Facebook Update: Creative Labs' Slingshot, Rooms, Riffs Removed from iOS App Store, Google Play Store
The latest Facebook update announces that Creative Labs division will be shut down. Alongside this decision is the removal of several apps created by the team.
According to Phone Arena, Facebook just announced the deletion of at least three applications made by Creative Labs, a division of the company whose "only job was to (at least try to) be innovative (or, failing that, rip off someone else's good idea.)" MacWorld shared that this section of Facebook is responsible for making unique standalone apps.
With the latest Facebook news, three of these Creative Labs apps were recently pulled out from major app stores, Google Play Store and iOS App Store. One of the deleted apps is Slingshot, which is the social network giant's own version of the highly-successful Snapchat app that offers short-lived messages.
Riff, a collaborative app for videos, was one of three apps deleted from major app stores. However, those who have already downloaded Riff and Slingshot can still use them as Facebook has not yet announced the final posting day for these apps.
Another one of Creative Labs' unsuccessful app that has already been removed is the one-year-old Rooms, which is Facebook's effort to create a Group system and bring back chat rooms or web forums. The report from The Verge shared that the app was not able to gain any traction and joining the forums strangely requires taking screenshots of QR Codes.
Facebook noted that Rooms will continue to service those who have the application until Dec. 23. Meanwhile, Paper apps from Creative Labs is the last one standing. It is still available in the app stores, but updates have not been made since March.
The future is still a blur for this alternative News Feed browser app from Creative Labs, but with Facebook shutting down the division, updates may not come for Paper anymore, The Verge also noted. Below is a review for Facebook's Paper app from Tech Crunch:
Despite this latest Facebook update, the social giant said that it will persist to support small teams working on standalone apps like efforts for Instagram's Hyperlapse and Layout. Furthermore, the social network said that users can expect integration of some of these standalone apps on the Facebook flagship app.
For instance, Paper's design and feel were used when Facebook launched Instant articles. "Since their launches, we've incorporated elements of Slingshot, Riff and Rooms into the Facebook for iOS and Android apps," a Facebook spokesperson said.
This Facebook update follows previous news that Dropbox is shutting down two of its apps, Mailbox, the company's email app, as well as Carousel, which is used for accessing and sharing photos saved in Dropbox, a separate Phone Arena report noted.
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of latinpost.com