Facebook’s iOS app has been criticized for being slow, balky and not nearly as useful as the website. Using the app on an iPhone has been, quite frankly, a toss up between which is more difficult to use — the app or the website on that 3.5-inch screen. The social network aims to alleviate some of those issues with Facebook 5.

Facebook 5 (free) is now available on the App Store and there are reasons to be hopeful this whole-number update addresses long-standing usability issues.

“We’ve rebuilt the app so it’s faster and easier to use,” writes Facebook of version 5.

New features, improvements:

• Scrolling through news feed is faster than ever
• New banner lets you tap to quickly see more stories – no need to refresh
• Photos open fast and close with one downward swipe
• Instant access to your notifications
• Now coded in iOS native Objective C

For what it’s worth, Facebook 5 on the iPad looks very much like the website, which could be a good thing.

Download Facebook 5 and let us know what works and what still still stinks.

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