We've rounded up the best Facebook apps that you'll find in the social network's App Center.
The Facebook App Center only launched this past June and recently (finally) introduced a search function, but it remains Facebook’s attempt at distributing the work of its Open Graph and associated developers. While it’s meager in comparison to the likes of the iOS App Store and Google Play Marketplace, the App Center is starting to grow in numbers and quality, and we scoured what’s currently available to find the best and brightest of what the virtual shelves have to offer.
Feel free to chime in with your own recommendations.
Entertainment
If you’re sick of Spotify and Pandora, Frogtoon is a Facebook-only music app that pulls YouTube videos into playlists using the musicians that you’ve liked on Facebook to play you songs that you’re guaranteed to enjoy. But you’re not limited to music from just the musicians you’ve liked: Choose recommended tunes from various genres, countries, and eras.
The Angry Birds franchise expanded to encompass cult-favorite Star Wars, which on December 18 made its way onto Facebook. We don’t have to tell you that the game is as addicting as ever, so as with anything having to do with Angry Birds, approach with caution.
Halfbrick Studios outdid itself once again after its smashing success (quite literally) with Fruit Ninja. Jetpack Joyride, which you can find as both a Facebook and mobile app, takes your character through levels of “endless” runs strapped on a jetpack with the sole objective of surviving (and collecting coins if you want to buy in-app upgrades). It’s a fun alternative from the humdrum of Farmville-style games populated Facebook.
The age-old classic is reborn in this contemporary take on Tetris. You can play marathon style solo matches to test your endurance, challenge your friends, or even take on random players around the world that are matched to your level of play.
A tasty candy themed replica of Bejeweled, the rules are simple: Match up at least three pieces of candy and rack up enough points to make it to the next level. Just don’t overindulge your sweet tooth. You might lose track of the time.
Lifestyle
RetailMeNot is a coupon cutter’s digital fantasy come to life, and a one-stop destination for discounts from just about every major retailer. UGG, Best Buy, Newegg, you name it, RetailMeNot has a coupon to satisfy your inner deal hunter. Many of RetailMeNot’s basic Web-based features like recommended coupons have been ported to the Facebook app, but if you want the full experience we’d recommend you to use RetailMeNot’s Web app.
Facebook Marketplace powered by Oodle is a smaller but social version of Craigslist that’s a penny pinching student’s first resort. If you’re looking for a roommate or selling football tickets, you can be rest assured that you’ll know who you aree dealing with (since stalking their profile is just a click away). And you could hold them accountable should you get ripped off a few bucks. While Marketplace today is no longer the bustling gray market for used textbooks like it was circa 2007-2008, its clean interface and frequent (enough) listings by friends or second degree connections attracts enough new posts that you’re bound to snag a deal or two.
Gawk at the latest styles on guys and girls through Lookbook’s Facebook app. You’ll be disappointed (or indifferent) to know that Lookbook’s core feature is its Website displayed in an iframe on Facebook, but if you’re looking for street-style inspiration to add to this season’s mens and womenswear, Lookbook will be your virtual style guru.
Not a fan of Facebook’s “couples” Timeline? You can do your friends a favor and shield the digital PDA with your significant other by keeping your intimate photos and comments on Zoosk’s “Couple Timeline” feature on its Facebook App. If you’re single, you don’t have to fret. Zoosk is a digital cupid with the tools for guys and girls to find dates.
News
Bing’s beta Facebook app reads like a mobile social reader that skimps on the bells and whistles. But as a reader, it gets the job done. You can subscribe to news topics of your choice, or read general news curated for you by Bing. You can be rest assured that you’re getting your social news reading experience. Bing suggests stories tailored to your interests since it has full access to your Facebook data.
Washington Post’s Social Reader is the prettiest and most robust, not to mention our choice pick among Facebook social readers. Its content is published in tiles, and the app isn’t self-serving. It recommends articles that aren’t necessarily by Washington Post’s own writers and pulls in content from Salon, Reuters, AP, and other authoritative news sources depending on your interests. You can also browse what your friends are reading and sharing in dedicated “Friends” and “Activity” sections.
The UK publication is wrapping up its social reader experiment on Facebook, but it’s still a premiere source for news on Facebook with over 2.5 million monthly users. You’ll find all of The Guardian’s trending news through this Facebook portal, but as of December 17 all the articles that you click on are redirected to the The Guardian’s Website.
Photos & Videos
Aviary’s Facebook app is its mobile photo editing app bundled into a Facebook photo editor. Everything the mobile app does, the Facebook app, has including enhancements, stickers, fixing redeye, resizing, and more. Twitter and Flickr uses Aviary’s filters, which is one reason to check out the app.
If you’re looking for a robust Facebook photo editing app, Pic Monkey is a tool kit that will have you covered from A to Z. Airbrushing, blemish remover, cropping, to zombie-themed effects and makeup, Pic Monkey has it. There’s a catch, though: If you want unlimited access to the cooler features, you’ll have to cough up a monthly $4.99 subscription fee.
Oovoo’s Facebook app is a teaser of its Skype competing video software, but if you need a last minute solution for multi-person video conferencing that supports up to twelve people at once and launched through a browser, this Facebook app is one your best bet.
Travel
The countries and cities that you’ve visited throughout the world are an achievement in their own right. You can pin the cities that you’ve visited using Trip Advisor’s Facebook app, and claim badges to boast about your travel-worn legs to your Facebook friends.
Productivity
If you’re just as frustrated with Fedex’s online shipping forms as we are, Fedex’s “Ship to Friends” Facebook app should save you the hassle. The app is solely a shipping form, but the instructions are clear and you don’t need to sign up for a Fedex account. It also displays the cost of the shipment per your package’s weight. The app though only services domestic (U.S.A) shipments.
Looking for a job? Jobvite’s Facebook app is one place to start looking. The career hunting portal algorithmically suggests the jobs that are best suited for you based on your credentials, keyword criteria, and of course the location of the position.
Is it possible to keep up with the inundation of information your friends publish on a daily basis? You’d have to be sitting at your computer 24-7 without breaks to monitor all of your friends’ conversations. Or you could just use Pixable, which is a photo inbox that collects and displays all of your friend’s important messages from Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And if you want you can also view the trending conversations posted by social network users, like news outlets and celebrities that are outside of your circle of friends.
Source : digitaltrends[dot]com
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