Thursday’s rollout includes a version of Timeline for one of the major mobile platforms — but not the one you’d think.
Facebook is releasing Timeline to Android-based smartphones first, forcing iPhone and iPad users to wait.
Most of the features on the Android version of Timeline aren’t all that different from the browser version. Both include major cover photos that act as headers on the page, both depict map screenshots upon checking in to locations, and both give shared photos a more prominent position in your stream.
What’s odd, however, is the company’s decision to go with Android first. It’s almost an unspoken law of the Valley that if you’re planning to launch a new app, you start with Apple’s software first. Reasons include the ease of coding for a handful of fixed screen sizes — namely the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad — and the notion that a launch in the App Store causes a bigger stir than a launch in the Android Market.
And based on our conversations with programmers, we’ve been told that it’s just plain easier to develop for iOS given the toolsets provided, compared to what Google gives Android coders (though we can’t say either way).
Facebook, however, certainly isn’t hung up on monetizing its app, and considering it’s kept its Android app current while many other companies haven’t even launched non-iOS versions of their software, it’s not as if Facebook is struggling with Google’s developer tools or the myriad Android device screen sizes.
So why choose to go with Android first? Perhaps the company wants to target Google’s gigantic user base first. Or maybe Facebook just wants to switch it up to keep things fresh.
Fret not, Apple devotees. We’re sure iOS updates aren’t far behind. Today’s victory, however, goes to Android.
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