facebook

We mentioned how this morning version 2.3 of the official Facebook app should be going live today and true to their word, it has.

The new version brings a complete redesign of the UI as can be seen above in some new screenshots. The panorama look makes the app more Metro friendly and more importantly, it adds much more functionality like the ability to see and add "likes" to posts. There's also a refined tool bar at the bottom with quick access to Check in, Add (post) or quickly add/take a new photo.

In addition, you now have access to pages, groups, feed filters, privacy information and banner images. Speed of the app seems on par with before and we're hoping for more reliable notifications (always a tricky issue that is more Facebook than Windows Phone).

So far it looks to be a solid and respectable update, something many of you have been wanting for months now--so are you satisfied? Hit us up in comments...

Pick up the official Facebook app version 2.3 here in the Marketplace (and watch our video tutorial on how to force the update).

Seesmic has come out with an interesting app that some of you will find interesting. It's a post-everywhere type app where you just fill out one field and send it off to the interwebs.

Perfect for those with multiple Twitter profiles, a Facebook account or two and even throw in a LinkedIn for safe keeping, Seesmic Ping seems to have it all covered.  What's unique about Ping though is the ability to add as many accounts as you want, allowing you to post to one or all per post. You can even share links and add photos with a thumbnail view with ease.

Even better, it allows you to write drafts for later, allowing the system to "auto post" for you at a specific date or time. This is all done not so much via the app but by using Seesmic's "log in" system where they basically maintain all of your accounts for you, much like their Desktop app. It's a neat little service and for those on the go who need to remote post, probably one of the best (and perhaps only) solution for Windows Phone.

We've been playing with the app and ran it through some test posts with no problem. We have to admit, it is convenient to use and to the point. Plus it's free so there's not too much to complain about here. The Ping service was recently launched across iOS and Android too so it's nice to see Seesmic giving Windows Phone the nod too as it came out at the same time.

Pick it up here in the Marketplace for free. Thanks, Amir, for the heads up

This is pretty humorous. Should you be on Facebook and wish to shout out at contacts about Windows Phone in chat, you can now have a small image of a Nokia Lumia 800 show up, thanks to Rudy Huyn, with the following code (see the above example):

[[308362632536465]] [[308362662536462]] [[308362682536460]] [[308362712536457]]
[[308362735869788]] [[308362759203119]] [[308362779203117]] [[308362795869782]]
[[308362809203114]] [[308362825869779]] [[308362872536441]] [[308362905869771]]
[[308362942536434]] [[308362972536431]] [[308363009203094]] [[308363022536426]]
[[308363042536424]] [[308363069203088]] [[308363115869750]] [[308363135869748]]
[[308363155869746]] [[308363189203076]] [[308363215869740]] [[308363239203071]]
[[308363282536400]] [[308363309203064]] [[308363342536394]] [[308363375869724]]
[[308363405869721]] [[308363419203053]] [[308363435869718]] [[308363469203048]]

Pretty neat, eh? Some free promotion for the platform.

Source: Rudy Huyn

Nokia is at it again with their brilliant adver-tainment campaign.  They have added the classic Snake game that they had used to advertise on MSN UK to their Facebook page.  This time around, they have thrown a Christmas sweater on it, using wrapped gifts as the snake's snack.  As you slither around gobbling up presents, the snake grows longer, making it tougher to navigate the tiny confines of the page. 

With the tie-in to Facebook, players can share their scores (mine were too low to be proud of) or even challenge their friends.  If you want to kill some time, check it out using the source link below.  Beware the ultra-catchy midi soundtrack.

Source: Nokia (Facebook)

A few weeks ago we mentioned that Nokia was holding a contest to give away five Lumia 800s. It looks as if Nokia isn't through giving away their Windows Phone because another giveaway contest has surfaced on Nokia's Facebook page.

This go around Nokia will be giving away nine Lumia 800 Windows Phones and nine more to your friends.  That's what? 90 phones in all?

To enter go to Nokia's Facebook Page, "like" the contest and fill the on-screen People's Hub with your Facebook Friends.  The contest ends on December 20, 2011 and winners will be notified by email. Oh and to increase your chances of winning, your friends can enter the contest and add you in their People's Hub as well.  That way if they win, you win.

Good luck everyone!

Nokia (as well as Microsoft with the huge Windows Phone) has literally kept to "The Amazing Everyday" tagline they have been using throughout the Lumia 800 marketing campaign. You can now witness the beauty of the platform on Nokia's Facebook in a demo that loads your profile details and inserts your photos, contacts and more. It creates a personalised experience, which reflects how it would be like to own and use the handset with your accounts synchronised. Once the video walkthrough is complete, you are then able to manipulate the screen and check out individual features.

Source: Nokia Facebook, thanks wp7.com.pl for the tip!

Happy Halloween everyone, as a present from Microsoft we have Facebook version 2.2 being rolled out. This update, as previously covered, contains the fast-switching capability as well as the introduction to the deep linking feature. Users can now pin messages, news feeds and more to the home screen. Toast and tile notifications are now present too.

A fairly large update to keep the app on par with other Mango apps. You can download Facebook from the Marketplace. Wonder when groups support will be added?

Note: Also of interest, the app now supports right to left languages like Arabic or Hebrew, which is a big deal for those new markets. (Thanks, Amir)

Thanks @techjunky79 for the heads up!

We've received reports from readers that they seem to be experiencing some trouble with the Facebook feed in People Hub where updates aren't appearing from friends and contacts. The good news is that it's not an actual bug or problem but more of the social network viewing the Facebook integration in Windows Phone as a third-party app, not an official app.

As each registered account has control over who can view and access status updates as well as personal details it's up to that contact to set privacy controls accordingly. Should they not allow status updates through third-party apps then you will unfortunately not be able to view when they visit the bathroom or when their mood changes.

Here's an official response from Microsoft in a support thread:

"Facebook considers Windows Phone to be a third-party app, rather than an official Facebook app. This means Windows Phone only has access to information that is shared with apps and websites.

Each individual has control over what they share (Account > Privacy Settings > Apps and Websites: Edit your settings > Info accessible through your friends: Edit settings). If someone disables "My status updates," their friends will be not be able to see the updates in third-party apps. They will, however, show up on the Facebook website and in official Facebook-branded apps. Turning off platform apps entirely makes the user's whole Facebook profile disappear from Windows Phone.

This can be very annoying, but people should be able to control what they share. The ideal solution would be for Facebook to make Windows Phone an official app. Until that happens, updates from some friends may not appear in the People Hub."

Join the discussion over on our forums!

Update: To be able to see your contact updates in the People Hub, that contact will need to alter their privacy settings and enable "status updates" in the following area: "> Privacy Settings > Apps and Websites: Edit your settings > How people bring your info to apps they use: Edit your settings"

We've mentioned before that with "Mango", Microsoft is updating their logo for Windows Phone to the square version, enhanced by the various accent colors of the OS. The new logo received mixed reactions from you the last time with most agreeing it makes sense but that you still liked the old one better.

Well, now you can see it even more as Microsoft has changed the lil' icon for when you post to Facebook--you know, that tiny guy that tells you what service you posted from. While seemingly a minor detail, Facebook is a great place to spread the word about new technology and the new icon certainly has some pop to it. Clicking the link of course brings you to the Windows Phone Facebook page to learn more. Not bad.

Thanks, Loopyeyes and Nick L, for the tip