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Facebook almost identically copies Google Plus photo viewer

Facebook is pushing out a new photo viewer that many may have seen recently, maybe not, as it’s still pretty new. If you use Google Plus, the wider view photo viewer may look familiar to you.

The new Facebook photo viewer is wider and shows comments parallel to the photo, lined up nicely. The new photo viewer looks really good too. It’s in a shadow box which makes the images pop and comments easily accessible, without having to scroll down the page as you did before.

If you use Google Plus, you would recognize that this is basically the same exactly design that is used on the Google social network. The main difference is that Google uses a black opaque background in their shadow box and Facebook uses a semi-transparent background. I actually like Facebook’s version better. Also on Google Plus the comments are a bit more over to the right of the image.

It’s pretty commonplace for websites to copy each others works. Facebook copied Myspace, Myspace copied Facebook, Twitter copied Facebook, Google Plus copied Diaspora, Facebook copies Google Plus, the circle is endless. I just noticed the new photo viewer and thought it was comical and wanted to point it out.


Exhibit A: Google Plus photo viewer


Exhibit B: Facebook new photo viewer