Facebook iPad app may be out of timing

Facebook's delay over its iPad app may have had as much to do with synchronizing with Apple as disputes with it, a rumor floated on Monday. The updated universal app is now believed by Mashable to be unveiled at the October 4 event for the iPhone 5. Apple's gathering is expected to introduce iOS 5 as well and may show an improved interface for the iPhone-sized version.

Whether or not there was anything new coming with iOS 5 wasn't apparent, nor was why Facebook left the app out of its f8 conference. The Timeline and expansion of the Open Graph may have risked overshadowing the iPad app. The software itself might also have the opportunity to take advantage of Open Graph for new features.

The pair of sources for the new details reinforced talk of Apple being in a spat with Facebook after demands the social network made for access to users. Twitter's iOS 5 integration may have been the culmination of that division.

Apple may have changed its mind with the advent of Google+, the sources said. Both Apple and Facebook are determined to beat Google, and the two could fill each other's respective gaps in social and mobile. Help with Project Spartan may have reflected this, as Apple was willing to encourage HTML5 apps and hurt Google favorite Adobe's Flash than protect some App Store sales.

Facebook is often considered one of the most important iPhone app developers and continues to be a major contributor to App Store downloads. Apple is rumored to consider this important for the iPad, even with alternatives like Friendly filling some of the role.

By Electronista Staff