As you may have heard by now, Facebook’s Home software for Android hasn’t exactly taken off. Of the billion-plus users on Facebook, only about one million have installed the software to very mixed reviews. But in conversation with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg at our D: All Things Digital conference on Wednesday, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg reminded us that the company is in it for the long haul — even if Facebook didn’t hit the software out of the park right away. “We consider [Home] a v.1, a very early version,” Sandberg said. “We would love if we could put out a v.1 version and get everything right.” As the early adopters have spoken, however, users don’t love every single thing about Home. The custom Android software takes over the phone entirely after a user installs it, relegating your existing apps to the back of your Android app tray while promoting Facebook’s social apps like Messenger and Photos.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, co-founder of Metacademy, and the CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and CNBC and writes a popular daily business blog. He’s the Co-Host of the award-winning podcast Techstream with Shelly Palmer & Seth Everett and his latest book, Blockchain - Cryptocurrency, NFTs & Smart Contracts: An executive guide to the world of decentralized finance, is an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.