The world's largest social media network, Facebook, is receiving criticism from various quarters following the launch of its Android layered Home system yesterday.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg yesterday unveiled the social network giant's new Android layer that uses the home screen of a smartphone as its core. This followed months of speculation surrounding the release of a Facebook phone.
Taiwanese manufacturer HTC did, however, announce the launch of its HTC First that comes standard with Facebook Home, while Home will also be available to work on other HTC and Samsung models.
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Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at Ovum, agrees that Home will appeal to users as it makes it easier to share information with their friends. But as noted by other pundits, Dawson says Home will allow Facebook to keep a close eye on its users.
"It will allow Facebook to track more of a user's behaviour on devices, and present more opportunities to serve up advertising, which is Facebook's main business model. Users don't want more advertising or tracking, and Facebook wants to do more of both."
Calling Facebook Home the "faux-OS", GigaOM founder, Om Malik, also questions the social network's policies on privacy. "Facebook's history as a repeat offender on privacy, and playing loose and easy with our data means that need to be even more vigilant about privacy issues, thanks to this Home app/faux-OS."
Malik says the increased marketing to users will not count in Facebook Home's favour. "However, the problem is that Facebook is going to use all this data ? not to improve our lives ? but to target better marketing and advertising messages at us. Zuckerberg made no bones about the fact that Facebook will be pushing ads on Home."
Apple and tech commentator, John Gruber, has also taken a swing at Facebook Home on his Daring Fireball blog, saying it's a "nicely-designed phone interface that I would personally never want to use".
Gruber also has some harsh words about the Facebook Home messaging app. "I suddenly wonder why the iPhone Messages app doesn't use avatars. Or, perhaps the better question: why don't iMessage accounts have avatars?"
South African outlook
World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says Facebook Home is unlikely to catch on in the South African market. "Facebook Home is targeted at the Android trade market and in South Africa we are not quite there yet."
Goldstuck adds that locally, Samsung holds the biggest market share when it comes to Android operating systems and puts a lot of effort into its smartphones. "They would not want to dilute their smartphone experience with something that overrides their Android system."
The HTC First that comes loaded with Facebook Home as standard is also unlikely to catch on, with Goldstuck saying HTC does not have a big presence in the South African market. "The phone is targeted at people who primarily use it for Facebook. It could become more popular as the entry-level Android market grows."
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