status publisher. Then comes what’s probably the most important new feature (although it largely depends on your own understanding of “importnat”): BBM integration! With Facebook 3.3, BlackBerry users will be able to add BBM friends and start BBM chats directly from the app, and what makes this integration even cooler is that you’ll easily be able to see who of your Facebook friends have BBM.

The other two improvements include the ability to un-friend people and an enhanced photo viewer. Photos will now first appear in a grid of thumbnails, allowing you to browse them more easily, and then, once you’ve chosen a photo, you’ll be enjoying a higher-resolution view and better performance when switching between shots.

All in all, it sounds like a pretty decent update of the app, so we’d advise all the remaining BlackBerry users out there to just go and get their copy of Facebook 3.3!

Download Facebook 3.3 for BlackBerry