• expired

[Chrome] Free: FB Classic Chrome Extension (Normally $5) @ Gumroad

200
ozbargain

While I like aspects of Facebook's new design, I found some glitches e.g. comments on pictures weren't visible, poor resolution on suggested videos etc., and overall I felt that there wasn't enough 'visual separation' between the different parts. So I was a bit annoyed when they forced me to the new design and removed the button.

This little extension (chrome-only, Firefox coming soon) disguises your chrome browser as an older version, for which Facebook will then send the old design. It only does this when talking to Facebook, not other sites.

I've set the normal price at $5 because I thought I'd see how it goes with a Facebook ad campaign, and of course that'll cost money to run. I haven't done that yet; ozbargain is my first stop (since you guys have given me so many discounts)! If you miss this deal (it expires tomorrow), a Facebook share will bring down the normal price to $1.

As an aside, this is also a something of a developer's experiment in monetizing a chrome extension, since Google removed the ability for chrome extension authors to charge via the chrome webstore earlier this year.

Instructions
  1. Follow the link and enter the coupon code above at checkout, which will bring the price down to $0.
  2. You'll be emailed a license key.
  3. Install the chrome extension. You'll automatically get a 24-hour free trial.
  4. When you browse to Facebook.com you should get a dialog with a 'purchase' button and a license key; enter the license key from your email.

If you like it, please upvote it here and rate it 5* on the chrome extension's page. If you have issues, please PM me and I'll try to respond as best I can.

Related Stores

fbclassic.app
fbclassic.app
gum.co
gum.co

closed Comments

  • +8

    https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/22/21451111/google-paid-chro…

    Google is shutting down paid Chrome extensions offered on the Chrome Web Store, the company announced today. That means that developers who are trying to monetize their extensions will have to do so with other payment-handling systems.

    As of Monday, developers can no longer make new paid extensions, according to Google — though that’s cementing a policy that has already been in place since March. And that policy follows a temporary suspension of publishing paid extensions in January after Google noticed an uptick in fraudulent transactions that “aim[ed] to exploit users.”

    • Yep that's what I'm talking about. The article's a tiny bit misleading, you can make new paid extensions and trials, it's just that Google's chrome extension API and google's webstore don't support it any more. So I'm experimenting using Gumroad; I had to use a slight hack but it looks good so far. This method is completely OK by Google : "There are many other ways to monetize your extensions, and if you currently use Chrome Web Store payments, you’ll need to migrate to one of them."

      The authoritative source is https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/cws-payments-deprecation.

  • +3

    Most likely I am too oldschool… but not entire sure why anyone would install a plugin like this.

    It can:
    Read and change your data on all facebook.com sites, all fbclassic.app sites and api.gumroad.com
    Read you browsing history

    • +3

      Yep it requires that permission in order to work at all, but you're absolutely right to be wary of browser extensions in general.

      To be honest I don't know why it warns about browsing history permission, the code doesn't even look at your browsing history. But of course it needs to know when you're looking at Facebook and changes the HTTP headers, that's kind of the point of the whole thing.

  • you;re joking right? I fully appreciate the attempt of improving the FB experience, but given how dynamic FB is in changing all these as we speak, I wonder if you would even stand a chance in keeping up with that. You're up against an army of thousands of engineers. And to be fair, UI will improve over time as they iron out bugs etc, but that thinking is well beyond 'I just like the old look…'

    • True enough. It's for people like myself, not for everyone! It's not the new look that got me, it's the large fonts and lack of visual separation. And yeah, this may break at some point (the extension itself warns about that). To each his/her own.

      • yeah UI isn't all that great. but it will change pretty fast.

      • Well I totally appreciate it.

        This is the first FB UX change I didn't like. I think there is too much spacing in the 1920 X 1080 resolution.

  • +2

    Judging by them saying that 'it works by making your browser pretend to be an older version of Chrome', you can achieve the same effect using something like User-Agent Switcher extension, which is made by Google.

  • +11

    unpopular opinion, but this change of UI by FB is the best opportunity to stop using FB for good.

  • +4

    Ozbargain is the only social media we need

  • +5

    Wow. There is a bit of hate in these comments.

    Well done on creating an app and I hope it works out well for you!

    • +5

      Thanks! I didn't see it as hate, but really appreciate your kind words.

  • I started using this one the other day which is free: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/old-layout-for-fac…

  • +1

    thanks. will give it a try. i don't necessarily mind the new interface and dark mode but there so many things from the old UI that i miss in the new one.

  • I've been on the new look for a few months now and the only thing I don't like is that I'm limited to 2 open chat windows at once. Otherwise it's fine, and dark mode is a godsend.

  • +1

    Thanks I hate the new Facebook.

  • +1

    Thanks for this Mike!

    • +1

      Thanks for the review!

Login or Join to leave a comment