Liveblog: Facebook’s new “Home” on Android announcement

After a couple years of rumors, we will see what may be a culmination of all the conjecture over the “Facebook phone.” We have been sharing musings over a rumored phone since at least early 2011. HTC has tipped into the mix with a couple Facebook-centric devices during that time, but since then, all we have been left with have been more rumors or innuendo about whatever plans Facebook might, or might not have.  Now, it looks like we will see something that will bring Facebook to a new front on the world's most popular mobile operating system.

Last week, the press invitations went out to “come see our new home on Android.” PointMaza.Blogspot.com is here at Facebook’s offices in Menlo Park, California to bring you the play-by-play of the announcement as it unfolds.

Once the presentation is over, keep checking in with PointMaza.Blogspot.com as we will provide up-close photos and hands-on of the anticipated hardware featuring the new Facebook Home.

In the meantime, keep your browser pointed right here as we cover the event live! The Facebook event is scheduled to begin at 10:00am PT | 12:00 Noon CT | 1:00pm ET | 5:00pm GMT!

Live event tracker

13:07	Keep checking with PointMaza.Blogspot.com as we work our way to get some hands on with the new HTC First.
13:05	That's a wrap folks. We are going to check out the Home demo lounge.
13:05	Think of it as an app.
13:05	Home is not overly dependent on OS updates.
13:03	How dependent on Android updates will Home be? Carrier support?
13:00	Plans in the works to integrate other services and opportunities for developers.
12:59	Home does have several settings, home screens, lock screens. Folders and widgets not supported at launch.
12:58	A few more questions before things wrap up.
12:57	"This is good for Android." - Mark Zuckerberg.
12:55	Part of the gang with Q&A.
12:54	What will happen if Google changes the rules? Mark says that he thinks Google is Android is committed to openness.
12:53	Will Home come to iOS? Facebook works with Apple.
12:52	Analytics are gathered but really weighed in about 0.5% of the user base
12:51	Now a question about data collection from using Home.
12:50	Social networking augments social sense. It does not degrade from offline relationships. Per Mark.
12:49	Mark is addressing the motion that some adolescents might be abandoning Facebook.
12:47	Question re: optimization. HTC optimized to ensure good performance, battery, network etc.
12:45	Now Q&A time.
12:45	That's a wrap of the presentation. Now we'll see what's next.
12:44	We're soon going to be living in a world where the remaining 5b feature phone users will be smartphone empowered.
12:42	Now back to Mark Zuckerberg.
12:42	It can be pre-ordered today.
12:41	LTE enabled, available April 12th, $99.99 exclusively on AT&T.
12:41	The phone is going to feel good. It's not going to be a giant sized phone.
12:39	Now Ralph de la Vega, CEO, AT&T Mobility.
12:38	This is a partnership with AT&T. Avail I'm red, black, white, powder blue.
12:38	The ultimate social phone.
12:37	Mr. Chou is introducing the HTC First.
12:36	Peter Chou CEO HTC.
12:36	AT&T and HTC are the first partners.
12:35	Now the Facebook Home program for OEMs OS announced.
12:35	Facebook Home will be available for download on April 12th.
12:33	Now we're going to get a video of Home I'm action.
12:32	We think this is the best version of Facebook there is.
12:32	Now we're back to Mark.
12:31	Mobile first is the focus. Home is the next step, "Mobile best"
12:31	Now discussion the openness of Android. No need for a Facebook OS, or to fork Android.
12:30	Home will update every month.
12:29	Tablets are not yet available, but the content centric UI will be great with tablets.
12:29	Home will give you the option to run always or "just one".
12:28	How do you get Home? Just install off Google Play.
12:28	The most fun messaging experience yet.
12:27	The bright screen is not helping in the dark room but multiple chat heads can be seen or collapsed.
12:25	Conversations can be swiped away.
12:24	Right in the upper right corner. It remains until viewed or dismissed.
12:24	Now we're going to discuss Chat Heads...
12:23	Now Joey Flynn, Product Designer.
12:22	We can access apps with a swipe up from our own "avatar"....
12:21	These notifications have a horizontal card UI, reminiscent of webOS.
12:20	Interactions are gesture based. Very little "depth" per se, cover feed brings content to the top.

12:18	The cover feed is visually "rich"
12:18	Now we have Adam Mosseri , Director of Product.
12:17	Messages appear as "chat heads". Works for SMS and Facebook messaging.
12:15	Messaging is one area of concentration.
12:15	Apps are important too though. Apps are one swipe away.
12:14	Gesture UI to swipe notifications aside if you choose.
12:13	The picture is not perfect but the leaked UI is what we're seeing.
12:11	It's a family of apps. Called "Home"
12:11	...a new category of experiences.
12:10	We're not building a phone, and we're not building an OS.
12:10	On average, more than three times as much time is spent on Facebook than any other app.
12:09	Have a home at the top of the phone.
12:08	That's the UI centered around apps in computers and phones.
12:07	The UI has remained unchanged for decades.
12:06	Picture an experience that were centered around people not apps.
12:06	How much we use out phones in social media.
12:05	Today we're finally going to talk about that "Facebook" phone.
12:02	The lights are dimming and we're getting ready to start.
12:01	One thing we can say is despite whatever "droid-food" campaigns are in place at Facebook, every employee we've seen so far has an iPhone.
11:58	We're waiting with you folks. Some VIPs are getting seated now.
11:49	Several seats yet to be filled. Hopefully were running on time.
11:45	Okay we're inside the auditorium. Seated and ready to go.
11:41	We are looking forward to seeing the finished product of Facebook Home as well as whatever HTC has hammered together.
11:38	This is Max, going to bring you the play by play of the event as it unfolds. Facebook will hopefully shed light on all the rumors.
11:36	The media and gadget geeks from all walks are here. Yes, the wall does have lights in it.
11:32	We're waiting in line for the event to begin right now.
11:30	Testing 1 2 3 from Facebook's HQ in Menlo Park...