Facebook Can’t Figure Out Profile Design
Posted by Nick O'Neill on May 7th, 2008 9:48 AMLast night Facebook posted an update to members of the Facebook Profile Previews Page. The update included the updated profile design shown below. The update means one thing: Facebook still can’t figure out how they want the new profile to look. Facebook has been continuously adjusting the way that applications interact with the profile. This most recent way decreases the importance of applications within profiles.
While I think that the news design makes the profile cleaner, application developers should be concerned as Facebook continues to juggle with how applications are emphasized. They previously mentioned that applications would only be displayed in the left hand narrow column and had removed the wide column all together. This new version places both wide and narrow applications within one box. The one thing I don’t understand though is why they called the tab “Boxes” rather than “Apps”.
Initially a new design was expected to be rolled out in the first quarter but Facebook continues to consider feedback received from users and application developers. While some of the changes should concern developers it is great to see that Facebook continues to listen to feedback from developers. What do you think of the new profile design?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I honestly don’t really care about Facebook app developers. Facebook was great before applications and would probably still be great if they disappeared. I mean, the things have become a spammy mess and finding one that works well, consistently is a real challenge. And if I have to decline one more invitation to some ludicrous quiz or useless tool then I might just flip.
I think the new profiles will work really well. Having it tabbed, I think it will draw more attention to the individual information on peoples’ profiles. Inputting your favourites, etc. will become a bit more important because it will have a tab focused on it.
I also know that people have been criticizing the fact that the wall and mini-feed have been combined, but I’m a huge fan of the idea. I can’t really explain why, but I just think it’s functional and makes sense. I can’t wait for the new style to roll out.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I feel the opposite to Ian above. I just don’t see the point of the redesign at all:
- I don’t think that info will be as prominent because it won’t be at the top of the main page any more, but will be hidden away in another tab.
- I don’t think that users will ever want to view each other’s application “boxes”. I know that as a developer that I get 95% of my new users from the profile box, which I like because I tend to think that it’s the least “spammy” way of showcasing my application to new users. I think that once the redesign is finished I shall have to start spamming the news feed, since that will be on the default page, but I doubt that that will make up for it. If Facebook wants medium sized companies to invest time in making applications, then hiding them away so that they’re never seen isn’t the answer.
- I think that the wall should be on the default tab in its own space, rather than being hidden away in another tab.
May 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I am pretty frustrated with this and have been in a state of Facebook “limbo” since this was announced in February. Get on with it already, how long does it take?