Where do the problems with Facebook on BlackBerry come from?

Excellent Post. Even if the app is a POS.. :-)

Perhaps some of the breakdowns are due to the various leaked OS's too. Slacker was taken to task a few months ago when all of a sudden people were losing the ability to cache stations, or it was stalling after one song, etc... "This is a piece of sh*t, why can't you fix it?...NOW" Most people had no issues at all because they were running their carriers OFFICIAL release. Which, most likely, was tested with any new upgrade for Slacker and was found to be fine. Go off and load a possibly buggy leaked OS and you want Slacker to fix your problem? If you have any issues with OS's that aren't official, you shouldn't complain about it.

I've heard from an android user (after showing him something on my facebook app, i think it was pics from a mutual friend) that the BB app is a million times better than the android app.

I totally agree thanks for this info Bla1ze

The App is STILL a POS regardless of your explanation.
You should try it out and see it for yourself.

The hardest thing about this outage(for me at least), is the fact that this is DEFINITELY a facebook issue, not an app issue. Uninstall the app, and you still don't get the email notifications from FACEBOOK. I emailed their customer support about a week ago and unfortunately still have not heard back from them. Coming from several Windows devices, i must say that I love the app. I find myself using FB alot less now that I have to navigate there from the browser.lol

Sorry to say this, but your argument is a total excuse for a work not well done by a developer or a Program Manager. I agree totally with you that the problem is not entirely from RIM, actually I also think that when something like this happens is more a FB issue than anything else. However, RIM, Apple, Nokia, etc...also says and tells to the world how wonderful their phones work with social sites and that there are "official" applications to those sites, and many people out there (including myself) buy these phones to stay connected to those sites, so from that point of view this features are part of the product and it is the responsibility of the manufacturer (no matter what name is) to offer these services since they announce those and publish them as services part of the product. So again, this is just a lame excuse from a developer and PM that should stay in contact with the partner (in this case FB) to know any updates that could affect the application and prevent these kind of issues.

I am really happy with my BB and how RIM address any general issues, but even if it really breaks my heart, if this is the answer that RIM promote to their customers, not taking responsibility on something they say the product has, I will have no other option than go with a more "stable" cell phone, at least one that doesn't give me excuses. I don't even want an apology, that doesn't make the app work, I want it fixed, working and stable.

Sure, Facebook is an ever changing site, but RIM hasn't updated the app in at least a year. Can't they keep pace every six months? Plus the UI is horrible. RIM has a poor history of improving software in their OS and this is yet another example. You don't see Google or Apple making excuses!

Good post. Some are so quick to point blame when they don't understand something and how it works.

Your argument is valid. You're right, blame should not fall on RIM for facebook problems. However, if RIM can't put out a phone that can't handle applications (not just facebook) as well as Android or iPhone, then why would users stay with RIM? I love my storm, but its my loyalty to RIM (and the suretype not found on other OS's) over the years that has kept me on a blackberry. Sadly, my loyalty is wearing thin and I am hoping for a Storm 3, with vast improvements, SOON.

What's that? People not understanding what's actually happening and just blame RIM? That's unpossible...

The problem with the Facebook app on my Bold 9700 isn't lost status updates or issues with the API, it's that the app actually CAN'T run properly on the device.

As soon as I download it, not only is the application slow and unresponsive, but the entire phone becomes slow and unresponsive.

And while I understand Facebook screws over developers with various site changes, the RIM Twitter app works fine and has had at least two updates since its release. Not so for FB.

It still love my Blackberry, but I just wish I could have an integrated Facebook app that works properly.

very good article

The problems I've had with the Facebook app have always come from problems with either my data service, FB being offline for some reason, or the photo album I'm trying to upload to being full.

The new version runs great on my Bold. Gobs quicker.

This article is complete bunk. Yes, Facebook makes changes to their API all the time that could cause this. However, you forget many key points:

1) The Facebook for Blackberry app hasn't been updated in a long, long time ... even though FB has made many changes since then.

2) The Facebook for Blackberry app has ALWAYS been a dog, ever since it was originally released.

3) Every single other mobile platform out there -- and I mean every one, literally -- has updated their respective FB app several times to address performance and functionality issues while RIM has released no updates.

4) RIM knows this sucks, and has a complete rewrite in beta right now.

I appreciate your sentiments in your article, but I'm afraid they come from a place ignorant of the actual situation.

Really like the thoughts behind this, but there's always two sides to each story. It actually might be possible that there are problems with RIM and FB, and neither one are willing to admit it.

If I had a dime for every time I've told someone in the forums that their issue with the FB app not working at a particular time isn't a BB issue, that it has to do with the FB servers/API, I'd be a rich man. Fantastic article, and one that was long overdue.

I don't really care who is responsible for the enormous failure it has become, can't just someone fix the damn thing already? Being a customer, I expect this to work, and if you don't, then your not valuing the products around you enough.
I'm tired of clicking the app, status updating, then scrolling down only to have the damn thing lock up, and have to back out and click back in again.
Its stupid and tiring at this point.

Currently playing with v1.8.0.31 of the BB FB app. It ain't that great either. Still pretty much the same except it doesn't rely on FB notification emails. It uses a polling systems (checks every XX minutes, where XX is user selectable)

Bla1ze,
I think your article is excuse to RIM and FB both....
This is not '80 or '90 where you build software from scratch and
Think that it will live for 50 years....
..
In today's fast changing world most of the social sites and dev platforms are fully informed with changes...
.
FB can't sit ideal and see other take lead..
They have change and bring new things to lure people..
.
RIM must keep this in mind and develop apps accordingly..
Every 2nd day things will change...
So your agile app should behave properly...
.
RIM has good history of latency, may be BB platform is not fully evolved to handle sudden changes...
.
RIM should take atleast 1 year and develop better platform, which is suitable for dev's, user's, easy to deploy new changes..

You guys forget this is a free app for us to use, not great but it works 99% of the time. There's always the facebook mobile website. Social media comes and goes, I don't think RIM will invest heavily in one particular one.

Simply, I am pretty tired of every RIM basher. Not everything that happens on a BlackBerry is RIMs fault or inability to keep up with the times.

RIM is a company that makes smartphones and develops their own OS. Is it perfect - NO! Nor is the iOS4 that just appeared. Anyone see all the comments about it completely wiping out people information when upgrading... Oh no, say it isn't so!

While I agree with the posts about RIM stepping up a delivering better updates to their applications, I am please with their progress and I believe the BetaZone is a step in the right direction. Believe it or not, people and companies aren't perfect and neither are you.

If you want some iCrap - Go get it! You want to be the next fanboy with an Andumb phone - Knock your socks off!

But please give us all a break about to how wonderful and fantasitic those phones are and how RIM is a dinosaur and a failure. Your the failure for coming back to a website just to rip into phone.

I agree that the slowness/complete failures are facebook's fault BUT how about the lack of functionality? Why can;t we watch videos? Why can't we upload them? And why did it take a month for the 'like' feature to be put in? These APIs exist yet RIM doesn't implement them.

Honestly people whether RIM or Facebook is at fault is so irrelevant, we all should be happy that its a free app that at least works. we are all spoiled trying to make our devices do something only our laptops can handle. the app should be an extension of the app we use on our laptops. I am in total agreement that a new update is more than long overdue. Let's just work with what we have and get on with more important things in our lives other than Facebook not responding on our devices.

However, it's not only the Facebook app that seems to be poorly written and executed. Take App World for example: awfully slow, laggy, terrible UI... and it's developed by RIM! And then there's the core applications like the browser for example. I mean, for crying out loud, I shouldn't have to resort to my iPod Touch to view a simple page because it's taking my BlackBerry 6 minutes to load! Email: again, I shouldn't have to resort to my iPod touch to open an email attachment because my so called "email device" won't recognize the file!

Developers are often frustrated with RIM's ridiculously strict API's and equally frustrated when they have to make 6 different versions of their application to cater to so many OS versions. No wonder so many of them are jumping ship.

I've been a devoted BlackBerry user for the last 6 years, but I'm afraid RIM is following the same path as Palm.

All i know is that we pay for a device that is intended to work, when things like facebook and other apps start failing on my blackberry of course im gonna get pissed at blackberrry! i bought the device with my hard earned money expecting it to work!!! i dont really care whose fault it is, but i know that im gonna keep looking for a device that delivers what i expect it to... ive had my ups with my blackberry and ive certainly had downs enough for me to say good bye to blackberry and hello to my new iphone 4.. and yeah iphone has its glitches as well, but it balances that out with VERY nice graphics, apps and speed..

Finally someone people will listen to has posted a sensible explanation. As an end user its almost impossible to pin-point who is specifically to blame (only "THEY" know).
You know another thing reading through posts. People act like Verizon/RIM or whoever stood in line with you and twisted your arms to the point of torture to purchase a device etc. Why not research first. Why not take the time to read the fine print, or your entire contract. Its a given that no piece of technology is perfect. Sometimes i hate as all hell when my 9550 acts up, but then again i don't go all crazy because it's expected or we wouldn't have improvements. Do a little reading/research find a cause to find a solution before throwing to the pits.

My comments are not intended to offend anyone, it’s just my point of view like everyone else having one.

I've got a problem no facebook chat...

I can bet with one of my nuts that other platforms have less problems with their F.B App.
Not to mention the BB FB App's UI is terrible.

Sorry RIM, you ain't get my money on the next upgrade.

Granted Facebook may deserve some blame but if RIM is developing the app, what excuse do they have for using crappy icons? What excuse do they have for not allowing me to permanently delete the Facebook calendar? I've actually given up on the FB app. I run it occasionally only to update caller ID pics. I receive notifications by email and interact with FB exclusively through the mobile website. I'm much happier this way.

A better response would be (to quote William Shatner/Captain Kirk)"Get a life". Can't anyone go a few hours without Facebook. Can we not make it to the next computer, work or home to check FB. Are we so desperate to see the next thing our friends post on-line rather than interacting with the people around us. Even if it were RIM's fault, is FB so important that we are that willing add another device to the electronic land fill and shell out money for another platform?

to see how you can possibly make comments about the facebook app without even trying it yourself... and to simply lay blame on users and facebook itself has to be the result of some sort of massive RIM rose colored glasses.

The FB app fails at the most basic of levels to meet any type of user quality.. and i am not talking about esoteric FB applications here... it fails at the simplest of thngs.. messaging, FB chat, and status updates.. poor formatting, hangups and it crashed my 8330 three times requiring battery pulls

In frustration i deleted it.. and in thanks it deleted my entire address book.

Holy Hell B1aze! You are really getting slammed. Sheesh! Guys, B1aze is only putting out his thoughts out there and thus are his opinions only. Take a chill pill.

Can't we just get off our high horses for a while n look at the real picture here. We have lost the way we. Personally connect with people, facebook is just a way we connect, ever wonder about calling someone for a change or write a letter or hell just meet up with our friends, everything has to be on facebook jeez!!! Who cares if its not working on whatever device we have, it doesn't matter.

but i really LIKE the FB for Blackberry app.

It rarely goes down for me, once in a blue moon the updates are out of order but it usually seems like it is a FB-thing, etc. I love how it integrates with my contacts and with the last update, the tab view so I can filter out those annoying FB games posts, it's perfectly fine for me. I had gone over to iPhone for a little while and hated how their FB app didn't integrate (this was last year, not sure if they updated yet but I think I heard it has not).

If I want a full-on FB experience I hop on my laptop, but in reality, I really don't want an app that will let me do everything the website does. I never have understood what all the complaints are about the app. Sure, I'd love a new one (because we all love new toys) but I like what is already out there.

Both ends SUCK! With all the hype of social media, why not have solid apps and great support in the forefront for mobile devices to make the social media really shine?

They are all missing out by subpar apps and FB failing.

Are all the tragedies in the world gone and forgotten? Is the economy all fixed up now? The oil in the gulf cleared up over night? Your family has disbanded and everything beautiful on earth just turned to dust? No...but so many of you are all wrapped up in the fact that you can't access Facebook in ONE PARTICULAR manner, there are still other ways to access the info you need from the same device even. What's wrong with the world today. You're all too busy trying to stay connected that you've forgotten how to BE connected.

Man I needed to get some of that out, I feel no better than any other troll now though. But still... /End rant, and...submit

I have never had a problem with FB on BB, guess Im just lucky, or dont know enough when it does happen, hahaa

I have friends who have phones without a Facebook app. They have very, very limited functionality using Facebook's mobile site. THAT is a POS. The only real issue I've ever had with the FB app is that loading pics, and scrolling through them with flicks, is slow. The iPhone app, for some reason, is faster at this particular task, but other than that, I'm a happy camper. I have the Storm2, and I've recently upgraded the OS to 5.0.0.713. The pics (and everything else on the FB app) do load faster now, but still not as fast as I'd like...

I really like the Facebook application on Blackberry. I've been reading articles about all the games on Facebook. Can you do it on BB? I have Droid and Blackberry and BB is definitely better.

Bla1ze this is a great article. I work for a regional wireless carrier and I get to witness a wide variety of things. I can say that my Blackberry bold 9700 FB app works 99.9999% of the time. That being said; I have observed issues with Facebook on a wide variety of phones ( Alcatel Tribe, Nokia phones, motorola, and the list goes on). From a trouble shooting perspective, if it is happening on many platforms at the same time and you can access myspace and other sites just fine; 99.999% of the time it is a Facebook issue. We have had to put in tickets with Facebook on some occasions because of the quantity of the issues. Further more, I have seen the same issues with other types of websites.

I look at it this way, using an app is like taking a taxi to a concert. If the concert event does not let me in or does not meet my satisfaction; I do not blame the taxi company.

In conclusion, it makes me laugh to read some of the comments. There are other social sites and avenues to connect with if Facebook has issues. Personally, besides the FB APP, I use the Myspace app, Beejive IM, Blackberry Messenger along with creating Blackberry groups, good ole fashion email (which Blackberry handles the best), and many more apps.

All these posts getting on this guy's case are just ridiculous. Even if this app is a POS, he is just pointing out that RIM is not solely responsible for it's shortcomings.

That said, I am going to say something I have repeatedly told my fiance since buying her a Curve. We went from having phones that were just phones, to those with cameras, to texting and then to surfing the web, all pretty much in the last decade. Granted some things have been around longer, but not mainstream. How can you expect perfection from such relatively new technology? I am new to smartphones but I think they are amazing for what they can do. If I need to get extremely hardcore on the internet, I use a computer, they have been built to handle the demands of super use.

I know I only have a Curve and that I don't have much experience with Blackberry, but give me a break people, IT'S A PHONE THAT TRIES TO MAKE LIFE SIMPLER FOR YOU BY DOING THE THINGS YOU THINK YOU NEED.

Like the article about the Apple iOS4 operating system says, Blackberry has been doing many things that most "smartphones" are still trying to implement. Enjoy your phone, quit hating it for not being a pocket-sized computer that happens to make calls if needed.

I think people need to get off the authors back. First of all its a blog which means opinion, secondly just like a few others have commented he didn't at all say RIM was not at fault, he said they have there issues but most is coming from Facebooks end. And BB actually does have a better FB app, you may not know it for lack of not using it on another phone but working at ATT I have and iPhones FB app is total crap, and so are all the others. I just wait till I get home and have an actual keyboard anyways. Grass is greener on the other side though right, if this was a forum for a different phone the same thing goes on there.

An app such as Facebook, probably a top 5 application based on use, should be running nearly PERFECT almost all the time. This isn't the beginning of the Internet 10-15 years ago, where it was routine and common for websites such as AOL, eBay, and Yahoo to routinely go down due to high customer volume and net traffic. These companies KNEW the response to apps for sites like Twitter and Facebook would have massive end user volume, and in this situation, Facebook made what they thought would be a wise choice on this matter by hiring RIM to make their app, figuring the phone and OS manufacturer would be the best possible choice for their site. This has turned out to be a debacle for both companies, due to the massive loading time of a facebook user's friendlist, stream updates eating batteries due to the updates not loading, and the notifications not properly working, among other known issues. This is one of the few applications that RIM should be focusing on making run PERFECTLY and they have ignored it and let it fail continously over and over again. Its time for RIM to take a step back, and either them or Facebook bring in a third-party app developer with the proper credentials to rebuild this app so that it functions properly. Again, there is NO EXCUSE for the problems of this app, it should have been dealt with over a year ago at this point. With the profits RIM has been reaping lately as well as Facebook's profits, I think both companies can do just a bit better.

As sent out to my 'Friends' yesterday from my BlackBerry -

"Call me a philistine, but I'm de-Facebooking my Blackberry. I love you all dearly, but do I need to know what you're doing or thinking every moment of the day - and vise-versa? Where's the mystery in that?"

The rest of you may think of me as a Luddite, but really, regardless of whether or not the App is a POS with questionable functionality, it is a terrific time and data waster - and surely that's the antithesis of what a smartphone (and most particularly, BlackBerry) is meant to be?

My big gripe with the Facebook application as of 1.7 (not sure about 1.8) is its requirement that you have a BIS or BES for it to work, as opposed to it merely operating off "generic data" as my other applications do. Google Maps, GMail, Opera Mini (4.2 and 5), uZard Web P, Kindle, Beejive--everyone of them just operate under a "generic" Internet connection and just work.

Oops, almost forgot--same goes for Snaptu, and it has a Facebook section, which--although it lacks some features of the application (integration of the contacts, including caller ID photo from their profile picture, and calendar integration), overall it has WAY more features than the 1.6 I still run (which does NOT require a BIS or BES). There is NO reason for a BIS or BES to be required, even if most people have one, when all those other applications don't nag you about it--they just work.

Because I can read posts, like posts, post text myself, view pictures and upload pictures... Yes, RIM's Facebook app could use some updating but I don't find it the big POS people make it to be. Then again, I don't do Facebook chat (or any IM/chat for that matter), and if RIM's application is deemed a POS because it doesn't allow you to play Farmville, then it is THE BEST APP EVER MADE!

Folk are still bitching? You can't comment on ya friends status about being "bored at school" and that warrents all of this whining and for a FREE application at that?

I can imagine y'all getting treated for a meal and complaining cuz you got a medium drink and not a large.

Name me one piece of technology that doesn't at some point show fault? Cars?Cable?Phones?Computers?

Rejoin reality people.

First off great work Bla1ze! well written and causing an uproar as usual.... next, ITS JUST FACEBOOK!!! take it easy friends lol I'm not a huge FB user I mostly just use it to keep informed of get togethers and such. I understand that some people use FB alot and thats cool and yes sometimes there is issues with the FB app... Sh!t happens! now if bbm was always down or constant errors... then we would have a reason to be up in arms, forming angry mobs heading to Waterloo!!!
cheers guys

I'm always amazed at how "plugged in" people become. I'm not downing that, because I am admittedly one of them. I'm a very avid user of social media. I love to have access to my social media (Twitter/Facebook) throughout the day, and there have been a few occasions where I have made a little money due to being able to book a photoshoot or two via Facebook for BB.

On the flip side of that you have to realize that this application is free. You didn't shell out hard earned money for it so really where is the justification for bitching about it? Yes, when I go to log on and it's out I get a little irritated, but I sure don't let it ruin my day like some seem to. Do you REALLY need to tell the world that your surgery on your big toe was a huge success as soon as you roll out of the hospital? Or that your mom is mad because you're not doing your homework?

And a note on chat...I hear if you close facebook, you can text people and/or call them to chat. I know...using a phone for that is so old school...but seriously...some of you need to just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

99% of the time this application works flawlessly for me and chances are that it's the same for most of the people pissing and moaning...but when that 1% springs into action you go on the attack...that's lame on levels I can't even describe. Enjoy your FREE application...if it craps out for a day or two out of the month explore other options...like a life.

Bolt @ facebook.com > Facebook app on BlackBerry
I don't use it much, but I've never had a problem with Facebook app not working, it just is much slower and does much less than the Bolt browser on the real Facebook website. I don't care who is to blame for it being crappy.. it is what it is. Facebook concentrates mostly on their web site, so of course a web browser that tries to work with Facebook is going to work better than a specific app.

I wish that commenting on a post on your Wall would not post to your friend's Wall.