Major revamp may come to Facebook, Messenger, Instagram for iOS soon

Here’s reason to rejoice for Facebook users on iOS. According to a report, Facebook seems to be in the midst of prepping major updates for iOS applications that will also see a deeper integration of the social network’s pet feature Graph Search.

A report by 9to5Mac has ascertained that Facebook will be releasing a major update for not just its native iOS application but also for its Messenger application on iOS. Interestingly, the report suggests that Facebook is testing two new versions of Messenger for iOS. One of the designs will be heavy on white space and will be a cozy fit with Apple’s newly redesigned iOS 7 ecosystem. The second design is reportedly more in line with Apple’s native messaging feature, including green interface elements.

Major update coming soon?

As far as the native app update goes, Facebook is apparently testing an updated version of not just its main iPhone application but also the apps for iPad and iPod touch. This new version will integrate Facebook’s pet Graph Search application that the company launched with much fanfare earlier this year. If and when this update becomes official, users will be able to make the same kind of searches using their iPhones that they did on the web. The Graph Search feature is extremely useful to get Facebook to answer specific questions like, “My friends who like Metallica” or “My friends who are going to the reunion event,” and more.

The report says that besides these new app updates, Facebook is also going over the Instagram app with fine tooth comb and is mulling over including several new video filters to it. While it isn’t clear when the updates are going to roll out, Facebook is said to be keeping these enhancements in a “dogfooding” stage.

Another news that has emerged in relation to these updates is that while Facebook lampooned some of Apple’s employees last year to help it build better software for iOS and Facebook Home for Android, one of the most important of those hires, Greg Novic, has decided to head back to Cupertino based Apple. Novic had been working on the original iPhone software and was responsible for developing the first Phone and Mail apps for iOS. With Facebook, he was working on rebuilding the app for iOS. Now when he heads back to Apple, rumour has it that he will work with the company’s werarables segment.