by Sarah V Reid

Created on: July 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 27, 2008

The much-anticipated Apple 3G iPhone comes complete with a new home screen widget: an App Store allowing users to download additional applications for use with the device, including the Facebook application, designed specifically for the iPhone.

Users can navigate straight to their Facebook account from their home screen, without using the iPhone's Safari browser.

Loading of this application is surprisingly fast, and logging in the same simple process as on the Facebook website.

The user interface is clean and minimalistic: the instantly recognisable Facebook colors combine with straightforward functions to make this a very user-friendly application.

Navigation is by way of tabs along the bottom of the screen for Home, Profile, Friends, Chat and Inbox - which even states how many unread messages you have in your inbox.

The ease of access is incredible - there is no loading of a browser, inputting of a web address and waiting for the site to then load. In fact, the only thing missing from this application is the ability to change the layout of the screen - the accelerometer does not change the view from portrait to landscape when turning the iPhone.

Most of the important Facebook functions are included. The first page to load after logging in gives friends' most recent status updates. Loading a friend's profile provides you with access to their wall for viewing and posting messages, their photos, mini-feed, and personal information. You can send messages directly to a Facebook inbox or to chat with those who are online. In addition, you can email friends directly by clicking on their email address, or call them by clicking on their phone number, if these details are listed on their profile.

The various optional elements installed on Facebook web pages are not available via this application. The beauty of the iPhone, particularly the new 3G version, means you can still load the full website using its Safari browser for those who miss this functionality.

The minimalist feel to the application, however, will appeal to many people who feel the main website to be, perhaps, a little fussy or distracting. The ease of navigation to Facebook, straight from the iPhone home screen, and around the application itself will be something which will appeal to users.

In all, this application deserves its position as one of the most downloaded and highly rated applications in the App Store, and will appeal to any Facebook user who owns an iPhone.

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