Yesterday Facebook released the lite version of their site in all of the languages currently available through the Translations application. Given that the company supposedly released this version of the site to target those individuals with slower internet access, it only makes sense that they roll out all the remaining languages as quickly as possible. However the existing design and the Facebook Lite version appear to be merging together as one.
Earlier this morning I wrote about Facebook’s latest design changes that are about to be rolled out. Not surprisingly it looks just like Facebook Lite. The primary difference between the two designs now is that the primary version of Facebook uses friend list filters within the stream. It only makes one wonder more about whether or not Facebook plans on moving the existing design further in the direction of Facebook Lite.
As one Facebook executive told me, “we’re trying to simplify the site”. Given that Mark Zuckerberg has also repeatedly stated that the Future of Facebook is off of the site, it only makes sense that the design is headed in such a direction. For now, Facebook needs to be accessible in as many locations as possible, and Facebook Lite assists with making the site more accessible.
However in the long-run, the site could theoretically merge with Facebook Lite, once all the company’s data is available to developers and robust tools have been built on top of the platform. For now, Facebook continues to expand Facebook Lite to other languages and expand the functionality of the service. We’ll have to wait and see if the two sites eventually become one. Do you use Facebook Lite? Which version do you prefer?
I’ve been giving Facebook Lite a try lately. It does tend to be snappier than the regular version.
One thing I don’t like about Lite is you can’t use @tags. Maybe it’s because you can normally @tag more than just profiles and pages, but it’s still a big miss IMO.
I wish there was a Switch button, so that no matter what Lite page I was on if I wanted to go to the regular version it’d be only a click away. Having that on the regular version would be cool too, even if it would only appear on some content.
I still prefer the regular version, but mostly because it’s more familiar.
Comment by Andrew Ledwith — October 7, 2009 @ 11:29 am
I am having major problems with this FB lite. Not only do I think it’s UGLY and DIFFICULT TO READ (the pictures and names and comments fall, literally, one on top of the other; you cannot tell which comment goes with what picture), but I can no longer post comments on people’s walls and I’m missing words in a bunch of places. I, of course, hate it. Stop messing around, FB and let us enjoy what we finally got used to.
Comment by Maria — October 8, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
Oh, and you ask “Do you use Facebook Lite?” Are you telling me there is a choice???! If so, how do I get it to go back to the previous version??!
Comment by Maria — October 8, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
How can I choose this one? Thank you
Comment by Giulio — October 11, 2009 @ 10:05 am