Facebook apparently likes to play hardball. This morning, we told you about the hidden, iPad-optimized Facebook app that was secretly nestled in the current, iPhone-only app.
Looks like Facebook didn’t like its secret creation getting leaked out for the world to see, and it appears that the Facebook for iPad workaround has already been blocked.
TechCrunch reports,
“We’re hearing tons (as in hundreds) of reports that users who are just now getting around to checking out the trick are unable to do so. The iPad-friendly app still launches — you just can’t do much, as newcomers are being turned away at the login screen.
Oddly, it seems that those who managed to sneak in to the party before Facebook started closing the gates are still on the guest list.. to some extent.”
The hack from this morning was executed by slightly editing the Facebook for iPhone app’s info.plist file. You could forcibly turn on Facebook’s secret iPad counterpart on either a jailbroken or non-jailbroken iPad.
For those that were able to get in this morning, things still seem to be working fine. As one of those people, I can confirm that my iPad-optimized app still works like it did earlier today. Those that are just now trying this trick out on their iPad may have a different story.
Let us know which camp you belong to. Have you been able to successfully enable Facebook’s iPad app, or are you too late to the party?
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
20 responses to “Facebook Throws Down Gauntlet and Blocks Hidden iPad App”
how can they without an update that you have to go to app store select and enter your password?
They are blocking access, I had access to it this morning now when I get home the App says no Internet connection.
All we need is the jailbreak community to spoof it into thinking you’re on an iPhone.
OH MY GOD!! I would of had it but I couldn’t download facebook this morning because of a credit card problem. I finally get it fixed, do the little modification to get the app up and running and i’m too late… it locks me out! Typical.
I found a workaround. I just changed back to “1”, accessed with the iPhone version, changed back to “2”, and it worked!
i had it up and running :) it was quite good. but its just suddenly logged me out? and now i cant get back in :(
You need a verb in your sentence to make it meaningful.
Nope no luck
Followed your steps. Started App…It got as far as my news feed, then immediately booted me back to login screen. BASTARDS!
HAhah yea u got him there
The usual idea is that you would use NFC to set up the link between the two devices and then do an automatic hand over to a different protocol for doing the actual transfer of data – eg Bluetooth,iphone 5