Shaver explains how testers at Facebook headquarters might not catch problems that arise when someone in Southeast Asia tries to use Facebook on an old phone and a crummy carrier. Facebook previously used a less-regulated Android beta system that bypassed the Google Play store, but Google shut it down and replaced it with this new program that launched at I/O last month.Īt the most basic level, Facebook wants to catch edge case bugs. The program will give eager beaver Facebook addicts a crack at the latest features before everyone else, though they may have to endure some bugginess. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship” said Shaver. The companies actually work together quite frequently, such as on Facebook’s new Google Glass app.įacebook’s also been quietly providing beta versions of its apps to partners in the mobile space, including Qualcomm, HTC, Ericsson, Sony, Huawei and MediaTek. Director Of Engineering Mike Shaver said that Facebook gets extra testers, but these companies get to ensure that Facebook, a core part of the mobile experience, runs properly on their platform. You might think it’s curious that Facebook would build on Google’s social networks to run its beta program, but those are Google’s rules. Join the Facebook Group for beta testers to pass feedback back and forth (optional but strongly recommended).Download the beta app, use it normally, and access the bug-reporting option in the slide out navigation menu to send feedback directly to Facebook.Opt in to Google’s beta testing system policies.
Sign up to to become a member of the Facebook For Android Beta Testers Group on Google Groups or Google+.