Skip to main content [aditude-amp id="stickyleaderboard" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":710764,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"mobile,","session":"B"}']

Can’t wait until April 12? Here’s what Facebook Home looks like now

Can’t wait until April 12? Here’s what Facebook Home looks like now

Check out what the new Facebook Home Android skin and the HTC First look like before the launch later this month.

Facebook Home

They said a Facebook phone would never happen, but this is close enough! The company released Facebook Home today, an Android “skin” that puts Facebook at the forefront of your smartphone’s operating system.

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":710764,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"mobile,","session":"B"}']

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook Home today in Menlo Park, Calif. It will launch on April 12 and brings your Facebook notifications, messages, Instagram uploads, and more to the home screen of your phone.

It also created Chat Heads, a notifications system that adds a small photo of your friend to your screen when they message you. You can view, respond, and throw away any messages you receive without leaving the app you’re in.

AI Weekly

The must-read newsletter for AI and Big Data industry written by Khari Johnson, Kyle Wiggers, and Seth Colaner.

Included with VentureBeat Insider and VentureBeat VIP memberships.

Alongside the Facebook Home skin, Android phone maker HTC introduced the HTC First, a dedicated phone that comes pre-loaded with Facebook Home. Sounds a lot like a Facebook phone to me. It will run on AT&T exclusively and is only $99.99.

You’ll be able to download Facebook Home right in the Google Play store and have the option to try it out or make the switch completely.

Check out Facebook Home and let us know what you think:

Notifications appear in the center of the home screen on Facebook Home.
Facebook’s messaging feature includes “chat heads,” messages that pop up no matter what app you’re using.
Words With Friends
Facebook teamed up with HTC, which created the HTC First: the first smartphone to come preloaded with Facebook Home.
This was kind of a dud with consumers, but in terms of design, Home knocked it out of the park.
You can get Facebook Home for your Android phone on April 12.

Images via Facebook

VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Learn More

Explore

None Mobile