Facebook

Facebook testing new ‘Highlights’ summary feature on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ February 23, 2014

Over the weekend, Facebook posted a tiny 7.0 update for its iOS app with a change log that simply read 'bug fixes.' But as it turns out, the update was more significant than that as it activated a feature the company is testing on iOS right now called Highlights.

The feature is currently available to a subset of iOS users, in a new 'People' tab that is also in testing (replaces the Requests tab), and it offers a roundup of recent life events from your friends and family. Annoying UpWorthy posts and meme pics not included...

Google reportedly tried to buy WhatsApp for $10 billion

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

The entire Internet is abuzz right now with this whole Facebook and WhatsApp deal. For the few that haven't heard yet, the social network announced yesterday afternoon that it has agreed to acquire the cross-platform messaging giant for a staggering $16 billion.

Since the announcement, details of the buyout negotiations between the two companies have begun to slowly trickle in, and as you might expect, some of them are rather interesting. Fortune, for example, is reporting that Google actually offered to buy WhatsApp first...

Facebook is buying WhatsApp for $16 billion

Cody Lee ∙ February 19, 2014

Facebook has announced this afternoon that it has reached a deal to acquire WhatsApp, the makers of the popular cross-platform messaging app, for a staggering $16 billion. That's $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion in Facebook shares.

The social network says that WhatsApp will continue to operate independently after the acquisition, but claims the deal with WhatsApp—who has nearly 500 million users—"accelerates Facebook’s ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world."

How to read iDownloadBlog from Facebook’s new Paper app

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

I'm usually not much of a Facebook user but I have to admit I have been spending more time on the social network in the last two days than I have in the whole last month. Why is that? It's simply due to their new app named Paper, which lets you browse Facebook in a beautiful and intuitive way. If you haven't tried it yet, I really encourage you to have a look at it. It might change the way you see Facebook, at least until they slap a bunch of ads on it.

Although there is no way to customize the sections of Paper with the content of your choice besides the default ones, I want to show you how you can browse through iDB's latest post using Paper...

In response to Facebook’s Paper, FiftyThree files trademark application for the term ‘Paper’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Facebook yesterday released its new Paper for iPhone app, a free download, prompting a swift response from Seattle- and New York-based FiftyThree which slammed the social networking behemoth for ignoring the fact that the Paper name has been associated with FiftyThree's own iPad drawing program, also a free download from the App Store.

The small startup said Facebook had ignored requests to change its app name even though FiftyThree filed for the ‘Paper by FiftyThree’ trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office back in May of 2012.

Not content with Zuck & Co. piggy-backing on the established Paper brand, FiftyThree has now moved to file a trademark for the term 'Paper' itself. Grab your popcorn...

Facebook refuses to change Paper app’s name following FiftyThree’s objection

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Facebook's new Paper for iPhone app is out in the wild now. Released earlier this morning as a free download in the US App Store, already the software has created a controversy by using the same name as FiftyThree's popular drawing program, Paper for iPad, also a free download.

Facebook was of course aware of FiftyThree's Paper, Apple’s 2012 iPad App of the Year. In fact, the social networking giant was kindly asked well in advance of its own release to avoid using the same name, but refused...

Facebook caught testing Graph Search for mobile

Cody Lee ∙ February 2, 2014

It's been more than a year now since Facebook first launched Graph Search for desktops, and nearly 4 months since we first saw evidence that it was testing an iPhone version of the tool. But it looks like it's finally about ready to go mobile.

Following a hint by Mark Zuckerberg last week that Facebook's Graph Search would be hitting mobile devices soon, the social network has begun testing the new feature. Some users are even beginning to see the search tool on their smartphones...

Facebook announces new iPhone app, Paper, coming to App Store next Monday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

The rumors were true: the social networking giant Facebook on Thursday officially announced its brand new social newsreader application for the iPhone. Called Paper (not to be confused with this), the app is scheduled to hit the App Store next Monday, February 3, 2014. The company has released a nice video walkthrough, embedded below the fold, which shows off really nicely done - gorgeously, dare I say - layout, fluidly animated interface and some familiar Flipboard-like gestures...

Facebook’s targeted ads coming to other third-party apps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

You know those eerily personal ads that you see on Facebook, the ones that seem to know your likes and dislikes better than your closest friends do? Well get used to them, because not only are they here to stay—they're branching out.

Facebook announced yesterday that it is running a small test with a limited number of advertisers and partners to explore showing its Facebook advertisements in third-party mobile apps. It's essentially building its own ad network...