Facebook releasing faster app for Android devices

Facebook has announced that a faster version of its Android app will be released Thursday.

The Menlo Park-based social network said Facebook for Android 2.0 is twice as fast as its predecessor when opening photos and when you go into your Timeline profile. Additionally, Facebook said the new app also launches more quickly.

Facebook said it rebuilt the app’s News Feed, notifications and the Timeline feature in order to make it quicker.

PHOTOS: Top 10 tech products of 2012

The update for the Android Facebook app isn’t immediately available, but Facebook said users can have a link to the app texted to their phone when the new app becomes available later Thursday.

Facebook for Android 2.0 is the latest in a series of big app launches in the last 24 hours.

Late Wednesday night, Google launched Google Maps for iPhone, and early Thursday, Amazon brought its Instant Video app to the iPhone as well.

ALSO:

Google Maps returns to iPhone; iPad app coming soon

Court rules Apple iPhone infringes Sony and Nokia patents

Google makes porn harder to find with image search algorithm change