Facebook has submitted v. 3.0 of their iPhone application to Apple, Joe Hewitt says via Twitter: “Just uploaded Facebook for iPhone 3.0 to the App Store for review. 
”
Hewitt also says he’ll post screen shots and more detais on this Facebook page for the iPhone app next week, and that he’s looking forward to getting started on v. 3.1 tomorrow.
We’ve been tracking 3.0 since details first became available in July. A list of some of the much needed improvements is here. And as a bonus, Hewitt said he’d be able to include video uploads to Facebook from iPhone 3Gs phones as well. And from our most recent post (yes, Hewitt has been teasing this out for weeks):
That means that shortly, we’ll have access to the much-improved app which is scheduled to have features such as a News Feed that is more like the one on Facebook’s site, the ability to “like” items and a new customizable home screen. More importantly, it will also have video support for the iPhone 3GS, something which Hewitt threw-in at the last second, unexpectedly. And perhaps best of all, the app will have the ability to manage events, finally.
It’s likely Apple will approve this app in short order. Not only are they trying to avoid high profile app problems, there’s also not very much in the Facebook app that they or AT&T would take exception to.
If you haven’t heard it, make sure to listen to our interview with Joe Hewitt two years ago when Facebook first launched a special browser-based version of Facebook for the iPhone.
I just can’t wait for 3.1 – Push Notifications will rock
Right…. that should be some thing…
Michael Arrington, I LOVE YOU MAN!….
why? He didnt develop it…
It would be interesting for iphone developers to get organized in some way and measure the average time that the store is taking to approve them.
The new app would be a gift to iPhone users. Hope it is much easier to handle status updates, events, chat etc.
Yay, 3.0 looks sexy! Hopefully it has a built-in mini-browser too, so you do’t always have to launch Safari if you tap a link/video/photo/whatever.
Here’s to 3.1 too!
I am not gonna update to this.
The current iphone fb app shows the old news feed which is basically the old live feed.
i can stalk way better with the current app.
Woohoo events! Whatev’s.
Why is a facebook app needed? Why don’t just access it via the browser like every other phone out there? I’m not on iphone (yes there’s people like me) and i use facebook’s full page (not the mobile edition) without any problems.
Then you dont really qualify to make a judgement, do you?
I prefer to use the FB app over the mobile edition via mobile Safari. To each his/her own at the end of the day.
At the bottom of the page of the mobile facebook you can find a link to browse the full version of FB. No need to use the crappy mobile version.
Because applications do not require a browser to be web based. What are widgets? Applications or web sites?
The point is that sometimes it is desirable to have custom functions built into an app combining with web interfaces to create a web-centric application. When we have HTML 5 or 6, then we will have features that kill off the necessity for custom development much more so than today.
I bet that in the not to distant future that we interact with websites as applications more than through a browser.
Your question as to why not just use the web version of FB vs. the FB iPhone app would then beg to question, why are all of these people downloading billions of iPhone Apps and not just using some web based interface.
BECAUSE, the iPhone app user interface is different then a slow, web based interface. It is designed for each of use via the phone, not via a browser.
But, I thought we already knew this.
This will probably be on the fast track given the user base. If not there will be a million groups formed on Facebook and then we all will be dodging the invitations to join.
I would like to see the demo how it work?
None of the Facebook mobile apps hide your friends that you’ve hidden on Facebook.com. Hope the iPhone 3.0 app and all other future mobile app versions fix this.
Nice.
Facebook 3.0 looks pretty slick on the iPhone. Can’t wait! http://AppUseful.com
How long it takes Apple to approve this app shows either one of two things:
A) Short approval time – Apple is selectively taking time to approve high profile apps as quickly as possible.
B) Long approval time – Apple’s app approval queue truly is first in-first out.
Priority = Urgency x Impact
it’s a simple rule that apple can use.
For instance, if Impact is high, for eg. an update to existing app, approvals should be faster.
I’m sure Facebook will get through just fine!
woooooooooooooooo
This entire Apple approval process needs to be regulated, preferrably by a new cabinet level position in the federal government
Get off your ass Apple and get it approved.
I thought you QUIT the iPhone
I did. but unless/until all you people do, too, we’re going to have to keep writing about it.
don’t you still use iPod touch?
i do.
The certification process will always be brought into question because there are so many factors around app approval. I use the Facebook app frequently so hopefully this will be worth the wait and not have underlying issues!
Man, I cannot wait till Facebook 3.0 is released for iPhone….. Sadly though, no push notification, until later.
Why? If you used apps like IM+ or Beejive which uses push notification on Facebook chat, it’s SOOOO BUGGY… Facebook first needs to FIX their notification feature overall.
Siiiiiiiiiick! Facebook has completely won the social networking race.. It’s going to be very very hard to to convince FB users to ever use another social network as their primary platform.
Friendster probably said the same thing.
I’ll be testing the update on the touch before I allow it onto the phone. and by touch, I mean my 1st gen phone that I never got rid of.
I’ve been waiting for this and now Apple is making us wait longer…
I can’t wait for all of the apps to work on the iphone through a facebook app. That is one of the biggest issues because facebook apps are addicting as hell…
Why is facebook always behind the curve with iPhone apps? For quite some time in 2008, their iPhone app was eclipsed by their mobile Safari website. It was hideous to use the app then.
Perhaps if facebook opened up their API a bit more so third-party developers could write iPhone facebook apps we would see real progress. That model has worked well for Twitter. Maybe Twitter could share details as a thank you for the tweet-siah cupcakes?
This is great. I am just starting to jump back onto the Facebook band wagon. This app will just allow me more flexibility for on the go communication. Also I still haven’t found a purpose for my upgrade to the 3Gs other than the 3G network. With this app I should be able to upload videos? This awesome!
LOL, more hutrry up and wait. Typical Apple!
Jiff
http://www.onli...nonymity.net.tc
Get a blackberry like the rest of the world, u get notifications, iPhone apps can’t do background processes that’s not part of the OS. iPhone sucks.
yeah, the iphone has been a real flop. how embarrassing for apple. blackberries with their tiny screens, cumbersome user experience, and retro keyboards are totally where it’s at!
Camera sucks, Speaker Sucks, GPS Sucks (can’t u people read specs??)…even the cheap Nokia 5800 is much better iPhone than an actual iPhone.
The only novelty is multi touch feature which would get old soon after Windows 7 launches.
Seriosuly wake up OMG! YES, u can touch the screen to make it do stuff, now move on and keep up with years of mobile phone development that you’ve been missing.
Well “God”, what a well constructed argument. You clearly have a grasp on what end users want. You are actually pretty funny.
You’re kind of An idiot. I don’t see how people can make judgement on phones they have never used. Yes I’ve used blackberry and it is not at all better than an iPhone. Controls are much harder and the phone can’t do much unique. We can have background processes if you know what you’re doing. Gps on the iPhone is surprisingy accurate. Plus can you do things like use it as a credit card terminal, change your caller ID phone number, be travelling and find any local store and directions in a matter of 30 seconds? K thanks.
I’m really looking forward to this update mainly because of the addition of Pages to the app. I currently manage a handful of Pages and the ability to work with them while mobile will be great!
I’d like the simple ability to reply to wall posts and comments on my wall. instead of being directed to my friend’s page and then leaving a new post. Is that really so much to ask for? I could care less about pictures videos and apps, the basic ability to post, reply, and such should be the first things on their to do list for improvements.
So now they can take a break on developing on the iPhone Facebook app. Then they might start to focus on a equal for Android?
Um, I don’t think Joe Hewitt is the only guy doing mobile. Think about it. Facebook is a company, not a person.
at least last year Facebook was saying he was pretty much the only guy building the iPhone app. That may have changed. I’ll ask them.
It’s been widely reported Google and Facebook have put aside their beef and are working on an official app.
When will they build in face recognition so I don’t have to manually tag people in photos?
Hopefully never! There are just too many photos of me doing stupid things that I don’t need tagged. Right now the laziness of my friends is the only thing keeping my dignity intact.
Can’t wait to get my hands on the latest version. The new notes features will be very handy
Looks like a pretty sweet update. I’m glad that the video upload is an option too. I picked up a free iPhone 3GS here:
http://www.comp...9670-techcrunch
and adding video to my youtube page will be awesome now. But, yeah, I agree that push notification is the #1 thing I’m looking forward too. I’d like my home screen to be updated via push.
So Mr. Arrington, since you finally saw the light and had enough with Apple’s sandbox, what device are you using now, which device do you hope to use in the future?
Cant wait……
do u even realize that push notifications will absolutlely drain the apple battery?…its not worth it
iPhone can’t do background processes people. You can only run one 3rd party app at one time. Unless apple makes fb part of the os there will be no notification. iPhone sucks. Get a blackberry, palm, WinMo device.
You’ll only look like a douche carrying that oversize brick around.
Another well crafted argument.
Push notifications don’t drain the battery, which is the exact reason why Apple decided to use them!! 3rd party apps aren’t allowed to run in the background (unlike Blackberry & others) which saves processor power and therefore saves battery life… The whole notification system works by removing the task of checking for new items from the iPhone (therefore saving battery because it doesn’t need to keep on checking), and getting it done by the applications servers or whatever, when you get a new notification, the application ‘pushes’ the information to the iPhone. iPhone’s obviously beat blackberry’s, palm’s & WinMo devices in every aspect!! Only a fool would think otherwise……..
Oh my, such delusions. iPhone didn’t have any push feature (email or otherwise) when it first came out. It polls email servers like most phones back then. Only BlackBerry had push email, etc since the beginning.
Also how is the ‘cut and paste’ situation now? It’s been years so I kinda gave up wondering about it.
Apple says it doesn’t allow background apps from 3rd party apps because of battery issues?!? LOL thats pathetic, you don’t even have the option to run more than one 3rd party app at one time. Thats not a ‘feature’ thats a limitation. And ONLY iPhones has that particular one.
Lastly, even with PUSH constant data connection is required (obviously). That drains battery, now if you’re saying Apple is so concerned about battery life, why would the iPhone even need a PUSH anything. There’s also no need for 3G because it drains the battery even more. Haha.
IPhone 3.0 will be a huge hit, its really a great news for iPhone developer and users. I am also waiting for this. Thanks for info
Hey yall I have fb 3.0…
It just updated!! I’m livin it! There are no Bugs!!:)
Dear “God”,
Some of us just like the iPhone for what it is. Not all of us get off to phone features the way you seem to. You stand up for your blackberry the way a jealous boyfriend would if his girl was hit on at the bar by another guy. It’s almost endearing. If you could only realize how many people are laughing at you right now, thinking the same thing I am. To be honest, most of us don’t really care; Apple will only continue to improve on an already superior phone…and we all know that. Ok, I can’t wait to read your well thought out comment back. Let me go get the vasoline, Im dying to read all about the specs your going to throw at me haha.
-Jesus
Yeah exactly,
I love my iPhone 3gs. I don’t need somebody telling me that I shouldn’t. You like your phone, I’ll like mine. Thank you.
Is there a button we can press to just list the 10 reasons without having to go through the slideshow? If not, can you warn us that it’s a slideshow in the headline somewhere? I always regret clicking on these posts.