How to Get the Facebook Timeline for Your Profile Now (Pics)

By now you've probably heard about the new Facebook profile, the Timeline and want to try it out for yourself. It won't be rolled out for at least another week though which is a bummer if you're the type of person that actually likes new things and technologies and doesn't just automatically complain every time Facebook changes something.

Don't give up just yet, there is a way of getting access to the Timeline feature and enabling it for your account, albeit, you'll have to jump through a few hoops to do it.

Basically, what you have to do is become a developer. Don't worry, you don't have to start reading up on HTML, JavaScript, PHP or anything like that, you just have to 'tell' Facebook you're a developer (pinky promise), even if you're not.

It's not that hard either, first you have to install the official Facebook Developer app. Just search for 'developer' in the Facebook search box and it should be the top result.

Inside the Developer app, click on the Create New App button. Again, don't worry, all you have to do is fill a couple of forms and you'll be done.

Type in a name and a namespace for your new app when asked, it doesn't really matter what you write since the app will not be published and no one besides you will see it.

You'll be taken to your new app config page, click on the Open Graph link. Fill in the 'verb' and the 'noun' for your new Open Graph app and click Get Started

Next you'll see the Action Type edit page, click Save Changes and Next and then do the same for the Object Type page and then finally Save and Finish in the "Create an Aggregation" page.

That should be it, you should see a notification on your Facebook homepage inviting you to be part of the Timeline developer release test. You'll then be able to browse your Timeline, edit entries in it and add new ones. Wait a few minutes if the notification isn't there at first.

If you're satisfied with it, you can make the Timeline public and enable it on your profile, but it will only be visible to other developers, i.e. probably not most of your friends, unless they too become Facebook 'developers' to enable the Timeline. [via TechCrunch]