Facebook's new Android skin, Home, is now available for download from the Google Play Store, although you'll need to have a fairly state-of-the-art phone to run it.
Right now only a handful of phones are able to download Facebook Home, including the HTC One X, One X+, and Samsung Galaxy S 3. Some upcoming phones, like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4, will also be compatible, as well, of course, as the HTC First, which comes with the Facebook-centric launcher pre-installed.
But let the user beware: The skin is great for heavy Facebook users, improving connectivity and adding an attractive chat interface, but removes several useful features of "stock" Android phones. The lockscreen widgets and security measures are gone, and desktop widgets and folders are also unavailable.
Reviewers on the Play Store have largely given Home 1-star reviews, saying that it works well for what it is, but obscures too many useful features of their phones for them to want it as the primary interface.
If you just want the "Chat Heads" messaging interface, that's available via the more widely compatible Facebook Messenger app. Users can download or update that for the new interface.
Luckily, it's easy to install and try out, and will almost certainly be improved and added to as time goes on. Owners of compatible hardware can download Facebook Home here.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
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