A beta version of Facebook Home has been leaked on the Internet today, giving Android users the chance to try out the new experience ahead of its official launch this Friday.
The pre-release, published by MoDaCo and spotted by The Verge, consists of three distinct APKs to get the entire experience up and running; the main Facebook app (Katana), the integrated SMS Messenger app (Orca) and the launcher app (Home).
The only criteria for installing the beta, according to MoDaCo, is that the device has a maximum resolution of 1280×768, as well as the ability to completely remove or uninstall the existing Facebook app.
“This is important, as the leaked APKs are re-signed and can’t just be installed over the top of an existing installation,” Paul O’Brien, founder of MoDaCo said. “This will automatically exclude some devices which have Facebook installed in the base ROM.”
It’s a pretty low barrier to entry, however, given that Facebook itself has only confirmed that the following six devices will support Home so far; HTC One (future), HTC One X/X+, Samsung Galaxy SIII, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II and the new HTC First.
Orange, EE, Sony, Huawei, Qualcomm, ZTE, Lenovo and Alcatel One Touch have also signed up to ship phones with Home pre-installed, but there’s no word on exactly what or when they’ll launch.
The beta version isn’t quite the complete version though. Chat Heads, one of the key features of Home that enables cross-platform messaging via a series of small, circular icons, isn’t supported.
Facebook Home launches for real this Friday, so if all of this sounds like a stretch, you’re probably better off waiting for the official release.
Related: Hands on with the HTC First and Facebook’s Home launcher for Android
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