Verified Applications on Facebook — Recommendations from Sandra Liu Huang on Vimeo.
As we predicted last night, Facebook’s new application directory and Verified Apps program are now live. We knew about most of the features that were coming with this release, but this is the first time we’ve actually gotten to see what they’ll look like. So what’s new?
The new directory allows users to sort through apps using a number of new categories, including browsing through applications that live off-site (presumably through Facebook Connect), desktop applications, and iPhone apps that use Facebook Connect for iPhone. At the top of the directory is a section for featured items, where Facebook staff can feature some of their favorite applications even if they aren’t the most popular (a similar strategy has been adopted by Apple’s App Store).
Also new is a feed that is incorporated into the directory itself. At the bottom of the page, you’ll notice an area called “Recent Activity From Friends”. This includes updates from all of the third part applications your friends are using, the idea being that it will help you discover new applications that you might be interested in. Given that some of these items are likely appearing in your main News Feed these might be a little redundant, but it should be helpful nonetheless.
Application pages have also been updated to function like standard Facebook “Pages”. This means that users will be able to become ‘fans’ of an App and receive updates from it in their News Feed.
Finally (and what is perhaps the most important addition) are the Verified Apps. The green checkmarks that denote a Verified App are unobtrusive, appearing next to the star rating of an app (I suspect they may be even a little bit too easy to look over). But even if users don’t notice them at first, it might not matter much, because Facebook is clearly favoring them when it presents applications in the directory. Verified Apps get priority in the prominent “Applications You May Like” section, which is sure to drive quite a bit of traffic.
Great improvement on the directory. Love the “External Websites” section.
with this old fb css files are no longer need to be downloaded.
I wish they’d make the apps stop tricking people into inviting others to “take the quiz” (or whatever it is). There’s no clear “skip” button in most cases, thus fooling at least 95% (I estimate) of people to go ahead and invite everyone. On Flixster for example, you have to click first on “I’ll pick the people to invite” before you can then choose to not invite any. There’s no reason for it. The apps stand up on their own merits without needing that nonsense.
I second that, having a conveniently located ‘Skip’ button will make app experience a breeze
gotta love the skip button
what a joke. Theres no way to even find some of the apps unless you search for them. Paying $375 a year to get a check next to your app? Find a better way to make money facebook
The $375 is about the spammers ok. In this industry we pay for the sins of the idiots. If people hadn’t abused users right to be left alone, this wouldn’t of happened.
That said you are correct in that the search is incredibly flawed. Some apps have 0 info on the search and others have a ton. The problem is you don’t get any real info until you go to the about page. Well if you have searched for an app, clicked through more than one page on the results and then go to the about page, see the app sucks, then click back on the browser it goes to page one again which is SO ANNOYING.
That is the biggest reason I don’t search for apps because it is so annoying trying to find the place I left off. It makes more sense to search app websites in Google because it is a 1000 times more polished then this.
Digital Dandelion is proud that our application Bottle Buzz is part of the inaugural set of 120 Facebook Verified Apps.
Do you walk into the office each morning and say everyone look at me I am wonderful? Your comment is self promoting crap.
I hope this cuts down on the spam of receiving messages from friends that supposedly have a secret they are going to tell you if you download a particular application. Anything to help separate the apps that aren’t prominent or credible would be a big improvement.
half the apps don’t even work right, so I hope that “check” means they’ve actually been tested
my app got verified, yet i still haven’t see it listed in the directory, not even when i m browsing verified apps only. they are definately not showing all the applications, even if verified
I must be new to all this facebook apps stuff, because I’m really impressed and apparently everyone who has commented so far seems to be over the thrill already.
I think it is way cool to search for a book or a movie and see my friends’ reviews, instead of some random person’s reviews. So now instead of searching for a book at Amazon, I can search on facebook and let my friends’ reviews help me decide if it’s worth reading. The same goes for movies, places, and things. Watch out Amazon, this could get really, really big very fast.
Seems like you can’t remove an application from your profile either. Very annoying.
My question is, what kind of morons need their “friends” to tell them what movies to see, what books to read, and where to travel?
I am perfectly capable of making basic decisions like that for myself.
And these same morons don’t realize that most of these cutesy little FB apps make their money by harvesting your personal info out of you and your friends’ profiles and selling it. So all of you people complaining about spam, etc.? Well, congrats, you’re part of the problem.
Stop taking endless stupid FB quizzes and virtual nonsense and start spending real face-to-face quality time with your friends and family and be more productive at work.
No, I don’t like the new app dir at all because my app mCards is never listed on the directory after they changed to the new dir.
I’m so depressed now, mCards is a new app on Facebook, so I desperately need users to boost it up. But atm, no one can find it
.
Does any one know what I should do?
Thanks