Facebook released an updated version of its universal app for iPhone and iPad over the weekend, adding voice and video features. The update also improves the app’s ability to let users know when a friend is nearby.
Most of the upgrades come in the messages portion of the app. Facebook now allows you to take and attach a photo while composing the message—you can also add emoji, or even compose a short voice message. (Perhaps to prevent dreaded “butt dialing,” the voice feature requires that you press and hold the record button during the entirety of the message, instead of a click-on/click-off model at the beginning and end.)
The video feature is a little less obvious within the app: When you’re updating your status, tap on the camera icon in the status menu and you’re given the option of taking a photo or recording a video. Facebook doesn’t specify a time limit to the amount of video you can shoot within the app—but when I tried to record a half-minute of video within the app, that video disappeared. A five-second clip, however, uploaded just fine.
Facebook is also promising that its “nearby” tab is has been improved, making it easier to “share and connect with” favorite places using the tab.
Facebook 5.4.1 is free, and compatible with all devices running iOS 4.3 or later.
Author: Joel Mathis
Joel Mathis is a regular contributor to Macworld and TechHive. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and young son.