Facebook Intros Redesigned Messenger to Android Users, Looks Like a Mash of Kit Kat and iOS 7 (Updated)

Facebook

This morning, Facebook is pushing out a newly-designed Messenger app to select Android users, one that is chock-full of butter and improvements. You will notice a new look, one that strongly reminds us of iOS 7 and a few of the leaked Kit Kat screenshots we have seen; we like the way it looks so far. 

The app also received a few new ways to reach your friends faster. When you see the blue Messenger badge by a friend’s picture, that means they are on Messenger and can be reached instantly. In addition, you can also text your friends if they are not signed into Messenger, but just make sure to have your own phone number confirmed so they can text you back through the app.

To top it off, an entirely new menu system has been set in place. There are now three columns that the app functions around. There is the contacts column, where you find all of your friends to chat with, including the ones synced on your device, there is your recent messages column, and a Settings column where you handle all of your enabled or disabled settings such as location sharing. You can swipe through each column, which is actually a pretty nifty user experience.

And of course, Chat Heads is still there.

Facebook has been recently investing a lot of time into its Android offerings, and we say it is about time.

Update:  If you want to sideload the app before it rolls out to everyone, you can download it here. You may have to uninstall your current version, though. (via)

Via: Facebook

Comments

54 responses to “Facebook Intros Redesigned Messenger to Android Users, Looks Like a Mash of Kit Kat and iOS 7 (Updated)”

  1. Riley Avatar
    Riley

    None for the facebook app?

  2. WMG Avatar
    WMG

    how do you set chatheads to send/receive text messages now with this new update?? can’t find anything in help.

  3. MrDivaNYC Avatar
    MrDivaNYC

    OK Google!…BBM me: 7B725FA9

  4. nimishsdll Avatar
    nimishsdll

    G+ is really great if you are interested in photography.

  5. Dakota Wooster Avatar
    Dakota Wooster

    This would be better if it was inverted. That white would be horrible when you just wake up.

  6. Nevets Avatar
    Nevets

    I think the new FB Messenger UI won’t look bad, once dev’s invert it and make it blacked out.

  7. MK17 Avatar
    MK17

    I read “Google+ Intros” instead of “Facebook Intros”. Defnitely had a sour look on my face.

  8. jmsbwmn Avatar
    jmsbwmn

    I definitely see the iOS 7 influence, and I think we can conclude that the majority of their active mobile users are using Apple devices. While I have no problem with this, this is only fuel to the fire that is Apple hatred. Luckily, I don’t use Facebook Messenger, but if I did, the iOS 7 design elements would irritate me, not because they are from Apple, but because it would be a stark contrast when compared to the UI for the rest of my phone. I really hope they don’t carry this styling over into the main Facebook app.

    Typed on my MacBook Pro. 😉

  9. rutgersjaffo Avatar
    rutgersjaffo

    RE: Chalk “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

  10. Daistaar Avatar
    Daistaar

    Is that the HTC One mini in the images?

  11. Kieron Quinn Avatar
    Kieron Quinn

    Note to self: Holo fix this mess

    1. Chris Avatar
      Chris

      Where in Google’s guidelines does it say developers must use holo?

      1. Kieron Quinn Avatar
        Kieron Quinn

        Where in my comment did I say that they must use holo?

  12. Ian Case Avatar
    Ian Case

    Did they fix MMS? On the 3 phones I’ve tried, you can receive MMS but not attach a photo. They CLAIM it works, but on a Galaxy S3, Nexus 4 and a Moto X, I don’t get a + sign to send MMS.

    1. Steven Berger Avatar
      Steven Berger

      Installed the apk from your link…unfortunately it looks exactly like iOS7, but it seems to run soooo much quicker and smoother than the previous versions

      1. Steven Berger Avatar
        Steven Berger

        OHHHH i see the idea now is to have someone’s phone number tied to there FB account that way you can find them via phone number but in the end you are just sending them a FB message as opposed to a text message

    2. Phil Hyde Avatar
      Phil Hyde

      I installed this last night, and sometime this morning it disappeared from my phone. It’s back to the old UI. Could Facebook have removed the apk? I didn’t notice any Messenger update.

    3. Rob Fetterhoff Avatar
      Rob Fetterhoff

      That doesn’t work anymore just so you know.

  13. Joshua Bailey Avatar
    Joshua Bailey

    MY EYES!!!

  14. YEMan0443 Avatar
    YEMan0443

    Why do we need another message service? Just use Hangouts!

    1. Chris Avatar
      Chris

      1. This was around BEFORE hangouts.
      2. Choice. Android is about choice right kid?

  15. Daniel Avatar
    Daniel

    i had the update then i went back to the play store to check for hangouts and messenger updated again….to the old version lol YAY it was nice while it lasted for 30 minutes

  16. BaldyPal Avatar

    Is that an HTC One without the logo in the middle? trademark issues, you think?

    1. deskjob Avatar
      deskjob

      Looks like the HTC One mini with the white border

  17. CHRIS42060 Avatar
    CHRIS42060

    Does anyone else find the chat head very annoying or is it just me? It seems like when I am having a conversation via FB messenger I cannot put the chat head in a place that is not in the way of something else.

    1. Anhstein Avatar
      Anhstein

      You can drag it down to hide it. Or disable it altogether. It’s cool to have options.

      1. CHRIS42060 Avatar
        CHRIS42060

        I do have the disable, but it was just a general question as to whether or not I am in the minority here.

        1. Anhstein Avatar
          Anhstein

          My bad. I think it’s useful when I want to reply to messages without leaving my current app. But after that it does get in the way a little bit. Then again, flick down and it’s gone.

    2. Chris Avatar
      Chris

      its great to be able to still chat with people even when leaving the app. might work better on tablets though. but mmmmm choice is a good thing. don’t like it. don’t use it! simple.

  18. Droid Ronin Avatar
    Droid Ronin

    Glad that they improved FB messenger. It’s the only component of FB that I use.

  19. Tim Martin Avatar
    Tim Martin

    From one Tim to another… It’s “chock full”… Nobody wants anything full of chalk. It gets EVERYWHERE!

  20. cmonnats23 Avatar
    cmonnats23

    Get sued by ALL The companies!

  21. Gustavo Avatar
    Gustavo

    They could change the UI of the facebook app too. This one looks kinda good.

  22. John Avatar

    I like the look, but I rarely use facebook messanger for anything.

  23. Matt Lang Avatar
    Matt Lang

    that’s just all kinds of awful

  24. Mayoo Avatar
    Mayoo

    Meanwhile, Google+ announced they are awesome.

    1. aBabyPenguin Avatar
      aBabyPenguin

      If only my friends would make the switch :/ I really like what G+ is doing but it isn’t much use if everyone I know is on FB. I’m not sure what I can do to convince them.

      1. Mayoo Avatar
        Mayoo

        Your situation is not uncommon. I think this is the main reason why Facebook still lives. It’s not because they are great, it’s because too much people still uses it.

          1. Mayoo Avatar
            Mayoo

            nice catch, corrected!

          2. Jimmie T Avatar
            Jimmie T

            *use it

          3. Mayoo Avatar
            Mayoo

            Corrected also. God I’m awful.

      2. CinemaLoot Avatar
        CinemaLoot

        I actually found that my solution to this was in G+ communities. I have one friend on G+ and they don’t post much so I joined communities filled with people with similar interest and now I use G+ more that anything else.

        1. aBabyPenguin Avatar
          aBabyPenguin

          nice! I’ll check it out

        2. jmsbwmn Avatar
          jmsbwmn

          None of my personal friends use G+. Many of them have profiles, but none are active. Luckily, if you’re reading this, you’re probably a tech enthusiast, and there are many of us on G+. I second the above wholeheartedly.

    2. Mae0000 Avatar
      Mae0000

      $85
      associate degree hour! Seriously i do not recognize why additional folks
      haven’t tried this, I work 2 shifts, a pair of hours within the day and a
      pair of within the evening…And whats impressive is Im engaging from home
      therefore i buy longer with my youngsters. Heres wherever I
      went,www.Pro67.ℂom

  25. MrFrodo24 Avatar

    Is just me or does this UI look kinda…. goofy? It’s not even the Facebook blue color.

    1. CinemaLoot Avatar
      CinemaLoot

      Possibly signs of a major Facebook style revamp? Not that I use Facebook much anymore

  26. Shane Redman Avatar
    Shane Redman

    or MS Office 2013….yuck

    1. thebeeobee Avatar
      thebeeobee

      LOL windows user above.

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