Focus for Facebook
Submitted by Victor Tsaran on 5 August, 2011 - 00:44
Posted in:
Description of App
FACEBOOK - SPAM FREE! Focus is a faster and better way to stay up-to-date with Facebook®. It filters out app spam so you can focus on your friends' real posts. APPLE STAFF FAVORITE & "Best App Ever Award" Finalist.
- Filter App Spam ● Filters out posts from games, quizzes, and other Facebook apps so you don't have to wade through them in your feed.
- Facebook Streamlined In One List ● See new posts, comments, notifications, and photos in a single, compact, easy-to-scan list.
- Remembers What You've Read ● Only new posts appear in your Focus feed. Posts get grayed out as you read them, and when you've looked through everything, tap "Mark all as read" so you don't see those same posts next time.
- Don't Miss A Conversation ● New comments are shown in your feed. Because Focus hides what you've already read, it's easy to see new comments - you'll never miss out on what your friends are talking about.
Focus is NOT made by Facebook®.
Version
1.14
Free or Paid
Free
Compatibility
This is a native iPhone and iPod Touch app that is displayed in 2x mode on an iPad
Device(s) App Was Tested On
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4
iPod Touch 3G
iPod Touch 4G
Accessibility Comments
An extremely accessible and easy-to-use interface for Facebook feeds. the information is presented as a list of posts. To like or comment on a particular post, simply double tap on it and perform your action on the next screen. The app is so easy that no further explanation is needed.
VoiceOver Performance
VoiceOver reads all page elements.
Button Labeling
All buttons are clearly labeled.
Usability
The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.
Other Comments
The developer was very responsive in fixing accessibility bugs and the result of their work can be seen in the latest version.
User Options
10 AppleVis user(s) have recommended this app for VoiceOver users.
Comments
#1 Great App
Thanks Victor! Focus for Facebook reads the news feed and allows for Likes and comments in a more intuitive and efficient way than the native Facebook application.
#2 Very very good app
I finely find a way to brows my facebook site without problems, I can both like and comment on things, I think I will let this app replase the original facebook app. one thing I would like to se though, is push notifications like the normal facebook app. notifications like: "xxx commented on your status" and so on.. I think I will email the developer about that...
#3 Alternative Solution
Thanks for mentioning about being able to Like and Comment with this app. There are quite a few of us that have been looking for an alternative solution to this problem. I found this app an awesome start and replacement for several apps that I use for Facebook. I agree if they could add a few more option to this app. It would be the tool to have to replace everything else that doesn't work for us.
#4 Reading private messages
How do you find and read your private messages with Focus? So far neither my dad nor I have been able to find a way to do this, and we know he has one new message.
#5 My only issue is when I try
My only issue is when I try to find my list of notifications and/or comments to statuses. They don't seem to always display each comment. Perhaps I'm just missing something though, since I've only been using the app for 3 days. A very wonderful app, much more usable than the official FB app and even nicer than using the Mobile version of Facebook through a web browser!
#6 Quirky Things
Yes, this Focus does not do it all which we commented above we wished it had more features. I too hope to see a new update to include the Private Messages as you stated. However, I can recommend the Facebook Messenger app. This is strictly for those Private Messages. The only downfall is that they broke it on the last update but don't fret. If you have a message waiting for you then you will be able to use this app. So check it out. You just won't be able to send someone a new private messages at this time. I have yet to find an alternative to this problem. So in the meantime this app will allow you to read and respond back but not create a new message.
I do notice how it is a bit quirky on how it notify you on comments that people have sent you. It will appear as a Notfication and then later you should see your original comment and then the comment your friend has made. I believe you should follow the entire thread of your status on the Recent tab at the top next to the Unread tab. Sometimes I swear it isn't showing me everything either but I cant prove this quite yet.
#7 I tried this app when I first
I tried this app when I first got my iPhone and found it to be confusing... Too many ads... I guess there's just no solution for facebook...
#8 App no longer actively developed, and liking comments of posts
This is still a useful app, but it is no longer being actively developed as of January 2012.
I emailed the developers, and asked about being able to like a comment, instead of liking the initial post - they replied:
"Unfortunately it's not possible to like a comment (just a post). We
aren't actively developing Focus at this time, so I can't say it's on
our roadmap, but thanks for noting the suggestion anyway.
--rob"
#9 No longer developing Focus?
I absolutely love this app, but agree with the comments above reguarding more features being added. I use Focus along with Messenger and the app put out by Facebook (which has major accessibility issues that need fixing!), So, are the developers just not working on the app right now or is this app never having another update?
#10 Is anyone else having problems with Focus?
Starting Friday morning (January 20) (United States) my dad is unable to get feeds in Focus. He's being asked to log in over and over again. The login is successful, and a test posting of a new status from Focus worked. I also deliberately entered ficticious login credentials and the login failed, so it's communicating with Facebook okay. We've tried killing Focus in the app switcher, and he's power cycled the phone. Any other thoughts?
#11 Confirmation
The bad news is that it isn't just you. I am also having problems with Focus not wanting to sign in with Facebook. The Facebook site is just fine but for some reason it is like Facebook is rejecting this app? I do not know the answer but I can say for sure it isn't just you having troubles. At this time I do not have a solutions. The worst part is the developer are no longer supporting this app. If someone else have any idea would be greatly appreicated as well.
#12 issues with Focus?
Hi All. I've used Focus for a very long time and haven't had any trouble with it whatsoever. But about three days ago I opened the app and found that I was no longer logged in to facebook which is weird because I never log out. I tried repeatedly to log in and each time it would log in and then emmediately log back out again. It has been doing this for the last few days which is really frustrating because Focus is the only way I have access to Facebook on my phone because of how inaccessible the Facebook app is that Facebook put out. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app but this didn't change anything! Is anyone else having this problem?
#13 Waiting on Developer
I am submitted an e-mail to the Focus developers and hope to hear if they have any ideas in why this app is no longer working. I will post their response here when I recieved an e-mail from them.
#14 ok, sounds great! thanks.
ok, sounds great! thanks.
#15 So I just experimented with
So I just experimented with Focus. After logging in, I clicked on my focus feed which of course didn't work and logged me out. I logged back in and this time went back to the main minu and clicked on friends. An error message appeared but after hitting ok I was able to see the list of all my friends and I could even view there profiles without being logged out. Then I decided to try to use chatt which worked as well. I was able to send and recieve chatt messages. I then clicked on the help section hoping to find something out about why the app isn't working properly but wasn't able to. Then I decided to try focus feed one more time. But as soon as I clicked on it I was logged out. Everything on the main menu is working accept for the focus feed. Any one else find this whole problem with Focus strange and frustrating?
#16 My best guess
My best guess about what's happened is that Facebook has made some change to their API which has broken Focus. Since development on Focus has stopped, of course I have no idea if it will ever be fixed. It just depends on how seriously they've stopped development. If it's one of these deals where they said this would be the final version, but it ought to be usable for some time into the future, only to have Facebook change something to break it, it's possible we could get a bugfix release. But if they're really serious about not working on it any more, then unfortunately Focus will probably remain unusable forever, which is a real pitty.
#17 Focus problems
I too can't loggin and the "alternate link" did not work so I'm back to using the regular Facebook. Sent an email but haven't heard anything back.
#18 I haven't tried the
I haven't tried the alternative log in, but if it didn't work for you then it won't work for me either. I have also sent the developers an email but haven't heard anything back either but I sent it yesterday so hopefully they just haven't gotten around to responding yet. I absolutely loved this app and I really hope they are willing to release a bug fix update at least. As an alternative to focus, I have ace for facebook, messenger, and the Facebook app all installed on my phone. To bad we can't have one app that does everything we need it to. It would be much nicer then having four different apps!
#19 Focus Update
As promised. I have recieved words from the developers and they will be releasing a new update. So watch for this update within the next couple of days. Here is what they said to me:
We've submitted an update to Apple, so in a few days we expect it to be approved and then it will be available. Sorry about that!
Rob
#20 Haven't seen the focus update
Haven't seen the focus update yet but I am certainly anxiously awaiting it! I can use the other facebook apps but focus is so much nicer to use. Now if they would only develope it a bit further and add direct messages!
#21 Hi, developer of Focus here.
Hi, developer of Focus here. As for the push notification thing, we don't support them (as you know) but one idea is to turn them on for the official Facebook app, and then go check Focus when you get a push. It's not an ideal solution (because you won't get taken immediately to the relevant post), but it is something.
#22 I recieved the same exact
I recieved the same exact email on tuesday but haven't seen an update either. I hope it comes out soon! And yes, the private messages being intigrated in to Focus would be really nice! Did you suggest that to the developers?
#23 Focus is an amazing app and I
Focus is an amazing app and I think it will be even better when the update is released!!! Anyone agree?
#24 What's up?
Does anyone know what is up with the focus update? Typically when an update is submitted it only takes a day or two for it to come through, but certainly not in this case. It's worth the wait I'm just ready for it to happen!
#25 I've had three updates for
I've had three updates for apps today but none for Focus. Has anyone seen the update?
#26 Update 1.15
The update for Focus has arrived. Indeed it works once again. My many thanks to the developer in making this working again. Thank you very much. Hope to see new features in the future.
What's New in Version 1.15
* Fixed login issues (which were caused by a change to Notifications on Facebook's end. Notifications are currently disabled.)
#27 Focus is back.
The update is here and seems to be working very well. It's really good to have focus back!
#28 I'm so glad Focus is back!!!
I'm so glad Focus is back!!!
#29 Focus stopped working properly
As of today, I am unable to view statuses or other posts on Focus. Although I can log in successfully, it appears to be loading but no progressions are actually being made. When I launch the app, I am told that there is an error. To remedy this issue, I sent a message to the developers via Safari on my iPhone. Since I clicked on "app support" in the app store and used the link displayed for the e-mail, I was a little confounded when the message was in my all mail folder rather than my sent mail folder. Nevertheless, I will wait for a message from the developer in hopes of a clear response or a solution. The problem seems to be universal (a friend of mine is also suffering from the same inability to read her feed). In the meantime, I am trying Voicebook VO, which works well. I wish it had the ability to allow you to click on friends to see their activity and post on their walls, but I heard the app is constantly being refined. Maybe a future release will bring these requests to reality.
#30 Focus functional once more
Just to see if it works again, I tried to reinstall Focus. To my delight, all is well again! I hope it continues to remain stable in the future--I like this app. In fact, Focus and Voicebook are very powerful Facebook alternatives for everyone to use.
#31 focus
So which is the better of the two? Voicebook or focus? Or are they much the same?
#32 The key is personal preference
It depends on what you want to do with Facebook: Focus allows you to view statuses and other posts from your friends. Furthermore, it gives you the ability to write on people's walls. You can also view wall photos that people have uploaded, and you can supposedly chat with friends. However, I'm not sure if the latter feature works since I haven't tested it too thoroughly. Voice Book enables you to read statuses among other posts that your friends might write. Unlike Focus, you can set Voice Book to weed out information such as FarmVille requests, but Focus does a nice job with this type of superfluous material, too. Both apps make the process of reading anything, be it statuses or links, quick and efficient. I don't know if the company that created Focus will continue to update their app anymore, but I'm almost sure that Voice Book will be updating continually. I also think that the developer of Voice Book will add more features to its interface in the future, which is always a benefit to those who use any alternative application. Overall, I believe that both apps are potent in their own ways, but the true answer to your question lies in personal preference. I hope you find an app that works for you. :)
#33 Is anyone else having problems connecting?
Is it just me or has anyone else been having problems with connecting to Facebook over the last couple of days? I posted on the forum last night about how IM+ had stopped working with Facebook and I thought it was the app gone down, but this app, and another few Facebook apps I have don't seem to be able to connect. The only 1 that will connect is the native Facebook ammmmm