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Facebook Phone APK Uncovered, Possible Home Screen Launcher for Android Devices

By Sidney Wong - on 2 Apr 2013, 10:23am

Facebook Phone APK Uncovered, Possible Home Screen Launcher for Android Devices

 Image source: Android Police

We heard that Facebook is unveiling a modified version of Android on a HTC phone in the coming days, but Android Police is able to confirm most of the details on what to expect at the launch event through a tear down of the Facebook phone application package file (APK). According to the handset build. prop file from the APK, the Facebook's software is designed to run on: 

  • a HTC phone by the codename Mystul
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 dual-core 1.5GHz processor 
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4.3-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels 
  • Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean 
  • Sense 4.5 
  • 5-megapixel rear camera 
  • 1.6-megapixel front camera 
  • no memory card slot 
  • Bluetooth 4.0 
  • Wi-Fi a/b/g/n

The specs are in line with what @evleaks reported in early March. While the carrier is stated to be AT&T, Android Police suggests that it could possibly run on other carriers. As for the software, its "official" name is Facebook Home and comes with Android permissions with the ability to: 

  • Spawn windows that stay on top of all other windows 
  • Turn off the lock screen 
  • Activate as soon as the phone starts 
  • Monitor what other apps are currently running 
  • Control the phone's Wi-Fi connection
  • Change the system settings 

 Uncovered from the APK are the app icons.<br>Image source: Android Police

One of the more significant features uncovered is "Chat Heads", which supposedly has the ability to let Facebook Chat conversations float above the currently viewed screen and remain visible even when you are using other apps. Based on the description, it seems that the concept is similar to Samsung's Popup Video.

Last but not least, the APK hints that the Facebook Home software is able to read the settings of the stock launcher of Android and other customized launchers (Sense, TouchWiz). To put it simply, there is a possibility that Facebook will release a special version albeit less powerful than the one on the HTC Mystul as a home screen launcher on Google Play to be downloaded on Android devices.

Aside from the new software features, do keep in mind that the APK is an unreleased, developer version of the Facebook Home software and things could still change. Nonetheless, we are just a few days away from its official launch. Keep your eyes peeled to HardwareZone for the latest updates.

Source: Android Police via TechCrunch

 

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