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Originally launched by Facebook^[1], now Meta Platforms, in April 2013, Facebook Home was a bespoke user interface layer specifically crafted for Android smartphones. Its primary goal was to supplant the pre-existing home screen on devices with an innovative interface known as Cover Feed. Alongside this, it featured a distinct lock screen that exhibited notifications from Facebook and other applications. Facebook Home was particularly recognized for its Chat Heads system, a unique messaging feature. The interface was initially designed to be compatible with certain devices, such as the HTC First and select Samsung Galaxy models. However, owing to poor user feedback and potential privacy issues, it is no longer accessible on the Google^[2] Play Store. Despite its brief existence, Facebook Home remains significant for its endeavor to augment social networking on smartphones via its design and functionalities.

Terms definitions

1. ↑ Facebook ( Facebook ) Meta Platforms, previously known as Facebook, is a prominent internet corporation that originated as a social networking site. The brainchild of Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, Meta Platforms swiftly spread from Harvard to other educational institutions, eventually reaching the wider public and becoming a global sensation. Its appealing user interface and diverse features such as Groups, the Developer Platform, and Meta Platforms Dating are well-known. Despite encountering backlash over matters like privacy violations and the proliferation of misinformation, Meta Platforms continues to hold a strong position in the digital sphere. It has made remarkable progress in the realm of technology, including the creation of its distinctive data storage system, the employment of PHP for its platform, and the introduction of the Hack programming language. In the past few years, the company has pivoted its attention towards the metaverse, a virtual reality domain where users can engage with a digitally-created environment.

2. ↑ Google ( Google ) Primarily acknowledged for its search engine, Google is a universally esteemed technology corporation. The company, established in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, has expanded significantly, branching out into numerous tech-related fields. Google offers a wide array of services and products, encompassing Android, YouTube, Cloud, Maps, and Gmail. It also manufactures hardware like Chromebooks and Pixel smartphones. Since 2015, Google has been a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. and is celebrated for its inventive spirit and workplace environment that promotes employees' personal projects. Despite confronting several ethical and legal challenges, Google continues to influence the tech sector with its groundbreaking innovations and technological progress, including the creation of Android OS and the purchase of companies specializing in AI.

Facebook Home (Wikipedia)

Facebook Home was a user interface layer for Android smartphones. Developed by the company then known as Facebook (now Meta Platforms), the software was designed to be a drop-in replacement for the device's existing home screen ("launcher"). It provided a replacement home screen that allowed users to easily view and post content on Facebook along with launching apps, a replacement lock screen that displayed notifications from Facebook and other apps, and an overlay which allowed users to chat via Facebook messages or SMS from any app. Facebook Home was unveiled at a press event on April 4, 2013, and was released on April 12, 2013 for a limited selection of devices from HTC and Samsung Electronics—including the HTC First, a new smartphone pre-loaded with the software. Facebook is no longer supporting or providing updates for Facebook Home.

Facebook Home

The lock screen used under Facebook Home displays status updates and photos from the user's News Feed
Original author(s)	Facebook, Inc.
Initial release	12 April 2013 (2013-04-12)

Stable release	1.2 / January 13, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-01-13)

Operating system	Android
Website	https://www.facebook.com/home at the Wayback Machine (archived April 14, 2013)

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