Story by
Jon Russell
Jon Russell was Asia Editor for The Next Web from 2011 to 2014. Originally from the UK, he lives in Bangkok, Thailand. You can find him on T Jon Russell was Asia Editor for The Next Web from 2011 to 2014. Originally from the UK, he lives in Bangkok, Thailand. You can find him on Twitter, Angel List, LinkedIn.
Last week Facebook began offering automatic/silent updates to selected users on Android devices, now it’s returned to the regular Google Play route to add a series of new features that bring its Android app in line with recent changes to the iOS version.
Now Android-toting Facebook users are able to change their cover photo directly from the app, and — in an effort to avoid clutter — they’re also able to hide stories from their News Feed and report spam. That’s very much in tune with Facebook’s latest refresh of News Feed which highlights visuals and brings a unified look to all mobile and Web clients.
Additionally, the Android client now requires “fewer taps to start a group message”, continuing Facebook’s focus on its private messaging system. The company has made a number of changes to its standalone Messenger app — in a bid to compete with mobile chat apps — and it makes sense to give users more fluid control of messaging from within the dedicated Facebook mobile app itself.
You can grab the updated app via the link below.
Image via zallio / Flickr
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