Facebook had an iOS app updated to version 3.5 earlier this week and were pleasing for many iPhone users. But it seems to be displeasing Bryan Haggerty, Twitter mobile designer after he saw the new look of Facebook’s app. Immediately he voiced his thoughts over the app design. He used as expected Twitter to send out two messages:
Seriously Facebook? http://pic.twitter.com/0ifNsdY
Ok Facebook, enough with the flattery. http://pic.twitter.com/vSyHdpH
The two screenshots provided by Bryan had comparisons as to who the Facebook app design shared similarity with the iOS app of Twitter. The comparison left many users thinking that Facebook had ripped off an almost exact copy of Twitter app. Bryan even had indirectly via his tweets hinted that Twitter’s app user interface was copied by the social networking giant’s app designers. There is a saying which says “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, but in this case Bryan looks far from being flattered.
One can say that the similarity might be because of the iOS standard, which has an ask for the resemblance in the designs. As the iOS standard constructs, the requirement for placement, sizing, and coloring of the icons has to be somewhat similar. This can be all in for Facebook’s defense which has some validity too. Keeping most of the things aside, Google+ even updated its app for iOS, but there was a rare similarity between Google+ app and the other two.
But, the screenshot posted below still cries out loud that Facebook has copied Twitter’s app user interface.
Facebook app however has a few more additions to their app which fill in a few blanks to make the similarity look a bit different, but still the second screenshot makes it tough for one defending Facebook, say that it is not a rip off.
As for now, only the Twitter mobile designer is criticizing Facebook for its mirror-like similarity, but there might be a few more in the times to come who might want to same the same thing.
Additionally, one can argue that the social networking giant has gone out of its way to get a complete makeover for its photo and new status update for the iPhone and iPod touch users. The only basic difference one can make out between these two apps are that the layouts are slightly tinted and the Facebook app designers have played a bit with the color schemes. Overall, its more of the ‘spot the difference’ game for readers to check out for in the screenshot and for users to use them.
There would still be a thought wagging its tail in one’s ming that room for experimentation is quite less while one designs a status update box and for the app on the overall design, the degree of freedom available is really low. One may even think that maybe this is the template way to represent a social media app design logically.
Whatever may be the case, most of the readers and users feel that there is a 99% similarity between the two social network iOS apps.
Twitter has however had its say and the point proved is quite strong, but Facebook along with its designers will have a say to defend their app.