Facebook F8 Opening Keynote: Live Updates

Last Update: 17:53 GMT

Michael Huang opened up in the main hall, waiting for Mark Zuckerberg to take to the stage, showing just how far the platform and the event has grown since it first launched back in 2007. There will be nearly 3000 developers, 44 partners and more over the next two days, celebrating the current progress of Facebook and more importantly, discussing the future of the platform. Everyone from Zynga to Trip Advisor will be here, as well as Oculus, automotive companies, mobile companies and a few “stealth brands” that are set to reveal what they’re working on.

17:05 GMT

The event is a little late to start, seeing as people can’t find their seats, but we’re hearing a lot of rumours flooding in that there will be some very cool stuff on show.

17:06 GMT

Mark Zuckerberg has just taken to the stage and F8 is now officially under way.

More that 50 billion pieces of content, more than $8 billion paid out to app developers and more than 90% of the top apps in the world are integrated with Facebook. There’s no doubt that the platform is huge, with a more than a billion users around the world. Mark went on to discuss how they’ve continued to improve platform stability over the last year and how they aim to improve even further in the near future. He’s also gone on to discuss how they’ve worked to reduce malware on Facebook, as well how they’ve helped prevent developers requesting more app permissions from your devices than is really need, now said to be down 50% vs last year.

 17:15 GMT

Mark went on to detail the number of users for each of their platforms.

Now preparing to discuss future products and projects for Facebook.

Mark is now discussing VR. How we used to text, how we upload photos, how we have started sharing more videos and soon, how we’ll be sharing Oculus Rift ready Spherical Videos. More information on Spherical Videos here.

17:23 GMT

Revealed their new Messenger Platform, which will further unify Facebook, sharing and apps, as well as offer you more dynamic ways to keeping in touch with friends and content.

17:25 GMT

Messenger Business. A new way to contact businesses. Need to get shipping details, complain, get price info, find out store information? I think Facebook just revealed what sounds like a futuristic call center, but where the companies manage their own contact system. This could save you from making awkward calls to companies that you would rather avoid.

17:41

More information on the new Messenger Platform here.

17:53

Facebook developers are now discussing Parse, development of apps and the Facebook mobile platforms. We’re about to take a short break, but we’ll be back as soon as anything cool is revealed. Keep in mind, this event is on for two days! So we doubt that all the best stuff has been revealed in the first hour.