Facebook Just Got Lite!
The newest development from Facebook – Facebook Lite is accessible and it seems that it’s gaining great popularity. Although, it started as an application for users residing in countries with slowpoke internet connectivity, but after running a few beta trials in America, Facebook realized how American prefer the Lite version of Facebook and so, they decided to spread it internationally.
Being designed for slower internet connectivity, it loads faster. The HTML code is fully optimized in such a way that the browser won’t be processing too much code in order to sped up the loading pace. The Lite version has smaller and fewer pictures and advertisements.
The Facebook Lite works greatly on smart phones compare to the regular version of Facebook. This version of Facebook will be favorable to netbooks and the arriving new smart books. Wherever you will need Facebook, the Lite version will work perfectly on the small electronic gadgets you can carry around in order to balance mobility and web socializing. It’s compatible for large screen, full size desktop as well.
Some of the differences that are also advantages of the Lite version include:
– Smaller type
– No more going to “applications” and “pages”
– No chatting
– “groups” are out of the picture
– “events” and “birthdays” are still here, but in one single line
– Less ads with smaller size
– No profile photo
– No left navigation bar
– No “what’s on your mind?” bar
Those who use Facebook and Twitter all agree that Facebook Lite is better.
The main upgrade is about offering people the choice of absorbing information in a linear way. It is the same when we use e-mail, SMS or blogs. Information offered in a linear way is a clear method to reach and allow the reader to focus on the message being conveyed, and Facebook Lite does this more efficiently than the older version.
No more stress related to the choices you have to make just to obtain information. The multiple “points of entry” puts you in the position where you will decide what’s important and what’s not. What better way could alleviate this effort than having just one “point of entry”.
You can see how the linearity advantage works in the case of a comparison between Yahoo and Google, or when you consider the success of Twitter. Windows Mobile devices are not using such feature, and this is why people prefer iGoogle or iPhones.
The next step to develop this linearity method would be a revolution in the way sites are designed. Think of Yahoo’s main page and how it could be improved by getting rid of things other than the search bar at the top of its page. Imagine a Yahoo offering tweets containing new information with auto-refresh capability. A site you could customize according to the categories of contents you are interested in.
How about YouTube? The main page is trying too hard to grab your attention, and at the end of the day it ends up emphasizing too much and it got no attention at all. A Lite version could include a search bar at the top of the page, while all the advertising will be linearly appearing in a reverse chronological order. Instead of having all the news at the same time, on the same page why not read the latest one first?
Craiglist Lite
When you visit the homepage, over 400 links salutes you! How many links on that page has even spark the slightest interest in you? Is it more than 50 or 400? I don’t think so, then, what’s the use? Even though it can be fun to use, the old version could benefit from an opportunity for you to choose which city and category you want to find out about.
So many sites can be improved with a Lite version. Think of BBC home page, or Google News, eBay and all the others.
And while linearity can prove beneficial for both acquiring information on a desktop computer and on any other, think of how much more can mobile devices be used with such Lite versions. Hopefully, the future will provide us with more linear sites.