Facebook sent out invites for its Android event inviting people to see its new Home on Android. It turned out to be an Android launcher that puts Facebook front and center on your smartphone with a Facebook skin. It built the house and thought everyone would love what it built, but unfortunately Android users are taking a taking a look and leaving very fast. While Mark Zuckerberg boasted that Facebook Home was starting on Android because it was a completely open operating system that can be modified and customized. Zuckerberg even suggested that it would likely never happen. In less than two weeks since its announcement and debut on the Google Play Store, the average rating for Facebook Home is 2.3 stars, the majority of reviews are one star. Here a few user reviews from the Google Play Store:
"So I downloaded the app, and within 10 minutes of downloading, I uninstalled. Was not impressed by this app at all. Might be nice for some people, but not me."
"I tried it ,and to be honest, it just was too much. I would like it better if it was just the lock screen, but it gets annoying. Plus, it hid most of my other apps (namely google ones lol)."
"All of the one star ratings are BS! This app does exactly what it says it's going to do, which is worth at least two stars! So far, so good with this app. It looks cool and works smoothly. I do miss my phone launcher though."
According to Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg has apparently had a change of heart and his company is reportedly in talks with Apple and Microsoft to try and bring Facebook Home to iOS and Windows Phone. It seems that Facebook didn't get the kind of housewarming it thought it was going to receive, so now it's trying to build a home on iOS and Windows Phone. Adam Mosseri, director of product at Facebook told Bloomberg:
"We've shown them what we've built and we're just in an ongoing conversation," Mosseri said, referring to discussions with Apple and Microsoft.
If Facebook Home came to iOS and Windows Phone it will look and act very different than the Home Facebook built on Android. Apple prides itself on design and would never allow Facebook to ever remodel iOS. Microsoft has invested too much and has seen great success in its Windows Phone Live Tile interface to ever allow it to be taken over and be turned into a Facebook Home launcher. Facebook is going to have a hard time selling Facebook Home in its current Android form to companies like Microsoft and Apple. It must be tough thinking you had your dream house less than two weeks ago, and now you're already looking for other buyers...
