Users Given the Choice to Preview New Features, Functions and Feeds
PALO
ALTO, Calif. — Facebook® today released a new, cleaner
and simpler design, along with the opportunity for users to preview and
test the next-generation features and functionality. The company is
inviting people to use the new design and try out the improved features
by navigating back and forth between the new and current versions of
the site. Access to the new design will be limited at first and
gradually become available to all of Facebook’s more than 80 million
users over the coming days.
“We’ve made the changes rolling out
today in order to highlight the most recent and relevant information
that users value, give users even more control and ownership over their
profiles and simplify the user experience,” said Facebook founder and
CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “Facebook’s new design makes it a lot easier for
users to share information, and we encourage them to check it out.”
The
company has been developing the new design since early this year. Over
the past six months, more than 100,000 Facebook users offered
constructive suggestions on the layout and features, many of which were
included in the final version.
The Power of Feeds
Facebook
uses feeds to deliver people news and information in a social context.
The evolution of the site design focuses on integrating powerful feed
technology and the Wall, a forum for users and their friends to post
comments, photos, videos and more, including content from third-party
applications. The Wall now surfaces more current and pertinent
information, or “stories”, about a user and their friends’ on Facebook.
New Types of “Stories”
Users have
complete control over the stories published on their profile. They also
have the ability to adjust the size and prominence of stories and can
choose between having one-line stories, short or full stories. One-line
stories are one sentence long, while short stories include thumbnail
photos or content, and full stories display large, noticeable images.
Publish More Content
Located
on the Wall tab, the Publisher feature enables users to create more
content than ever and in a centralized place. From the Publisher, a
user can add photos, upload video, or write notes, rather than
navigating to each individual application. Similarly, users can add
content to their friends’ profiles through the Publisher on their
profiles.
Easier Site Navigation with Tabs
The
top menu is similar to the old design and allows users to access their
Profile, Friends, and Inbox. The left hand applications menu has been
moved to the ‘Applications’ link on the top of the menu screen. The
Profile is now split out into tabs:
• The Wall tab displays the most recent and relevant information both about the user and by the user;
• The Info tab shows information about the user that doesn’t change frequently;
• The Photos tab shows photos of the user as well as their albums;
• The Boxes tab features all of a user’s existing application boxes.
Users
are also able to add individual tabs for their favorite applications.
This gives users greater control over their own profiles and makes
navigation faster and easier.
Applications and the New Design
Third-party
applications are more tightly integrated into Facebook in order to make
using applications simpler and more seamless. Users will have the
option to interact with an application before adding it, grant it
access to their information, and decide where they want it placed, if
at all, on their profiles.
Privacy Controls
On
Facebook, users choose what information they put in their profile,
including contact and personal information, pictures, interests and
groups they join. And they control the users with whom they share that
information through the privacy settings on the Privacy page of their
profile. The new design does not change any of the privacy settings
previously selected by the user. The new Facebook design will be made
available to users at http://www.new.facebook.com. In the coming weeks, all Facebook users will automatically default to the new site design when logging in at http://www.facebook.com.
About Facebook
Founded
in February 2004, Facebook’s mission is to make the world more open and
transparent by giving people the power to share. Anyone can sign up for
Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted
environment. Facebook is a privately-held company and is headquartered
in Palo Alto, Calif.