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How to access Facebook's new HTML5 Web app on the iPad

In proper fashion, Facebook didn't make the new HTML5 web app available for the iPad, leaving users to the bulky desktop site while browsing in Safari. But with this trick, you can use Facebook's HTML5 Web site on your iPad, too.

Sharon Profis Vice President of Content, CNET Studios
As the Vice President of CNET Studios, Sharon leads the video, social, editorial design, and branded content teams. Before this role, Sharon led content development and launched new verticals for CNET, including Wellness, Money, and How To. A tech expert herself, she's reviewed and covered countless products, hosted hundreds of videos, and appeared on shows like Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, and the Today Show. An industry expert, Sharon is a recurring Best of Beauty Awards judge for Allure. Sharon is an avid chef and hosts the cooking segment 'Farm to Fork' on PBS nationwide. She's developed and published hundreds of recipes.
Credentials
  • Webby Award ("How To, Explainer, and DIY Video"); Folio Changemaker Award, 2020
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Sharon Profis

After much delay, Facebook finally rolled out a native app for the iPad, pleasing those who, until now, have relied on third-party apps and the regular Web site for Facebook stalking.

Because of the anticipation (and endless rumors) about the iPad app release, many people missed another exciting piece of news: Facebook also implemented a new mobile Web site for phones, which boasts a very attractive, easy-to-navigate HTML5 interface.

In proper fashion, Facebook didn't make the new HTML5 web app available for the iPad, leaving users to the bulky desktop site while browsing in Safari. However, with this trick, you can use Facebook's HTML5 Web site on your iPad, too.

Facebook's HTML5 app on the iPad. Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET.
To execute this, we'll make m.facebook.com think that your iPad is actually an iPhone. Here's how:
  • Go to the app store and download Atomic Web Browser ($0.99). This browser not only lets you change the browser identity (to iPhone), but also has other cool features like tabbed browsing, downloading files, Dropbox intefration, ad blocking, and more that Safari for iPad lacks.
  • Launch Atomic Web Browser and tap the gears icon to the left of the address bar. Select "Identify Browser As" then "Mobile Safari - iPhone".
  • Now head to m.facebook.com in Atomic and enjoy the new HTML5 site.
Use Atomic Web Browser to set the browser identity to iPhone. Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET.

Now you can keep tabs on Facebook in a friendly, HTML5 interface without leaving your browser.