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Need a Facebook client for your Android device? Check out Babbler and Bloo

I tried using the fBook client that was available early on the T-Mobile G1 Google Android device and all that application did was provide a way to access the Facebook mobile website. I then purchased very lame FriendMobilizer client hoping it would give me a better Facebook experience and it is actually more limited and less useful than the mobile website. Last night I read about Babbler on the jkOnTheRun site and after checking out their website I immediately paid the $1.49 to get the application onto my T-Mobile G1. I also ran across the new Bloo Facebook application for Android devices that also looks quite promising.
Written by Matthew Miller, Contributing Writer

I tried using the fBook client that was available early on the T-Mobile G1 Google Android device and all that application did was provide a way to access the Facebook mobile website. I then purchased very lame FriendMobilizer client hoping it would give me a better Facebook experience and it is actually more limited and less useful than the mobile website. Last night I read about Babbler on the jkOnTheRun site and after checking out their website I immediately paid the $1.49 to get the application onto my T-Mobile G1. I also ran across the new Bloo Facebook application for Android devices that also looks quite promising.

Babbler

Some of the features listed on the Babbler site are:

* see your newsfeed and your friends' walls * comment & like wall posts * change your status * write on walls * view friends' profiles * view events * browse friends' photo albums and tagged photos * background notifications * background photo/video uploads * share link from Browser or Youtube * share photo/video from Gallery * new UI with tabs

When you first launch Babbler you are first taken to the mobile formatted version of Facebook to login and authorize Babbler to connect because Babbler uses the Facebook APIs and does not collect any of your login information themselves. You then have to visit http://apps.facebook.com/fbabble/ and go through five more authorizations. You will not have to revisit this process if you give all the proper authorizations.

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There are a few settings you can customize, such as wall refresh rate, background notification toggle, and notification settings for inbox, pokes, friend requests, and more.

One feature I have only seen on the Windows Mobile Facebook client is the ability to upload a video to your Facebook page, in addition to still photos. I actually can do this on my Nokia N97 through Qik and my iPhone 3GS through Video Uploader, but these are separate applications so there are a few more steps in the process.

So far, it looks like this may be the best Facebook application for the Android platform and is worth the $1.49.

Bloo

I haven't had the chance to spend much time yet with Bloo, but after watching the videos of it in action (one embedded below) I plan to try it soon since I do like the looks of the interface and speed of the application.

I personally spend 90% of my Facebook time accessing my account from a mobile phone (I can't really stand the web page version that is way too busy for my tastes) so I really want to have a good mobile client on my phones.

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