Facebook to launch iPad specific App after all?

After Mark Zuckerberg commented that the iPad is ‘not a mobile device’, it seemed pretty clear that Facebook would not be launching an iPad optimised App and a number of third party apps appeared to weakly fill the gap.

But now the The New York Times‘ technology blog is reporting that Facebook is about to release a free iPad App after all, and that Mark Zuckerberg has been ‘”heavily invested in the process, overseeing design decisions and the app’s unique features”.

People who have seen the application said it has a slick design that has been tailored for the iPad and its touchscreen interface. Facebook developers and designers have also overhauled the Facebook Chat and Facebook Groups features for the application. And the app will go beyond the features available on the Facebook Web site by allowing users to shoot and upload photos and videos directly from the iPad’s built-in cameras.

Its not clear what would of changed the Facebook founder’s mind, but you have to assume that ever increasing iPad userbase, poor experience of the 2x zoomed iPhone App and lack of functionality on the Touch version has finally made Mark relent and authorise the App development.