New Facebook design: Subtle changes that work

As a user, I had pretty much given up on Facebook until I saw the redesign Monday morning. It may appear to offer only subtle improvements, but I think it will help usability a lot.

If your account isn't yet on the new design, you can try it anyway at www.new.facebook.com. If you don't like it, you can switch back--for now, anyway.

The new Facebook pages are subtly redesigned, but the layout is easier to read.

Since the app platform launch 16 months ago, I've found using the service getting more frustrating. It felt like app notification windows were scattered everywhere, and there were little come-ons for features and new apps where I didn't want them. I had always liked Facebook more than MySpace since it had a cleaner design, but Facebook has been moving in the wrong direction. It was getting cluttered.

The new design fades back the pitches and the noise, and pushes Facebook's most important and universal feature, the Wall, into the front of the design, and the user's attention. I find it easier to read.

What's really much better, though, is the new "Publisher" feature on the profile update page, the Facebook location where you update your status and post photos and video. On this page, Facebook begins to look and feel like Twitter. (TechCrunch thinks it's more FriendFeed.) The default option, top and center on the page, is to fill in the "What are you doing now?" box. Users can also add notes, photos, or launch the better-integrated Webcam recording box.

New Facebook "Publisher" is easy to see, easy to use, and customizable.

It appears that the new design breaks some existing Facebook platform apps, and it reduces their visibility by default. Users will be able to add tabs to their Publisher box for other apps, though, which might actually help apps that don't compete with the existing Facebook status functions.

We're still waiting to see how Facebook handles the new hotness in app platforms: the iPhone.

See also: Facebook gets a facelift to help users share (Associated Press).

[thabassman]

I don't like it....

[toosday]

I'm loving it! Now, when I go to write on my best friends wall, I don't have to be pounded with 2 dozen apps! I usually just click the "Wall" icon on her page to skip through all of the clutter, but even then it takes 4-5 seconds for the page to scroll down to the wall.

[pineapplekiwi]

is there any way we can get the old facebook back? i lost a lot of the things i liked...

[birdpiercefan3334]

I love it! Its easier to wall post, to share stuff, and it doesn't take 10 hours to load all the apps! WOW!

[natsuissa]

i dont like it also, they should keep the old design

nat
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[VballJ]

this is a fantastic redesign by facebook. it really gives them the look and feel of the old facebook before all the clutter of applications. it's a much needed improvement that distances facebook from myspace even more.

[tenioman]

seems okay, i can't find where my wall is tho lol, and u (or whoever is in the pic) has a TON of FB messages!

and it loads slowly

[PandaSage1221]

I like most of the redesign, but I really don't think "subtle" is an appropriate term. Everyone is going to freak out with the official change happens. Facebook users aren't much for change. Maybe the changes on the front page could be considering subtle, but the profiles, anyway, are very different.

[cpakkie]

You can revert back to the old facebook style by clicking "Back to the old Facebook" link.

[santomas42]

[kate888]

I JUST CHANGED TO THE NEW FACEBOOK AND NOW MY FACEBOOK DOESN'T WORK. I CAN'T LOGIN OR DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT KEEPS REDIRECTING BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW FACEBOOK AND EVENTUALLY STOPS BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS A NEVERENDING LOOP OF REDIRECTING. CAN ANYONE HELP ME???????? I REALLY NEED MY FACEBOOK!!!

[kate888]

THE NEW FACEBOOK DOESN'T WORK, EVER SINCE I CHANGED OVER TO THE NEW ONE, IT FROZE SO I COULDN'T CHANGE BACK TO THE OLD ONE. NOW I CAN'T LOGIN OR DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT KEEPS REDIRECTING BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW FACEBOOKS AND APPARENTLY ITS A NEVERENDING LOOP SO IT WONT GO TO EITHER PAGE IT JUST STOPS. CAN ANYONE HELP ME??? I REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE MY FACEBOOK!

[lovechiefs]

same here.
It was working good the whole day/past two days,but I just started getting redirection errors and nothing works.I tried on all browsers and also on a proxy.Same problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[nickle7]

ever since I changed to the new layout.. I cant get to facebook, it keeps telling me its redirected to a site that will never complete??/ Does anyone know why??

[shlevy1]

Same here, Firefox and Safari are just looping and not letting me in. And to think I acutally gave them props in my status on the new UI design. Thank goodness for Facebook for Blackberry, I'll be promptly changing my status to reflect my disappointment!

[DakkonA1]

It's working fine for me now. Probably has to do with growing pains in rolling it out. That's too be expected, really.

[ShellyBellyDbc]

ok the new facebook it will take user some time to get used bcuz it seems a bit complicated. For me i like the new one more.

[viteb]

I do not like this design. Old design is good, no need to change.



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[jujibee]

when i first used it...i hated it! and i was very tempted to change it back to the old facebook...but then i just told myself to just get used to it and i love it! its so much easier to just see wat you wanna see on your friend's page w/o going through your frend's annoying applications and taking forever to load all of them...there's now a separate box for just the applications which I LOVE!! Thank you FACEBOOK!!

[iruka*]

I never had a problem with the old design, but I'm also liking the new design. I just found it today and changed it.

It does take some getting used to, but once you get used to it, it's all good. ^^ You don't have to go through all these apps just to write on your friend's wall.

The boxes on your profile are organized and your info has a separate section. Loving it~~

It's not bad at all once you get used to it. ^^ Trust me.