Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told the world to “stay tuned” to what his company has planned with Facebook. The social network has been rumored to appear in iOS for years, but 2012 looks to be the year Apple and Facebook finally join forces.
iOS 6, internally codenamed “Sundance,” will feature Facebook integration, reports MG Siegler of TechCrunch. The integration will be similar to the way Twitter is currently implemented in iOS 5, although Apple has yet to iron out the kinks in how sharing will work.
According to Siegler:
It’s important to note that Apple being Apple, something could change in the next week and a half (see again: Facebook/Ping). But as of right now, Facebook is a go in iOS “Sundance”. One thing still being hammered out according to our sources is how sharing will work. Sharing is the other big part of the iOS/Twitter integration, and will be important for iOS/Facebook integration as well. But Facebook is significantly more complicated than Twitter in that there are all kinds of permissions for what you can post where and who can see what.
Apple is expected to “keep things simple” initially with its Facebook integration. Siegler notes that, “Beyond authentication, there will probably be a Facebook button in the existing share screen which will allow you to share something to your Facebook Wall. ”
Facebook Connect is already present in many iOS apps for logging in and authenticating with accounts, and it’s currently unknown how Apple’s SDK will interact with Facebook’s current SDK. Many of the details will likely be divulged at WWDC in two weeks.
Twitter is already integrated in iOS 5, and Facebook is expected to function the same way. The user would assumedly log into his or her Facebook account in Settings to turn on sharing throughout iOS.
Facebook has several high-profile iPhone apps in the App Store, including the recently-released Facebook Camera. The social network is also in the process of acquiring Instagram.
Interestingly, a recent report said that Facebook was hiring former iPhone and iPad engineers from Apple to work on its own smartphone.
MG Siegler has proven to have well-placed Apple sources in the past, and he usually reports correct information regarding the company’s future plans.
Source: TechCrunch
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.
10 responses to “Apple Will Be Officially Adding Facebook Integration In iOS 6 [Report]”
I wonder if it will be integrated at the same level that Windows Phone has been?
No more recent photos of the actual native iPad FB app? This must be really old considering it’s running the iPhone-only version of FB on an original iPad.
Do not want.
Good job Apple. Integrating Facebook right after everyone leaves it. You might as well bake MySpace into the OS too while you’re at it.
They’re out of their fucking mind. I hate Facebook and it is a passing fad. How can an ‘inventive’ company do such a thing. I really don’t understand… ?!
Apple DO NOT need Facebook integration to sell their iOS products.
I have sent an email to Tim and explained why this would not be a win-win situation. Don’t forget to express your own opinion about this by writing him an email : [email protected]
Is there a way to disable that? I love how apple doesn’t add any of the numerous cool jailbreak features out there, but they’ll add facebook integration? If the rumor is true, that is.
Apple, here’s a clue, MAKE FACEBOOK WRITE AN APP LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! If I want it I’LL ADD IT!
Fk that! Don’t add this trash thus bulking up iOS with this crap. They have apps for that! Same goes for twitter.