Facebook beta for Windows Phone 8 updated with improved notifications, new Live Tiles

Although it’s a bit early in the week, the Facebook team has pushed out yet another update for the beta app on Windows Phone 8. Version 5.2.0.3 is now live in the Store, a bump in 0.0.0.1 version numbers.

That means we’re not expecting anything revolutionary with this update, although the developers do have a rather detailed changelog that falls under the rubric of version “5.2”. (Edit: turns out this may be a pretty big update after all).

According to the changelog, here’s what is new:

Faster and more reliable notifications
Toasts for Facebook chat
Redesigned primary tile
Redesigned secondary tiles for chat, events, groups, pages, and photo albums
Messaging improvements
Performance improvements
Support for additional languages

We’re not 100% sure that all came with today’s update, rather it seems like a backlog of changes starting with the 5.2.x.x, which began earlier this month. Regardless, updates are updates and we’re going to assume things are better with this 0.0.0.3 update over 0.0.0.2.

Notice anything new? Let us know in comments.

Update: Microsoft's Joe Belfiore just Tweeted "Get our latest #FB beta update now! Push chat, more languages & our best live tiles yet!" with the above screenshot of the new Tiles.

Head to the Windows Phone Store now to grab the latest Facebook beta app.

Via: Plaffo

Daniel Rubino

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Microsoft Surface, laptops, next-gen computing, and arguing with people on the internet.

239 Comments

Not for WP 7.x :(
Move on man
Drop your phone, break the screen, like I did, force yourself to buy a new one
LOL
That's evil dude
Looks like my lumia 800 wasn't unbreakable after al ;)
- lumia 925 on the way
First World solutions for Third World problems :|
Breaking News: ATT selling 520 for $49.99 starting tomorrow!
I got me a LG g2 for $50 peace out WP. Ill probably be back in 2 years
Yeah but you're still under contract.
My 925's screen cracked on Saturday, and depending on how much I'll be charged to repair it, I might be considering to move on to the HTC One. I really dislike Samsung's TouchWiz skin, but HTC did an excellent job with the One. The phone looks fantastic and Android doesn't seem neither laggy or confused in it - the Sense skin is awesome.
My only drawback is the upcoming 8.1 update, which I'm really looking forward to! Plus, I just love my 925. But if WP Blue fails to impress me, this change will be necessary.
My friend think twice before you go with Sense UI its crap its heavy and it removes the android experience from the OS... if you need my opinion go with Moto X anything that doesnt have heavy customization even Huaweis Emotion UI is better than sense and touch wiz
You think so?? Every review I saw, people said only good things about the Sense UI - except for the non-removable BlinkFeed. In Pocketnow, particularly, they said they even prefer the HTC One with the Sense over the Google Stock edition. But I gotta agree with you on that, Samsung + TouchWiz is crap.
Bye!!
I have a NL800 and I have waited for a 5", but nokia made a 6"...I bought a nexus :( I'll be back when a 5" will be available...I really like wp and nokia.
adios *whistle*
Lumia 929 will come with 5" display, dude :)
Not e everybody lives in America, and Nokia emailed me that 929 will not be available for Europe.
Haha! Yes!
Agreed. I realize that not everyone has the money to invest in a new device, but WP 7.X really should be dead by now. It was poorly managed, and the sooner it goes away, the better. Hopefully with the upcoming Lumia 525 you can have a great WP 8 smartphone in the cheap. :)
I'm waiting to see the same thing happen to wp8 once they announce wp8.1. If I'm wrong -I'll buy a new wp device, but otherwise I'm switching to anything else.
You are missing out on a lot of apps, and a better improved OS overal, it's time to switch to WP8!
Why did they stopped updating it for 7.8. This is the third update which didnt go for 7.8 as well :(
They stopped updating it because it's not the product they're marketing anymore. Its an old OS that they don't care about. The point is to get people to upgrade to WP8, not to hold onto the past and complain when they only update the WP8 version. They're trying to kill off 7 which is a fantastic idea.
I know how you feel, I was a wp7 owner and I switch to wp8 because I realize what was happening. Enjoy your phone and when you get the opportunity sell it or something and If you want, switch to wp8 :) Thats the best thing I can tell you. (Was what I did)
I curenntly cant afford a new phone so its not really professional from them to "not care" about 7.8 users anymore. If I could I would by a WP8 phone but I cant. I must stick with this one for a while. But look I am not complaining about things that WP8 have and 7.8 dont have, but when you UPDATE the APP for both platforms and then just suddenly stop for 7.8 its just stupid and especially just right before a crucial update like this.
It's not "unprofessional". You don't expect MS to still be supporting Windows Vista do you?
I want to be the top commenter to inform you that, finally the notification is working perfectly! Took them about 3 years though. Still mad.
Guys, it's not always about not having money for wp8 phone. Like for me it's about availability. I have NL800 and I love it. But there's no wp8 alternative. Either it's too big or it does not have amoled display.
I use 920, but have kept my 800 as a secondary phone. I love the 800 design. They should keep it and move on to WP8 with some hardware changes.
Every update seems to make the app load faster. But than again I forgot how slow the old app version was.
Placebo effect ;)
Placebo effect seems faster
+1
Oh my god... Better notifications? Is this true or im just dreaming?
It's true :O
Getting Facebook-Message Notifications in time now.. How awesome is that!
Woooooooahh, i feel like im high.
Even the Facebook Chat Page is now showing new messages without reloading.
To much to believe!
Indeed, really hard to believe that FB app got crucial improvements.
I belived for a while, until my notifications stop!
I had pinned the Messages tile but still nothing, on the other side I receive Fb chat notifications from the Messenger Hub instantaneously :D
If we have push chat on the FB app does this mean they're abandoning the built-in FB chat in the Messaging app? Having both there to use would seem kind of confusing...
Now suppose am using the fb chat (integrated one). Will i get the notifications from the app+messaging?
I think you will, just as the "Me" tile and "Twitter" for example, we can Tweet from "Me" or "People" Hub .
Frustrating. Isnt?
I quite like it, because I can rapidly answer a tweet from "Me" instead of launching the app, also Me tile doesnt sound when updates are coming, so is not disturbing, at least for me.
for me the chat page is not updating itself. I had to refresh the page the see the new message, didnt get toast notifications also for the chat
BIG LOL
Wake Up! Time to go to school. You'll miss your bus!
well, let's wait and see. not going to celebrate too soon. we've seen this promise way too many times.
*slaps you Not dreaming.
So far notifications seem to be working. :D
Mine have started working very reliably since the update earlier this morning. So far, so good, NOTICABLE improvement.
Umm this shouldn't that all mean this is a HUGE update? everyone has been waiting for notification fixes etc
When are we getting the final version? We've been using the beta version over 7 months now,if I'm not mistaken.
It will always be there, it's the evolving version, thefinal vrrsion is there it just gets more features slower but more reliably.
Features come to beta before being rolled out to the non-beta. Non-beta released a few months ago.
There are non-beta and beta versions in the store. The beta gets updated just about every week and the non-beta gets big updates every once in a while.
Seems faster..
Nope, does not seem faster, it is faster. Seriously.
Definitely faster. Comparing to fb on nexus 5 its on par. Images still load a hair slower. Everything else is super smooth/fast.
When the stickers gonna available???
Wow. Chat notifications actually work. If you pin the chat tile the tile counter updates on that tile only and not the main one. If you don't pin the chat tile, the main tile updates. I'm actually impressed! Chats still don't seem to update in real time though, and there's no sticker support still. Hopefully that'll come.
I don't know about you but I've got stickers in mine now.
I don't know about you but I've got stickers in mine now.
I can see stickers, not send them. I don't use them very often.
Same here, though the resolution on the stickers are very low. One step at a time eh!
Works great, and faster :)
Not for Windows Phone 7
Now we just need general speed improvements, chat heads, etc.. It would be nice to be able to chat through the app and have it load instantly like on other platforms. Sucks for me because my built in fb chat won't let me connect. :(
Chat heads will likely never happen in Windows Phone, its an OS limitation not the app. I for one hope it stays that way, if we open the way to app being able to be in your face and in front of the OS, then WP might as well just be Droid
Twitter notifies instantaneously. The Messaging hub is great, it feels better then using an app (I am also an iPhone user), however It would be nice if Facebook notification work as well as Twitter's (or Instagram, or Vine...etc)
this is HUGE........and yeah thats what she said ;p
After some tests, push notifications seems to be working fine!
For the first time since wp7, I actually see a notification instantly on fb app! WP is now becoming more complete each day..!
when will the update come for the normal fb app?
Going to go grab this. I've yet to see any type of notification from the FB app, of any kind.
TOASTS WORK PERFECT OH MAIIII GAWD
....Look at her butt!
What a confusing article. Take your time guys, don't publish until you have at least gathered everything that was available when the update came out ...
Them live tiles make me want to make Facebook again, just because they look amazing!
It is still an F**CKING SHIT app no popup notifications and no loading instagram photo,s in the app.
Ah, you're using the Stable release not the beta!!
Touch response on notification is improved but the visited item doesn't get refreshed
Fast, Fast, Fast.....
....and furious?
FINALLY!
It's great update, notification works and app is much faster when resuming it from multitasking
OH god, I'm in tears, after 2 years... thanks god
We really need more features..maybe I will drop the fb app and go for the beta
The rate at which this app gets updated, reminds me of android apps (cos they get updated like everyday). So does hat mean that most android apps are in beta?
The updates on droid apps are usually because of the fragmentation on the OS. You update an app on droid and you make it work for a Samsung device, but in the process you break for a HTC, so you update to fix the HTC issues and that breaks it for an LG, you fix it for LG and that breaks it for Samsung. Then you add in the different models within each brand and then different versions of the OS and realise why droid apps are constantly being updated.
You are so wrong in your statement, and the fact that you use the word 'droid' to refer to 'Android OS' tells me that you don't know what are you talking about.
To be fair, lots of people are doing that. Grats Verizon on a successful marketing campaign that for the most part launched Android into relevance.
I really don't appreciate this new logo. Perhaps a poll is in order?
Looks great! Will download it as soon as possible.
This is a pretty huge update. Its working perfectly. :D
I love how the notifications actually work and the live tile changes, but dislike that the cover photo no longer shows and it just shows a blue tile with a Facebook F on it
Waw, I thought I was the only one with this problem hihi
Ugh couldn't stand seeing my cover photo. I like that the reguilar is tile actually a normal app tile, and it only gets all graphically when you get a notification
Notifactions are finally working on my 920,but doesn't seem to work on my wife's 620. I also dislike that the cover photo is no longer showing on the big tile, Bring it back please!
NO link whit instagram i dont no why
funny that joe would tweet about facebook app update.. :| anywho, always nice to have updates with more than just "bug fixes and performance improvements" :)
I switched to the actual Facebook app because the performance of the beta was too sluggish. This update may be reason enough to come back.
Finally Norwegian language :D
Notificaitons have never worked for me in Facebook or Twitter. Besides Text message, the only app that I get toast notificaitons for is NFL Mobile. It actually works great. As for the Facebook live tile, until now I just use the ME tile. I will give this a chance once it is updated.
Twitter has always worked flawlessly for me.
In my feed am still seeing dozens of random people (I'm not friends with) wish a person (i am friends with) Happy Birthday after this update.
Haha me too, but isn't it strange that it only seems to be happy birthday posts from randoms and never general chat? Its as if it knows that this will piss you off due to the influx!
you see them because they write on your friends timeline
Looks promising. I'll wait for the non-beta update.
Seems more like itself in different ways....and faster in slo-mo mode
Still a piece of crap, my News Feed in this app is a mess, missing a lot of post from friends, like when a friend is listening to an albmum or if a friend was tagged, etc. its just garbage. staying with the mobile.facebook.com
Yeah,that's the biggest issue Microsoft should address asap.It forces you to go back to the web version or apps like jdb for Facebook.But other than that a beautiful app.
Hmmm going to check it now after reading so much positive comments.
Ya, same. Going to get it.
Installed the update on my 1020, all of a sudden the app couldn't load, kept crashing to the ERROR REPORT message. Uninstalled it and reinstalling it now. I hope it works....
Faster.....that's about all I can generically say.
Cant lie, that livetile is gorgie when you get a notification. Almost surreal now that it's working. Got used to not working.
Cant believe the notifications work, messaging its a lot better! Already turn off the native messaging system to use the facebook app one!
wel when u turn off the native messaging system, you will not be online anymore even tho on the facebook app you are logged in and online. I checked it on my dads account and i was online even when i was using the facebook app. it's weird.
What i get all my notifications on really that i receive a message or notifications from my account am i dreaming or Microsoft work hard to improve the fb app.... ^_~
when will we get the original Facebook app like they have in ios and android????
Probably never. MS convinced FB that they could do the app using MS resources, so FB just stepped away and left MS to do it. The thing is that since it is not developed by FS, it still technically a 3rd party app and therefore not fully supported by FS.
I think your information is not entirely correct.
Its not correct in the slightest.
Cnt pin the event in home screen
Medium tile still not great, the text to big for the tile, looks rough
Aw good Ballmer above, thank you !
i turned of notifications because they never work and i have the people hub notifications , other than that the groups live tile is quite handy
It works.. It actually WORKS!
Is it me or am i still receiving 0 toast notification? Tried using my 2nd account to post and chat. :(
Why would u need notifications for Facebook chat when the messenging hub delivers messages just fine
It's working, it's working !
It works only on android or ios they are the real Os
Try again. I hear iPhone users complaining about FB all the time.
Wow, I am pretty much blown away! First reliable notifications in an official Windows 8.1 App and now this!
It was great, now 20 minutes after being a happy person, notifications stopped!
don't mess with me
you can even pin messages to the start screen, almost like a facebook messenger app, i like it, but a seperate app would have been better. finally getting notifications instatly even for messages. This is a huge update, really happy now. All we need is google to stop acting like an arse and allow us a proper youtube app :D
Actually, the ability to pin the messages page is not exactly recent.
well notification seems broken on my phone but whatever, i am impressed with the messaging part of the app. it's so instant!
Still cannot see 50% of my friend's Facebook posts.
This "Official Facebook" app is still considered 3rd party by Facebook, clearly. Getting pretty tired of this crap....
give it time, this app has been getting better and better, its only time. hang in there...
Notifications actually work :D
Nice, I won't use the Message app anymore for FB chat, which had few secs delay and no photo support.
Lets see the background agent effect on the battery now..
Its killing it like an old Dell notebook.
Well i am still experimenting, too early to say anything.. But i am expecting another update to optimize it. Also the less the live tiles the better the battery is.
Okay this is the first update with actual improvements. I can now get in to messaging pretty quickly compared to before (not placebo) and when I touch "See More" it actually loads the rest of the message and doesn't redirect me to log in on the website. I haven't tested notifications yet and the app is pretty damn smooth on my HTC 8X.
Notifications really work! (happy)
Seems faster.
How do you pin Chat? Or do they mean Messages? Notifications 100% working so far!!
Pin inbox.
Thank you!!
Notifications now seem to work for first time ever for me. However I have noticed when writing a message, press the camera icon in bottom left to add a photo and nothing happens, I press it 3/4 times and eventually appears or app crashes. Anyone else have this?
Press once, wait patiently. It takes 4-5 secs.
All of thse updates came in the 5.2.0.3 update, I had 5.2.0.2 and saw none of the improvements mentioned until I forced install of 5.2.0.3.
Hey guys, maybe someone can help me: when I sign in with my own datas to the FB Beta app still nothing works, No notificatios, nothing at all. But when I sign in with my wife's FB account on the same phone (L920) suddenly it starts working. How is that possible? Any ideas?
I did the same problem with my Facebook account. All my friends with WP were working fine but mine stayed 8 months off-line then without any change started work again unexpectedly.
Does this mean that Fb (also read Twitter) could always make notifications this reliable but just couldn't be arsed like all the other developers (yes Whatsapp you!!)?? Or does it mean that new hidden APIs somehow just appeared out of nowhere?!
Whatsapp has been reliable on my 1020, not sure why yours don't. Check you provider connectivity perhaps?
This is great. An update that adds real-world functionality and I love it! What I don't love is that if you're not specifically looking for FB beta... You're stuck w/the stock, under-performing, feature-lacking app. I love WP but this app needs to go away and be melded into the FB app so everyone can enjoy it.
When somebody sends me a message(chat) i don't get it on my pinned messages nor recieve a notification (from FB app), i only get through the build in messaging app. Really weird.
LOL the app crashed and my 920 rebooted as soon as I open the app ahahahahaah
+1 with same crashing problems.
Well, so far, the live tiles aren't so "live". And it's not like I've even maxed my background events. I. Got. Nothin'.
Wait for notification. Its beautiful.
After two hours, I've not received any notifications. I can go into the app and see that things HAVE come in. Just not translating to the live tile. So far, this version is as lame as the previous versions. #disappointing
CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW I PIN DOWN NOTIFICATION LIVE TILE (I stretch out facebook beta app i get notification but its just blue and boring like before). LIKE THE FIRST TILE PICTURE ????. ive been trying to get that tile for 30 min i can only find the others group,messasge,events TILES
leave it as a full wide tile, after about 1 to 2 days it'll just appear.
lol sarcasm? cant you help me =)?^^!! tried to log in and out didnt help
You get notifications and tile will become beautiful. Otherwise only a logo.
When i get notification my tile do not become "beatiful" just the blue logo than a letter 1 just appear like normal. do i have to do something or its bugged?
Did nothing special at all! :/
Still can't download files from the group.
And I still don't see if and when the last message I sent has been seen
So have they fixed the sluggishness of the app? It takes a good 2-3 seconds when pressing back button or going into stuff.
That's one of the two reasons I bounce back and forth to my RAZR m. The other is free tethering. I have been fb heavy the last week and I was missing notifications. If this is fixed RAZR is going back in the bag
Only down part is that when you use the facebook messenger of facebook and turn of fb chat in messaging app, you won't appear online anymore. even if you open facebook messenger in the fb app. Anyone else noticed that too?
This new Beta version came with a lot of improvements like faster, better toast notifications, new shortcuts for chat, events and groups.
But it's less reliable with multiple devices like when you're connected from two different Windows Phones 8. I'm using two Lumia 920 GDR3 and before this last update I were able to chat from Facebook Beta App on both. Now my Facebook Chat on-line contacts are showing only one phone. Please MS fix it ASAP!
Finally, useful live tiles....
Its not showing me my cover photo on the large tile anymore
Posting photos is extremely sluggish, and there appears to be np different functionality between the new status and new photo buttons in the new feed page.
Woohoo! :)
Just installed. It IS faster!!! The last beta took an eternity to get going when I want to choose pictures... now its fast..... really.!!!.
What's that push status URL thingy under the Advance settings? And, why the chats notifications is not able to be listed under the lock screen setting? I have Facebook beta set but the chat tile shows update, not the lockscreen? Notifications are still not that reliable yet.... sad to say.
We've joked about this a MILLION times before but... It's faster! In fact, is not just faster, it's the way it's supposed to be and it finally works. We can say now we have a functional Facebook app. It took us what, 2 years? At last!
Message notification is back :)
Its working perfectly now....
M getting realtime notifications....
LIVE TILE is not working on my 920 after the update :(
Installed Facebook beta on 920 but still having issues with live tile, when notifications show on tile I click to open app but then tile freezes. Only shows Facebook logo and does not flip. Only way to get tile working is to log out and sign in again. I suppose it will be a cold day in hell before Facebook starts functioning properly!
I suspect its a server issue and the live tile cannot connect.
My live tile hasn't done anything yet. Been a cpl hrs.
Notifications are arriving at the same time they arrive on my 5s and Nexus 5. Good job, MS.
not thats worth updateing, it actually is fast now...thankx msft. looking forward to more improvements with group status indicator, stickers...etc. keep up the good work
Toasts are not popping but tile is getting updated with number! What kind of sorcery is this?
Hurrah notification is working.after six months of using wp,first time not missing my tab.
Update only live tile working,no toast notification.
Updates work like a charm! Every notification has went through! Hell yeah for Microsoft! Drankkkks!
chat toasts are working like charm... but not oder notifications !!
The newupdate has taken away my cover photo from the live tile.... Hate this... Please get the cover photo back....
And.... you still can't upload a picture with a Checkin. It used to do that but stopped doing it with recent updates. You would think they'd understand REGRESSION TESTING but apparently not.
You do realise the developers of the app aren't in charge of the Facebook API? Maybe, just MAYBE, there is a problem on Facebook's side? Oh wait, I guess they're perfect so can't be them...
Czech language is now available in this update, finally :)
It would be really nice now if they could make a separate app for Facebook Messenger, or even integrate it into WP8.1 PROPERLY, not like the always online crap they have in WP8.0.
I have a problem and i really hope someone here could help. My Facebook newsfeed shows new stories only, even if I checked the top stories option. It's been like that since the second update, it's showing those annoying games updates and apps I don't care about. The first Facebook beta app showed the exact same stuff that I see on my PC, but after that i kept seeing every single update. Is there a way to only see top stories, just like on PC or android /ios? Please, this really pisses me off.
you know the is a setting for that: open app, swipe to the right, next to news feed there is a settings button and you can choose between top stories and most recent (has always been there)
I know it's there i've tried checking and unchecking that a lot of times and nothing ever changes. Whatever I do, it shows every single damn update of everyone, instead of top stories only :(
live tile is not live :( no notifications , no cover pic display , tried restarting phone and reinstalling app . any of you had this issue and rectify.
I heard that after 12 hours it will update with the cover photo.
I don't get live tile... Just Facebook sign... Tried to log out and in again. Tried to reinstall, NOTHING FIX IT. Everyone know how to fix it?
The main tile only updates when you get notifications. Other than that, it just sits there.
Touching the notification area still not that responsive..
Yeah same here.
the first step to success :)
How to pin events to the start screen? mine can't do it :(
Everytime I open the app it gives an error and sends it to Yahoo to forward a message.
Tost notifications are all work very well, even live title is updating showing the sender of message picture with the message words as well...fantastic....
Ps. For who still getting problems, control if the app is working in background in the setting background options and checking if the fb app has the tost and lives turned on in the app options.
Thanks Microsoft, now lets get over the beta!
The toast notification is working really good. I'm starting to love the app more and more now. The chat list, on the other hand, is still bad. It doesn't update at all.
Der is pull to refresh option in the chat list...u can update it urself
Notifications are bang on. I have been comparing the content from my desktop and WP and they are just about identical as well. Nothing missing between WP and desktop now. The ONE thing I wish for is the ability to share a pic to ANOTHER person's page. You can't seem to do that yet, but you can on iOS and Droid platforms. I'm not complaining, just making an observation.
I just realize that the bug with uploading photos from your Saved Pictures is still there, where one photo is duplicating itself and others are missing.
If Joe spent more time supervising his minions rather then tweeting we might get an app that functions correctly!
+1
^this
I really don't want to fall into the cliché, but I'm getting much smoother scrolling on the timeline. Like, MUCH smoother
Guys, they do not develop for WP 7/7.8 anymore because it has a different kernel from WP8. Porting between the two versions will take some work. The kernel on WP8 is shared with Windows RT and Windows 8/8.1. It makes no sense to keep developing for WP7 when the majority of Windows Phone users are on 8. WP7 is dead.
I noticed the change of notification as well(Faster). Hope that they would update the Photo Upload too :) Looking for more updates to come in the near future , i hope. :) Kampai!
For some reason live tiles and notification isn't working for me at all after the update! D:
Top stories still not fixed!
I don't get it!!! People keep saying that they got notification and still the app is same...I have to go to the app...I'm not receving any notification. Can someone tell me what's going on?
The notifcations are so friggen tight now
Oh no. Its been 2 days and my cover photo still hasn't showed up.
Notifications did not work for me until I went into the app, turned them off and then on again.
Unless all my FB friends have stopped playing games, I'm no longer getting all those annoying Farmland, Candy Crush, etc game notifications! AWESOME!!! I've been wanting this feature more than anything!
What about issues during download of photos? I spend like 90% of my time on my phone taking and sharing pictures. And this app performs as poorly now performing the later of these tasks now as it did months ago when I so enthusiastically purchased my shiny new NokiaLumia 1020. :( It takes too long to respond, load & upload photos. My biggest gripe on Windows Phone by far!
With Facebook being the number one social app it's not too much to ask for an up to date fully functioning version for all the windows phone users :(
Now more than 15days have passed since this update,when normal Facebook will get update.any clue.
in the news feed settings top stories / recent stories there seems to be a problem. for both selections its giving the recent stories. so all i can see are the stories from the pages i liked... no stories about my facebook friends. wonder what the team is doing after getting so much comments about basic flaws in functionality.

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