Focus for Facebook - App of the Month, January 2012

To kick off 2012, this month we're featuring Focus for Facebook, an alternative to the official Facebook app that has a few nice features we'd like to share with you. Focus for Facebook claims to be "a faster and better way to stay up-to-date with Facebook."

Where to get it

• Download Focus for Facebook from the iTunes App Store
• Developed by: Focussed Apps LLC
• Platform: iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
• Price: Free

What's so great about Focus for Facebook?

If you're a Facebook user, you'll no doubt know it can be hard to keep up with everything that's going on. Focus for Facebook helps you out here by automatically hiding what it refers to as "app spam", i.e. updates from Facebook apps, games and quizzes. If you're more interested in what your friends are up to, rather than their latest game high scores, then you'll probably like this feature. You can still get to these posts if you like, but Focus for Facebook automatically filters them away into a separate screen for you.

Focus for Facebook also shows comments on a post directly underneath the post itself which means less navigating between separate screens. All your important information is displayed in a single, streamlined screen which we think is pretty handy.

User comment

Focus for Facebook has some favourable reviews and comments from VoiceOver users on the iTunes App Store. We also heard from Scott Chesworth who uses Focus for Facebook with VoiceOver on his iPhone 4:

I've tested what feels like a zillion Facebook apps, and Focus was the most accessible speaking as a VoiceOver user. Using Focus, I can keep up with statuses and links posted by my friends, like and comment on the stuff they've posted, and chat with people when they're online. There are a few gaps in the feature list, but when the developer adds a way of accessing messages, managing friend requests, tweaking your profile and perhaps a few choices to customise the spam filter, this will definitely be the only method of interacting with Facebook I'll need.

Got a suggestion?

We want to hear from you, our users. Which apps and websites should we be writing about on the TechKnowMore blog? Is there an app you can no longer live without? What website is at the top of your favourites list? Drop us an email on DigitalAccess@rnib.org.uk to let us know, and your favourite service could be featured in the very near future!