Facebook launches 60 Timeline apps

Facebook has launched 60 new 'timeline' apps - applications that post updates in real time about what people are doing, and also add updates to people's Timeline, The Daily Mail reported.

Facebook claims the update - live from today - will allow users to 'personalise' their page more, adding updates that reflect their interests, and sharing them with your friends list, or with lists you authorise for each app.

It has potential to be a radical change to how people view the site, with food fans able to share recipes and restaurant reviews with other users, and book fans able to automatically 'share' what ebooks they've read.

As ever with Facebook, there are privacy concerns.

Many sites recommend vetting apps carefully to see what they will post, and creating lists of friends to 'share' certain updates with, rather than bombarding your whole friends list.

Tech site CNET warns, 'Once you install the app and authorize it to post stories on your profile and News Feed, it'll never ask for your permission again.'

The update - live today - will be a huge overhaul for most people's experience of Facebook. The site's algortihm with try to predict posts you are interested in based on your apps and posts, and will prioritise both your news feed, and your own Timeline based on this.

The profile of a foodie will feel distinctly different to the profile of a bookworm, for instance.

Up until now, Timeline apps tended to be largely about music.

After the site's recent overhaul, applications such as Spotify started to post updates saying 'This person is listening to...' which appear in Facebook's news ticker.

But the idea - and the number of updates - is set to go much bigger. The new apps will add updates about cooking, eating, films, concerts, books and travelling.