Earlier today Facebook announced changes to the newsfeed for the popular social media site that appear to mimic some features from Google+. The overall look is laid out in a manner similar to Google+ with items in the feed becoming more prominent while a ribbon down the left side of the site is full of icons for different functions. To the right side of the layout are blocks for access to specific lists of friends or other pages you may be following. Though Facebook claims the new redesign is based on mobile devices, opening a Google+ homepage and comparing it with the new Facebook newsfeed may leave you wondering whether they were copying the principles of Google+.
Another function that may strike users as similar to Google+ are the different options for what appears in the newsfeed. In their video showing off the new function, users can select to see posts of photos or music or just friends or just pages they are following. It is not clear whether users will be able to customize these selections. The idea is to limit what shows up in the newsfeed similar to the way Google+ users can use Circles.
Facebook mentioned some other enhancements during their announcement event. According to Facebook’s information, users are more visual now and are much more likely to post pictures and videos instead of plain text updates. So images and videos will be displayed much larger in a nod to this change in usage. Facebook also said links to web sites and other articles will include more text “blurbs” than they do now. Facebook also claims the clients for mobile devices will be very similar to the standard web interface so that users will have a consistent experience no matter how they access the service. Unfortunately, it appears Android users will be last in line to get any updates.
Facebook said they will slowly rollout the change in what will amount to a long soak test. Users can sign up to try to get in on the changes early in the process. If you are interested, hit the source link and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Facebook
Come comment on this article: Facebook announces revamped newsfeed with apparent nod to Google+