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View and send messages on the desktop page

View and send messages on the desktop page

Vote: (11 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Aluxian

Version: 3.1.6

Works under: Mac

Also available for Windows

Vote:

Program license

(11 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Aluxian

3.1.6

Works under:

Also available for

Mac

Windows

Pros

  • Lightweight. It's just the Messenger part of Facebook.
  • No need to use a web browser.
  • Facebook options are shared by the app.

Cons

  • May have fewer features than the browser version of Facebook.

What is the Messenger for Desktop App?

This is a standalone app for the Facebook Messenger system. You can use it on Mac desktops and Macbooks, or anything running a compatible version of Mac OSX.

This is not for Apple's mobile devices such as the iPhone or iPad line of products. Those run on IOS. A good way to figure out which apps you should be downloading is to know whether the device is running IOS or Mac.

There is a Windows version as well, but this download is specifically for Mac OSX.

With this app, you don't need to open Facebook to check messages. That's great if you don't want to open Safari or another browser, or if you don't want to get dragged into wasting time on Timeline and post drama.

Of course, there's always Messenger drama.

What's the difference between Messenger Apps and Messenger in Facebook?

Most of the functions available in Facebook are also in this app. That said, the built-in Facebook app receives updates and new features faster.

This is because Facebook was originally built as a browser platform. That means it was originally designed to be seen in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and other popular browsers.

It's easier for Facebook to push a new feature through the browser-based system and even take the feature away without breaking everything. When it comes to apps, there's a completely different team available.

While it's possible for the app coding teams to create the same changes at the same time, that's not good business or coding team practice. The browser version is basically a test market or guinea pig while being the main system at the same time.

App versions will wait until the main version has been tested and has some feedback from the general public. While in most situations this would be a backwards way to develop a system, Facebook use is actually quite casual.

Most features won't destroy the way that people use Facebook--at least not immediately. If the update doesn't take the entire site down, at most a few people will be annoyed at change or miss something that was taken away.

The app team can observe--or more likely, be given instructions about observations--and update the app as needed. Apps are products that are shipped out, and need that careful planning.

Another issue is that apps need to be approved by the app store or app manager. For both this Mac version and the IOS mobile version, Apple needs to approve the update.

Facebook, like many companies, is successful and powerful enough that it doesn't really matter. They're not going to make a major mistake that easily, and even if they did, most people know that it'll be fixed or rolled back to a previous version.

While smaller developers may have their apps removed from the app store or iTunes, Facebook will simply look ridiculous and held responsible. That is, unless it takes too long or if a major security exploit hits the general public.

When you notice that a feature isn't on the app, it will likely arrive later. If the app somehow has a feature that the main Facebook messenger doesn't happen, there could be a few rare reasons.

Every coding language has subtle differences, and one system may be able to pull off tricks easier than the other. Or, you're actually looking at an old feature that was remove from the browser version, but not yet taken from the app.

It's all up to Facebook's discretion. If you like a feature, speak up to the developer via their official feedback channels; the help center or writing a Facebook status to Facebook won't go anywhere.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Lightweight. It's just the Messenger part of Facebook.
  • No need to use a web browser.
  • Facebook options are shared by the app.

Cons

  • May have fewer features than the browser version of Facebook.