Facebook takes over Android homescreen

When Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage today, nearly everyone was expecting him to announce a new Facebook smartphone. He didn't. Instead, he gave millions of Android users a way of converting their phones into Facebook phones.

Facebook will release an app in the Android Play app store called Facebook Home, which will install a layer over the normal Android homescreen full of users' Facebook timelines and messages.

Basically, it will "skin" Android and put Facebook on the homescreen. The app will also let users interact with their Facebook account. A swipe up on the screen will reveal the usual Android homescreen.

The app will be a free download from April 12 and will initially work on six phones - three from HTC and three from Samsung - running Android 4.0 and higher.

Four of the phones are already in use, two more will be released also on April 12, including the HTC First which will have Facebook Home pre-loaded.

One of the main features of Facebook Home will be Chat Heads:



Facebook followers' profile pics will pop-up on the homescreen with chat messages.

There was no mention of Facebook Home coming to Apple or Windows phones.