Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 Update Available Today

UPDATED: RIM just let me know that Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 will be released at 6 PM Pacific, not Eastern, as I was originally informed.

AS

I just got word from Research In Motion (RIM) that the latest version of the company’s Facebook for Blackberry application will be released at 6 PM PST this evening. The social networking app, which is easily one of RIM’s most popular—it’s a mainstay on the BlackBerry App World Top Downloads page—was expected to be upgraded on May 28, and though that day came and went without a peep from Waterloo, it looks as though Facebook 1.6 wasn’t so far behind after all.

Facebook for BlackBerry Options Page

Here’s a list of the new features, many of which have already been reported, from RIM:

• Status updates and highlights on the home page – you can now view your friends’ most recent status updates right on the home page. Highlights like photo uploads and wall posts are just a click away and you can comment on a photo, poke a friend, etc. right from the home page.
• Wall access from within Facebook for BlackBerry – with one click on your friend’s profile picture from the home page, you can access their wall without having to go to the mobile site.
• Photo viewing in a simple, easy-to-use slideshow format – check out your friends’ latest photo albums with improved photo viewing, and view albums in a simple and easy-to-use slideshow format. Just scroll back and forth through the thumbnails along the bottom to display the larger picture in the center of the screen.
• Facebook for BlackBerry 1.6 will also support three new languages: Thai, Indonesian and European Portuguese

I use Facebook 1.5 somewhat frequently, and though it gives you access to all of the social network’s basic functionality, I’ve never been all that impressed with it. You can’t access many “advanced” Facebook features like groups. And it’s not particularly visually appealing. With millions upon millions of users, the app could really shine.

I don’t expect much of an aesthetic overhaul, and the new Facebook 1.6 for BlackBerry features mentioned above seem nice, but they still don’t address some of my major gripes. (Read “New, Free Facebook for BlackBerry App (v1.5) Leaks, Underwhelms” for details.) I’ll report back here in the comments with specific impressions once I have them.

You should be able to download Facebook for BlackBerry v1.6 before end of day.

AS