14 DAY TRIAL // Avid fans of Facebook wielding iOS devices have a fresh update to download and install, which enables new options, like replying directly to comments on stories by Pages, easier post management by admins, and more. The company is also rolling out a brand new feature called Nearby Friends, competing directly with Apple’s Find My Friends app.
Facebook version 9.0 is immediately available for download on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with the new ability to reply directly to comments on stories by Pages that have this feature turned on.
Group admins can now review and approve pending posts by group members much easier, and anyone can now see posts about trending topics highlighted in the News Feed on tablets.
Facebook 9.0 continues to require only iOS 6 to run and supports English, Bokmål, Norwegian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
Compatible devices include iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPad second generation, iPad third generation, iPad fourth generation, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display, iPod touch fourth generation, and iPod touch fifth generation.
The social network is introducing an all-new feature that will be rolling out gradually to both iOS and Android customers over the next few weeks. It’s called “Nearby Friends” and competes directly with the likes of Foursquare and even Apple’s own Find My Friends service, which pinpoints the location of your buddies on a map.
Facebook pitches the new feature as an opt-in service for social-eager groups of friends who don’t want to miss any chance of hooking up to see a movie, share a breakfast table, etc.
“If you turn on Nearby Friends, you’ll occasionally be notified when friends are nearby, so you can get in touch with them and meet up. For example, when you’re headed to the movies, Nearby Friends will let you know if friends are nearby so you can see the movie together or meet up afterward,” says the company.
Customers can choose who can see if they’re nearby, such as friends, close friends, or a specific friends list. The feature can also be turned off at any time.
Users can choose to share a precise location with particular friends for a predetermined period of time, a feature likely inherited from the costly WhatsApp acquisition in February.