Facebook contact integration removed in upcoming Android releases

roboffer

roboffer

roboffer

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http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/22/google-android-facebook-contacts/

We believe it is very important that users are able to control their data. So in the over-the-air update for Nexus S, we have a small change to how Facebook contacts appear on the device. For Nexus S users who downloaded the Facebook app from Android Market, Facebook contacts will no longer appear to be integrated with the Android Contacts app. Since Facebook contacts cannot be exported from the device, the appearance of integration created a false sense of data portability. Facebook contact data will continue to appear within the Facebook app. Like all developers on Android, Facebook is free to use the Android contacts API to truly integrate contacts on the device, which would allow users to have more control over their data. We are removing the special-case handling of Facebook contacts on Nexus S and future lead devices. We continue to believe that reciprocity (the expectation that if information can be imported into a service it should be able to be exported) is an important step toward creating a world of true data liberation — and encourage other websites and app developers to allow users to export their contacts as well.
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Rather annoying
 
Good! The facebook contact sync has buggered up my contacts before. Might have been Facebook for HTC Sense though.
 
If this applies to the DHD, then hopefully it doesn't affect FB for HTC Sense as well, as i quite like having FB contacts, means i don't have to go round asking everybody for numbers as the majority already appear :)
 
I'm glad of this, as I don't use facebook for storing my contacts and (imo) anyone with any sense is going to put their mobile number up in facebook.

I will be a bit :| if we're to loose the facebook profile pictures though.
 
GeX said:
I'm glad of this, as I don't use facebook for storing my contacts and (imo) anyone with any sense is going to put their mobile number up in facebook.
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You can use Facebook lists to only show selected contacts things like your email and phone number :)
 
Rather annoying, Facebook is essentially my phone book. Almost all the numbers I need are gotten through Facebook, what a well thought out change. :/
 
It'll be back, there's a good artice on endadget explaining google's motives with this change.

Basically facebook were granted an exception to some data storage rules google have on android, and with this change google are hoping facebook will fall in line with the rest, which will enable the syncing to return.
 
Yeah, effectively Google are making it so that if Facebook want to sync contacts they'll have to enter them into the main contact database, which itself is generally (but I don't think it has to be???) synced to Google, hence it's all win for them :p

From the Engadget article it also stated that (currently) this would only apply to the Nexus S 'and future android phones', but I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard for phone manufacturers to re-enable to old-style sync themselves?

Personally I've never bothered with Facebook on my phone (barely bother on the pc) so it's a non-issue, which is nice, and allows me to just be amused at the slapping game that's in process between Google and Facebook :p
 
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