Facebook builds a new 'Home' on Android (gallery)

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  • Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

    Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

    Facebook CEO Mark Zuckberg put an end to all the Facebook phone rumors and unveiled its newest project, "Facebook Home." Zuckerberg explained how Facebook is putting the cart before the horse — instead of designing phones around apps first, they're going to "design around people first" and then interact with the apps.

    In this gallery, we'll take a look at some of the features of Facebook Home.

    Photos by James Martin/CNET News

    Facebook Home stories:

     

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 01home.jpg

    Here's the logo for Facebook Home.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 02integrations.jpg

    How Facebook Home fits in with Android.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 04lockscreen.jpg

    Home is the lockscreen, in addition to the home screen. You don't need to swipe to see content.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 05content.jpg

    The screen features photos and content on your phone's home screen.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 06notifications.jpg

    The status stream on the home screen is what's on the cover feed. People's profiles will appear on the screen.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 07whenyouremessaging.jpg

    If you put your finger on your face (on the screen) and swipe up to see your apps. status stream on the home screen. You're constantly switching back and forth between apps whe messaging.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 08instagram.jpg

    "Chat Heads" are a major new feature of Facebook Home. Photos of friends who are communicating with you be moved around the screen. Answer them and when you are done, just throw them away at the bottom. Chat Heads work with both text messages and chat messaging.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 09coverfeed.jpg

    When you turn on your phone, you'll see content from your feed or "coverfeed." It will automatically slide from story to story.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 10backgroundphoto.jpg

    You can see link shares and status updates. Text from the status stories sit above a cover photo. Of course Facebook doesn't forget "Likes." A big symbol will pop up to show you liked something.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 10facebookexperience.jpg

    To see notifications, tap on them and go the content. Then, press and hold photo to use your app launcher. Finally, just swipe up to the apps folder.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 12tapchathead.jpg

    Chat Heads are the main feature on Facebook Home. When one first shows up, you also get a preview of the message.  Thne the Chat Head floats on your screen, and if you go to another app or jump around, the message will still float there.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 13chathead.jpg

    Tap the Chat Head to start messaging, and when you are done, tap the Chat head again and return to what you were doing. Text messages and Facebook messages both share the Chat Head design so there's no difference between the two.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 14a54349efd-2380-490d-93f0-97bc3cf94ff4.jpg

    To close the chats, you can pick up the Chat Head and throw it away at the bottom. Or pick the whole group of messages and do the same.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • facebookscreen.jpg

    Go to the Google Play store to install the app. You can install it one time only, or make it a more permanent fixture.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • supports.jpg

    HTC One, One X,  and X+ along with the Galaxy S3, S4, and Galaxy Note 2 will be among the first phones to support. The idea is to start off slow. It will be available for download on April 12.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • phonemakers.jpg

    The "Facebook home program" is a set of guidelines to make it as easy as possible for phone makers.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 002chart.jpg

    Zuckerberg says people spend 3 times more time with Facebook than with any other app. Note that Google+ is not on the list.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • HTC First

    HTC First

    HTC was the first choice when Facebook approached AT&T about building this phone. HTC had previously worked on the failed "Facebook phone" a few years ago. It will be available on April 12 for $99 exclusively on AT&T.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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"Chat Heads" are a major new feature of Facebook Home. Photos of friends who are communicating with you be moved around the screen. Answer them and when you are done, just throw them away at the bottom. Chat Heads work with both text messages and chat messaging.

Caption by: Andy Smith

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