X

Sobees: The iPad's ultimate Facebook app

It's not perfect (yet), but this fabulous freebie gives Facebook a glorious newspaper-style makeover.

Headshot of Rick Broida
Headshot of Rick Broida
Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read

For the moment, Sobees for Facebook is the slickest way to view Facebook content on your iPad. Sobees

Let's face it: the pixel-doubled version of the current Facebook app, well, bites. I'm sure the company will give us an iPad-optimized version at some point, but until then (and possibly even after then), I'm sticking with Sobees.

Sobees for Facebook turns your Facebook content into an attractive, neatly organized, newspaper-style page. Though it lacks many of the real Facebook app's capabilities (like chat and access to your in-box), for the moment it's my favorite way to share and browse updates on my iPad.

The "front page" consists of five handy sections: Breaking News (the most recent status update, presented headline-style), Latest Status Updates, Latest Links, Latest Hot Images, and Latest Video. You can scroll your way through most of these sections, though Sobees lacks a "more" option when you hit the bottom of any of them--a minor gripe.

The app also offers one-tap access to People (i.e. your Facebook friends), Photos, Events (a terrific browsable calendar), and Profile. This last one is a bit disappointing, as it shows only your wall--you don't get access to any of the other stuff (like Info and Notes) found on Facebook proper.

On the plus side, a recent update made it possible to write on friends' walls and read/post photo comments. Without those rudimentary features, Sobees might be a little harder to recommend. Here's hoping the next update brings more goodies, like chat and and in-box support.

By the way, if the whole "newspaper format" thing sounds familiar, that's because Sobees takes a page (pun intended) from Early Edition--which, as you may recall, turns your favorite RSS feeds into a lovely virtual newspaper.

Bottom line: If you're a Facebook fan who's not loving the pixel-doubled Facebook app, do yourself a favor and try Sobees. It's Facebook made pretty--and it's free!