Facebook updates iPhone app to include new Gifts feature

Facebook is beefing up its iPhone and iPad app Monday with an update that will add several handy features for gift giving and managing photographs.

Most notably, the Menlo Park, Calif.-based social network said users of the iOS app will now be able to use the Gifts feature Facebook introduced for its website back in September. That feature lets users buy and send real presents to their friends, particularly when its for their birthdays.

The Gifts feature on the iOS app will be available only for U.S. users, the company said.

Additionally, the Facebook iOS app will now let users upload multiple pictures at the same time. This is a feature the company is migrating over from its Facebook Camera app.

Facebook is also drawing features from its Messenger app.

Now users will be able to swipe left anywhere on the app to quickly see who is available for instant messaging. Users will also be able to mark which of their friends are their favorites in order to pin them to the top of the list of people who are online.

Users can get the new features from the app store Monday when the update becomes available. No word on when these features will arrive on the Android version of the Facebook app.

ALSO:

Instagram becomes more like Facebook with ‘Web profiles’

Apple loses ground in tablet market; Samsung and Amazon gain

Apple sells 3 million iPad minis, fourth-gen iPads in debut weekend