Count us fooled. A few days ago Facebook did a seemingly normal little update to its iPhone app – only to have Techcrunch figure out that it contains the secret iPad version of the Facebook app, using a universal binary. A while back Mark Zuckerburg said they will not build an iPad app, because it is not a “mobile device”. Despite recent mumblings of Facebook switching its focus to HTML5 only development (Project Spartan), it looks the FB developers have indeed been very busy with a great looking new Facebook for iPad app.
The apparent refusal by Facebook to develop a full iPad app until now has long been one of those things that bothered many users, so its great to see this new app. The design is pretty great. The app seems to work in two panes – with simple navigation on the left hand side, with content on the right. Simple pop-ups appear whenever you want comment and “like”, and new interface looks great for photos. Another weird design decision is the new dark left hand side, which is a welcome shift from Facebook’s traditional white and blue designs.
At present the only way to install this “unofficial” FB app is to install the current iPhone FB app on a jailbroken iPad. We are not going to tell you how to do it, but a simple Google Search will help you out. But we are more than willing to wait a little. So when can we expect it? Most sources seem to suggest that it it imminent – so lets give a few weeks… Expect our runthrough here the moment it arrives.
Images: TechCrunch (and MG Siegler who clearly does not have an issue with his profile page being shown over the entire web…)
