If you’re Android user and happen to own a compatible phone, there’s a good chance that you’ve already tried Facebook Home – once – then immediately uninstalled it because it really sucks.  This is why Facebook has decided to pull the app from Google Play – so no new user can download it and see how bad it is.

But don’t think that’s the end of Home – Facebook intends to look at the negative feedback and come up with something better that its fans will truly love – or so they hope.

No fuss about that since Facebook isn’t really gaining or losing much from Home anyway – the free downloadable Android launcher is so far only available for the Samsung Galaxy S III and Note II, and the HTC One, One X, One X+, and of course, the original “Facebook phone”, the HTC First.

But unfortunately, this is going to cause a lot of problems for poor old HTC…

Facebook Home Goes Home

HTC, in collaboration with Facebook, created the HTC First specifically to carry Facebook’s new home on Android – it’s the only smartphone that comes with Facebook Home pre-installed.  Suffice to say, the device didn’t do particularly well in the US, launching on AT&T with a $99 pricetag with a two-year contract, only to see that price quickly reduced to a pitiful ¢99 due to almost non-existent sales.

Now, the final nail in the HTC First’s coffin has come from Facebook itself. The social media giant has just requested that its European partners hold off on launching the device.

“We’ve listened to feedback from users on their experience using Home,” said the company in a statement.

“While many people love it, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback about how to make Home substantially better. As a result we’re focusing the next few months on adding customization features that address the feedback we received.”

The question now is, what’s HTC’s take on Facebook’s European request?  Was it informed? Or did Facebook go behind HTC’s back for the second time in less than a month?

Backstabbers?

According to some sources, HTC and Facebook had an agreement that before making the Home app available for download, HTC would be given ample time to market and sell the HTC First as the only device that would have Home.  The plan was that if you wanted to try Facebook Home, you’d have to purchase HTC First.  Unfortunately, Facebook did a double take and pulled the rug under HTC’s feet, making the app available the same day that the First went on sale.  Of course, this completely screwed things up for HTC – if you’re a consumer, why spend cash on a dedicated Facebook phone when you can just install the app for free?

Facebook Home hit 500,000 downloads in less than two weeks after it was launched on Google Play, but unfortunately, not many were fond of it.  Good thing Facebook included a “try once” option, because apparently that’s what most people did. Tried it once, decided it sucked, and quickly forgot about it.

So what about those unfortunate souls who did buy the HTC First?  Well, sorry to say this but like HTC, you’re doomed unless Facebook comes up with a better version and updates the First with it.  Facebook will probably still support the HTC First, deliver updates and all, but in all honesty it’s not much better than a guinea pig.