Facebook today invited journalists to “come see what we’re building” a week from today, strongly implying it will unveil a new project, but keeping further details to itself.
The vague press invitation (below) is clearly meant to whip up public interest in the company’s offerings. It remains to be seen whether Facebook will meet expectations generated from its teasing invitation or simply use the inevitable wave of press hype to promote pedestrian, incremental improvements to its website or apps. (A Facebook spokesperson declined to provide further details.)
But the timing of invitation, during the hardware-focused Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, hints at the possibility Facebook will debut some sort of gadget like its long-rumored smartphone, smartphone operating system, or set of tweaks to the Android operating system. Announcing a new product, or hinting at one, during a competing trade show (like CES) is a time-honored battle tactic in the computer world. Such a move co-opts the momentum of the competing event while distracting people from it.
Instead of hardware, Facebook might just unveil some sort of update to its iconic home page design. A new single-column news feed design was spotted this week in New Zealand. That would be a bit of a letdown, but nothing compared to the emotional blows Facebook delivered last year to its shareholders.
As a reporter who will have to fight rush-hour traffic for 42 miles to Facebook HQ, I certainly hope the company unveils a shiny new phone that will titillate readers. As a consumer, though, I already have enough smartphone choices — iPhone, all the Android models, various Windows Phone 8 models, the Ubuntu phones, a rumored Amazon phone, etc. etc. — and enough concerns about the amount of data I’m giving to Facebook. Let’s just get the whole social networking thing nailed first, Facebook, then maybe we can talk about hardware.
Facebook Has Something Mysterious to Show Everyone
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Facebook Has Something Mysterious to Show Everyone
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Facebook Has Something Mysterious to Show Everyone
