Topic: Operating Systems

Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out

Summary: Microsoft has released Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3, adding various new features and making multiple improvements to the app. You can grab it now from the Windows Phone Marketplace.

By Emil Protalinski for Friending Facebook | February 14, 2012 -- 21:07 GMT (13:07 PST)

Follow @emilprotalinski

Microsoft has updated its native Facebook app for Windows Phone. You can grab version 2.3 now from Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace. Alternatively, you can update the app by tapping open Marketplace on your phone, then tapping open the update queue (it might take a few hours for the update notification to hit your phone).

Here is Facebook for Windows Phone 2.3's official changelog:

News feed performance improvements.
New panorama design.
New profile design.
Banner Images.
Improved navigation.
Pages.
Groups.
View Likes.
Feed filters.
Posting privacy.
Bug fixing.

Sure, that's not exactly the most coherent change log, and Microsoft's suggestion on what to do when you get the new version is only slightly better: "Test out your groups. Visit your pages. Look at who likes your posts. Change the banner image. Check out the improved news feed performance. Use the new filters. Explore the improved navigation." The software giant also said you'll find "Improved panorama and profile designs, better news feed performance and navigation, new filters, and much much more."

In other words, the update includes an improved design and support for some of the latest Facebook features. The new panorama layout puts requests, messages, and notifications at the top of the main interface. There's also a Pages view, the ability to access Groups, the ability to see the Likes on any posts or photos, and the ability to apply filters to the News Feed.

Unfortunately, there's still no full Facebook Timeline support, so I'd expect a new version to come very soon. Then again, the last version was released four months ago. Either way, hopefully version 2.4 will add other much-requested features, such as being able to easily tag people in posts and check-ins.

Although the Windows Phone operating system includes native Facebook support, the separate app extends the functionality by adding support for Pages, Groups, and other features. Unlike Facebook for Android and Facebook for iOS, Facebook for Windows Phone is not developed by Facebook: it's built by Microsoft. According to Facebook, the Windows Phone app has 1.2 million monthly active users.

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6 comments

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RE: Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out

This new version is awesome! Finally it's up to par (if not better than) its iOS and Android counterparts. While it stinks that you can't manually select the banner image (you just have to let it pick 3 random photos of you) it really makes the app look more personalized. I didn't used to use the app much because it lacked so many features and there's already good integration with Windows Phone, but I might actually use it now!

adrian913
15 February, 2012 00:57

Reply Vote
- RE: Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out
  
  @adrian913
  I find myself using it more and more since the 2.3 release. sometimes I would go months without using it. but now I'm using daily, it's a beautiful app. screen shots don't tell half the story at all.
  
  blazing_smiley_face
  15 February, 2012 04:00
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out

This app is 10 times better on WP 7 than the loser phones. People should stop by their local T-Mobile and check out the Nokia Lumia. Wait till next month, when the Lumia 900 hits the shelves, it will be the fastest selling phone ever.

Stephen-B
15 February, 2012 05:30

Reply Vote
- @Rick_Kl
  
  But you used to hate WP7 and love everything Apple. Did you get fired from your Apple store and get a new job at Best Buy selling WP7 phones?
  
  toddbottom2
  15 February, 2012 10:04
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out
    
    @toddbottom2(Rick) weren't you banned from this site, for being a troll? You do know why my sister dumped your worthless behind, don't you?
    
    Stephen-B
    15 February, 2012 12:08
    
    Reply Vote
RE: Facebook for Windows Phone version 2.3 is out

Emil...you can do check-ins. It's under the places section, but the tag people in post is not available.

jv9274@...
15 February, 2012 12:29

Reply Vote