Facebook Testing Facebook Lite – A “Faster, Simpler Version” of Facebook (Updated)
As Facebook continues its experiments to make sharing more efficient, the company is now testing a “faster, simpler version of Facebook” called Facebook Lite. Facebook Lite is now live at lite.facebook.com for those users included in the beta test, but Facebook accidentally showed the beta test invite to more users than are actually in the test earlier this evening. Facebook says it is running the test primarily in countries “where we are seeing lots of new users coming to Facebook for the first time and are looking to start off with a more simple experience.”
Users who are part of the beta test are seeing what could be described as a more “FriendFeed-esque” version of Facebook. The stream appears to be reduced to just status updates, likes, and comments – no activity stories, application stories, or embedded content appear. In addition, profile page tabs have been moved to the left side of the page, all basic info and small profile boxes have been removed, and the publisher is not open by default.
Here’s how the profile page looks in Facebook Lite:
When asked about its plans for Facebook Lite, a Facebook spokesperson told us:
We are currently testing a simplified alternative to Facebook.com that loads a specific set of features quickly and efficiently. Similar to the Facebook experience you get on your mobile phones, Facebook “Lite” is a fast-loading, simplified version of Facebook that enables people to make comments, accept Friend requests, write on people’s Walls, and look at photos and Status updates. We are currently testing Facebook Lite in countries where we are seeing lots of new users coming to Facebook for the first time and are looking to start off with a more simple experience.
This evening, the test was temporarily exposed to a larger set of users by mistake. We have not opened up access to lite.facebook.com to all users at this time. People who are not part of the test and are trying to access “Lite” will be directed to Facebook.com as usual.
Overall, it makes sense that Facebook would be testing simpler site designs, specifically for users in countries where speed matters due to bandwidth constraints. However, the accidental over-exposure of the beta invite did cause some confusion amongst users this evening.
August 12th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Looks like a mix of Twitter and Friendfeed. Hope that the FriendFeed team is going to bring new evolutions on the platform.
August 12th, 2009 at 3:01 am
[...] Facebook Testing Facebook Lite – A “Faster, Simpler Version” of …facebook-lite As Facebook continues its experiments to make sharing more efficient, the company is now testing a “faster, simpler version of Facebook” called Facebook Lite. Facebook Lite is now live at lite.facebook.com for those users …Read More [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 3:13 am
[...] Inside Facebook Støt os! Bliv fan, abonner via RSS eller e-mail og del på Facebook: Ny Teknologi, [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 4:10 am
Wow. Another new effort from facebook. Its great and also it will surely help those user who have low bandwidth or internet speed problem. Nice effort. Thanks for news
August 12th, 2009 at 4:51 am
[...] απλή και γρήγορη έκδοση του κλασικού Facebook. Διαβάστε εδώ [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 5:27 am
[...] Intanto, in barba all’italico relax agostano, le novità fioccano copiose. L’ultima si chiama Facebook Lite [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 6:58 am
[...] to Inside Facebook, it is a faster, simpler version of Facebook. A lot of people are saying that it looks very much [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 7:00 am
[...] Generated Content via [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 7:17 am
[...] Facebook Testing Facebook Lite – A “Faster, Simpler Version” of Facebook (Updated) (insidefacebook.com) [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 7:24 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 7:30 am
[...] the full statement coming from a Facebook representative explaining what transpired a couple of hours [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Go to the location… trying Facebook Lite…
August 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am
How is this different from simply using the mobile version of facebook but in your browser?
Doesn’t seem that interesting. I do concur, twitter COULD be in trouble. It does seem to have the zeitgeist, but…we’ll see.
http://blog.games.com
August 12th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Have you looked at http://m.facebook.com in a browser? It’s awful.
This is a fantastic move though. I don’t think I’ll personally use it, but many many people will.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 9:38 am
while Facebook Lite does appear to be loading faster, i’m not noticing any glaring visual changes either!
August 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 10:39 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 10:51 am
[...] the full statement coming from a Facebook representative explaining what transpired a couple of hours [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 10:52 am
[...] the full statement coming from a Facebook representative explaining what transpired a couple of hours [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 11:41 am
change for better not for worst!
August 12th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
[...] Facebook Testing Facebook Lite – A “Faster, Simpler Version” of Facebook (Updated) – Some users are seeing it, most [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
CNN International states Facebook Lite is being offered to those in markets of slow broadband and dialup services. It currently being tested in India (and likely rolled out to Russia and China)
Source: CNNi Connect the World
August 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 1:11 am
[...] All this activity is making me giddy, and after a few months of Facebook seemingly coasting, it seems they’ve been working on several different projects, including the new Facebook Lite, a faster and simpler version of Facebook. [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
i cant even get on to the old facebook and i dont know why???
August 14th, 2009 at 6:26 am
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
August 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Nice info!!!!
thanks for sharing
August 14th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
[...] Read more at Inside Facebook. [...]
August 17th, 2009 at 5:53 am
[...] seeing indicators that they’re gearing up for mobile, and other devices like gaming consoles with a Facebook lite version that is quickly delivers the basic for those that need to quickly find out what their community is [...]
August 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
[...] seeing indicators that they’re gearing up for mobile, and other devices like gaming consoles with a Facebook lite version that is quickly delivers the basic for those that need to quickly find out what their community is [...]
August 18th, 2009 at 5:19 am
[...] seeing indicators that they’re gearing up for mobile, and other devices like gaming consoles with a Facebook lite version that is quickly delivers the basic for those that need to quickly find out what their community is [...]
September 10th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
[...] Lite became available as a beta test last month. As a Facebook spokesperson described it to us, then: [...]
September 13th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
[...] Lite is a version of Facebook being tested for countries with low-bandwidth. Inside Facebook offers screenshots like this [...]
September 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Just please show me a way to get back to facebook… i am not at all happy with facebook lite and it was changed without my permission or giving me an option. Please help.
October 9th, 2009 at 3:55 am
[...] Facebook Tester Facebook Lite en hurtigere, mere simpel version 9 10 2009 Facebook Testing Facebook Lite ? A ?Faster, Simpler Version? of Facebook (Updated) [...]
October 29th, 2009 at 9:06 am
[...] you’re like some people in the US and around the world, you’ve already decided you prefer Facebook Lite, the extremely simplified version of the Facebook site, the one that loads really fast on most any [...]
November 17th, 2009 at 3:58 am
i cnt wait 4 facebook loooool hahahhahaa xxxxx
November 25th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Well-written. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and articulating your approach and the value of Facebook Connect. My agency (www.bluelinerny.com) has started to integrate FB on client sites, but still have not made the “no holds barred” commitment that JibJab has. Based on your article, I will be holding a specific meeting next week on how we can up the ante with FB Connect across in-house and client web properties ASAP!
November 26th, 2009 at 7:41 am
wow tips keren….
December 8th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Facebook has become a pain in the a–! Half the time you can’t log on, half the time you are cut off, and all of the time you can’t click on friends names, or your internet cuts out. What’s with this bull????? Tried Facebook lite, it is visually boring and don’t like it. Perhaps it is time to open another kind of communication and get awat from the frustration of trying to use Facebook.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:06 am
wow its amzing its just that you can not add friends that sucks
September 28th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
what do you mean wayla that you cannot add friends?? i personally like facebook and dont find it a hassle… but other times i just dont really care for it… but why is that when facebook first came out bebo died… so what is next?? what is the up comming thing about this whole chating thing?? is facebook gonna die now too???
February 26th, 2011 at 4:21 am
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