Facebook Testing New In-App Browser For Mobile

Facebook for mobile has a built-in browser, in case you did not already know this. This makes it easier for users to browse websites outside of Facebook, while still sort of remaining in Facebook, but it looks like the company’s latest browser really wants users to stay within the app.

As you can see in the screenshot above (courtesy of Henry Wilmer at the BBC), it shows Facebook’s new in-app browser for mobile. Prior to this, the old in-app browser basically just loaded the page and that was it, but as you can see, this new browser comes with an address bar and additional features. So if you ever wanted to browse additional websites, you could just do so within the Facebook app itself.

Note that Facebook has apparently been testing it for a while now, at least since early December according to reports, but it looks like it has started to find its way into the hands of more users. Now we’re not sure if this browser will be permanent or if Facebook might revert back to the old style once they complete testing.

Right now we can’t really say if we hate or love the new browser. Admittedly it is more functional, but there are certain features lacking compared to a full-fledged browser that some users might miss, but what do you guys think? Are you digging this new browser (if Facebook has enabled it for you)?

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Apps, Facebook