Facebook has turned on a new feature for select groups of Facebook users (mainly in India) called "Facebook Lite" which is essentially a cut down, faster loading edition of Facebook's user interface that scarily looks more and more like Twitter (or even friendfeed).Users who are being offered a place in the beta are receiving the message:
We are building a faster, simpler version of Facebook that we call Facebook Lite. It's not finished yet and we have plenty of kinks to work out, but we would love to get your feedback on what we have built so far.
The site for the feature is http://lite.Facebook.com. If you're not part of the beta you'll just see the normal Facebook interface. Users are pointing out that at the moment, it doesn't seem that different for them, but there still is more to come. A Twitter user tweeted: "Heh! Facebook Lite looks like a simplified version of Twitter with comments enabled. On 2nd thought, it looks like simplified FriendFeed." Ironically enough, Facebook just finished buying Friendfeed earlier this week.
Users are reporting that Facebook Lite is much faster, and easier to use, though still has many kinks to work out (as seen in fourth screenshot below).
When TechCrunch asked Facebook about the Lite test, they replied:
"We are currently testing a simplified alternative to Facebook.com that loads a specific set of features quickly and efficiently. Similar to the Facebook experience you get on your mobile phones, Facebook "Lite" is a fast-loading, simplified version of Facebook that enables people to make comments, accept Friend requests, write on people's Walls, and look at photos and Status updates. We are currently testing Facebook Lite in countries where we are seeing lots of new users coming to Facebook for the first time and are looking to start off with a more simple experience.
This evening, the test was temporarily exposed to a larger set of users by mistake. We have not opened up access to lite.Facebook.com to all users at this time. People who are not part of the test and are trying to access "Lite" will be directed to Facebook.com as usual."
Screenshots of the Facebook Lite trial can be found below:
Can anyone tell us why the heck that picture on the right is used for reporting feedback?!
This image shows that when Events is clicked an error is generated, indicating that the events section is not ready for Facebook Lite yet
Images courtesy Techcrunch
I've used it on 128kbps, 256kbps and even 2mbps and on all of them it opened pretty slow!
thats just the line speed going from you to your provider... its not the speed that they actually transfer the data to you, i.e. your modem is doing alot of 'waiting' because your provider is slow
So why the need to bring the mobile experience to the PC internet?
Hell i rarely use my laptop so much these days im browsing neowin via my phone
Exactly the same for me.
Lite is still a baby(beta) and we are being requested to take care of it by pointing out bugs.
The new version will be released very shortly (though without Push, which will come later in the year in version 3.1).
They have been very slow about it! My message inbox doesn't even load at all now. Can't believe they won't have push either, they must have known about it long enough!
Yeah it was a fault
+1 Lol... pretty much, that's the sad part. People are going be like "that's so revolutionary and fresh, bah gawd"
now they are more like a website in the traditional sense, rather than trying to be a complete internet experience on their own...
What, does it show a blank page?
What, does it show a blank page?
lol
It would great for Facebook to provide a setting to hide messaged for all applications...
It would great for Facebook to provide a setting to hide messaged for all applications...
There's a fantastic firefox script for this called "Facebook Purity"
It would great for Facebook to provide a setting to hide messaged for all applications...
There's a fantastic firefox script for this called "Facebook Purity"
And does it work for all apps? I just hope it does.
I'm getting this right now. Thanks for such a great tip!
/sarcasm.
Because, if you put a "lite" version, then you are tossing away the chance to put ads on it.
Did it occur to you that the person above was using Adblock? Think, man. Do you think Facebook would miss a chance to advertise to you?
Don't burn something before you even try it.
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