Social Networking
By Damon Brown
The biggest new addition to the iPhone is Facebook (see top image), the addictive Web site that allows you to link with
other people from work, school and other social circles.
As a recent Newsweek cover story proclaims, it's pretty much taken over MySpace and Friendster as the place to connect.
This month the hottest social Web sute launched on the most popular cell phone - and, most importantly, Facebook on the iPhone is free. Go to the Safari Web browser, type in http://iphone.facebook.com and log in. That's all you need to do.
The iPhone version of Facebook has most of the original Web site's features including your e-mail. Facebook e-mail Inbox, the status of your friends and colleagues, and a robust search engine that makes it easy to find long-lost people. You can even view your network's latest photos while on the go.
In fact, the photo viewing may be the best part of Facebook on the iPhone. The application has a smooth interface similar to the iPhone's own photo library, and your can shuffle through friends' pictures quickly and easily.
The resolution is as crisp as any iPhone photo. Unfortunately, you can't upload your own iPhone photos, which stops this just short of being the perfect traveling app. For a free and timely program, however, it doesn't get much better than portable Facebook.
Damon Brown wrote the "Pocket Idiot's Guide to the iPhone" (Alpha/Penguin Books), the first book on the iPhone, available at our "BOOKS" page or your favorite bookstore. Damon also writes for Playboy, SPIN and The New York Post.
