Back in September during the Facebook F8 Developers Conference, Facebook announced their most significant changes to the Facebook Platform since its launch in 2007. Once of the most talked about is the ‘re-invention’ of the Facebook Profile through the use of TIMELINE.
Broken down, Facebook Timeline will essentially tell the story of you (yes, you ala your Profile) in roughly three parts – Stories, Apps and an inventive way to allow you to express who you are. The layout will have stories appearing at the bottom of the page. In the middle, there will be tiles to display all of the Apps and the things you have done with them. The neatest thing is the ‘Timeline’; displaying years so you can literally go back in time.
Although currently available in beta stage, developers (apps developers) can try it out! Not a developer? Become one – it’s quite simple. Below are some guidelines to get started:
1. Visit FACEBOOK to start the developer access process.
2. Click ‘Create a New App’ and name it whatever you want. Of course, you’ll have to agree to the Platform Privacy Policy. Then click on ‘continue’ – you will then have to submit a CAPTCHA.
3. Go to your app’s main settings screen and find ‘Open Graph’ on the left hand side. Once there, you’ll be directed to ‘Getting Started Using Open Graph.’
4. Test It Out! Follow along the test route and type in any VERB in the first box and then any NOUN in the second; then click ‘Get Started.’
5. You’ll almost there! You’ll be taken to a new page where you should change your default settings. Of course, there will be a few pages of settings to swim through.
6. Visit the Facebook Home Page; and there should appear an option to tryout the new Timeline on your home page.
Just a note that until this is live (rumors have it that October 9th will be the day); only other developers will be able to see your new timeline.
Here are my ‘Before’ and ‘After’ photos so you can see the difference!
BEFORE – OLD PLATFORM
AFTER – NEW PLATFORM
WOW! Huge difference, don’t you agree! Needless to say, now is the time to play with it before your profile changes on you overnight without knowing it. Heaven knows we’ve seen quite a few changes lately from Facebook; so at least you know have a heads up on this one!
Be sure and share your new profile photos when you’re finished! Would love to see how it turns out!
