Tag Archives: Facebook Apps

Keep it simple stupid is an old mantra but one often overlooked it seems when it comes to technology. While I love Facebook, it has become a bloated page of semi-useless information for me. Facebook has been phenomenal for me connecting me with great people both professionally and personally but seeing my homepage flooded with updates of my friend’s latest “Mafia Wars” conquest or an app that tells me my stripper name is really discouraging and counterproductive. Yesterday’s news on the launch of Facebook Lite was music to my social networking ears!

This version, originally designed for countries where broadband internet access is lacking or tough to come by, is a great alternative for those of us looking for a less intrusive and more minimalistic version of Facebook. After reading MG Siegler’s glowing review of Facebook Lite at TechCrunch I had to give it a shot. In order to check out Facebook Lite visit http://lite.facebook.com and sign in as you normally would. You’re presented with a somewhat barren view of your Facebook page compared to the full version but it’s clean and very straightforward.

Eric Eldon’s review at Inside Facebook points out one fact you’ll either love or hate “The profile page is similarly bare. However, there’s no bottom toolbar for any third-party apps. There are currently only a few crucial in-house apps available.”

Don’t get me wrong, I can definitely be an app junkie but I really like this clean interface. I think the rich application pool has been one of the reasons why Facebook is so appealing to users, however too much of a good thing can also be counterproductive. Taking this slim and trim approach is a good thing and will hopefully welcome in new users as well as court back those suffering from Facebook overload.

AdAge’s David Berkowitz does point the shortcomings of this version for brands and marketers using Facebook. Without a way to access Facebook Pages, companies looking to interact with people will have to get crafty.

“You can’t find Pages in the search results on Lite, even if you’re already a fan; only people show up,” notes Berkowitz. “Updates from Pages don’t appear in your Lite inbox. Branded Pages’ status updates still appear in the News Feed, and you can click that to go to the Page, but there’s just the stripped down Wall rather than all the tabs (there’s still a link to the Page’s photos and videos). It’s yet another reminder for Page owners that to stay top of mind with consumers, it’s important to post updates regularly.”

I think he has some valid points and with most people probably opting for the rich, full version of Facebook, companies probably need not worry. As for new users opting for a “lite” version or people looking to scale back their information overload, I’m sure this will only be a small number in comparison. But even so, these people are choosing a less intrusive way to enjoy what Facebook has to offer and are probably not going to be up for this level of engagement from companies and brands. As with any marketing program, using Facebook and Twitter is only the start and not the only methods for connecting with customers.

Facebook has been a great way to connect with new folks in the industry and has also connected me with a bunch of old friends from my days in the Navy and college I’d never think I’d hear from again but at times I open up my Facebook page and am overwhelmed. This version definitely helps me feel like I’m back in control! Go ahead and give Facebook Lite a shot and let me know what you think of this slimmed down, minimal version.

by Michelle Lentz

I’m not. I’m voting for Obama but according to a Facebook test I just took, my personality traits are more like McCain voters. I’m still sorting out how I feel about that, other than I have never found myself to be “scrupulous.”

Signal Patterns, developers of scientific-based social web applications “that characterize and connect people in meaningful ways,” released a new application, called Election Patterns, that matches personality traits to voting patterns. You can take the survey on Facebook and get your answers quickly.

The Election Patterns application reveals the personality traits and voting preferences of voters, whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, and shows each voter how they compare to composite groups of other voters. For example, a user’s personality traits could reveal that he or she is actually more like McCain voters and yet the user is voting for Obama or vice versa. Users can also compare their specific personality traits to see if they are similar or different in being realistic, introspective, creative, scrupulous, or astute, just to name a few traits, when compared to Obama and McCain voters, or more general, other Republicans and Democrats.

How does it work? At the core of the Election Patterns survey is the trait-based “Big Five” personality theory with an in-depth 45-score psychological assessment algorithm. The application shows how personality traits relate to political, and in particular, candidate preferences. I’m still not sure I buy it.

Past research says that people are most likely to vote for the candidate with whom they most relate to – the candidate most like themselves.

At the end of the survey, you can choose to have your election patterns anonymously submitted. Those results will be aggregated with others and, over the next three weeks, Signal Patterns, will issue Election Patterns qualitative findings, such as:

What issues are most important to Democratic voters?
What are the personality traits of an Undecided voter?
How do Obama and McCain Voters’ personalities differ by age and gender?
Which group of voters are more creative, level-headed and intellectual, McCain voters or Obama voters?
How are the voters in Pennsylvania different from those in Ohio?

As with any Facebook app, you can add a personalized Election Patterns badge for display on your Facebook profile page or blog. Based on my results, I’m passing on that option. If anything, it’s an interesting little quiz that takes less than 5 minutes of your time and does not seem to automatically install anything on your profile page, which I appreciate.

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Contact Michelle with your news, apps, and events via email, Twitter, Pownce, or FriendFeed. Visit Michelle at Wine-Girl.net and Write Technology. You can also catch Michelle presenting on Twitter at the upcoming DevLearn ’08 in San Jose.