The Facebook Messages system is currently out of service globally and “will be back up shortly”, according to the error message on the social networking website. The full message reads as follows: The Messages service is temporarily down for maintenance. We’re constantly working hard to make a better product for you. Please be patient, the system will be back up shortly. A Facebook downtime is a rare event but for a service that now offers email, it can be very disruptive when it stops working completely without any warning....

Back in August wereportedon Facebook’s new standalone messenger app for iOS andAndroid, though the iOS version was available in the US and Canada only. But from today, Facebook users in the UK – all30mof them – can also access theiOS app, which can bedownloadedfor free from the App Store. So what’s the app all about? Well, if you’ve used Facebook’s normal mobile app then you’ll no doubt have experienced the frustrations of accessing messages through the full app, so the Facebook Messenger app is for those who just want the ability to message their Facebook friends easily....

It was only a few hours ago thatwe got windof Facebook’s release of a standalone messaging product called Facebook Messenger for iOS and Android. The app focuses on doing messages and only messages, with the intention of being incredibly convenient instead of robust. If there’s one missing feature, though, it’s video chat integration. Given Facebook’s recent moves with Skype tointegrate video chaton the Facebook site, it would only seem to make sense that you could do video messaging and chat in the Facebook apps, too....

Facebook might actually be good for university students.Online PhD, a site dedicated to helping its readers make important decisions about PhD education and life, states, “Some studies say Facebook is beneficial to students while others say it’s harmful; but taken together the research suggests it all depends on how students use it.” The study surfaces bits of data illustrating just how Facebook is contributing to the long-term success of potential or currently attending university students....

Facebookis all about expressing yourself. You can like bands, films, books and activities and join groups, upload your photos. It’s all about you! Or is it? Facebook is different from other social networks in that it allows for very little variation when it comes to lay-out.Myspaceallowed for a lot of customization. First by simply allowing users to paste CSS-code in their profile, then by offering new lay-outs themselves. Combine the pink backgrounds and glittery unicorns with the big, intrusive adds and you get the messy affair we remember....