Interesting post today on the Facebook developer blog regarding the roadmap. The post noted that, among other things:
We are also moving toward IFrames instead of FBML for both canvas applications and Page tabs. As a part of this process, we will be standardizing on a small set of core FBML tags that will work with both applications on Facebook and external Web pages via our JavaScript SDK, effectively eliminating the technical difference between developing an application on and off Facebook.com.
We will begin supporting IFrames for Page tabs in the next few months. Developers building canvas applications should start using IFrames immediately. By the end of this year, we will no longer allow new FBML applications to be created, so all new canvas applications and Page tabs will have to be based on IFrames and our JavaScript SDK. We will, however, continue to support existing implementations of the older authentication mechanism as well as FBML on Page tabs and applications.
Finally, due to low usage rates, we will remove application tabs from user profiles in the next couple months. Application tabs will continue to be supported on Facebook Pages.
Good thing I finally got around to updating WPBook to support FBML-based tabs, just in time for them to be discontinued. ;)
Oh well, once they allow iFrames on tabs we’ll get the ability to do things like embedded videos. But then they’ll take tabs away from individual profiles? So individual profiles won’t have boxes or tabs?
I guess that will just encourage anyone really using WordPress as a platform for promoting their blog will end up creating a page, and then using the tab in the page?
You can see a timeline of some of the updates here: Developer Roadmap
They also changed the developer app again:
We’ve also spent some time cleaning up some of our developer tools and documentation. We’ve simplified the Developer application by removing obsolete settings and tabs
So the instructions for WPBook which I just updated last weekend will need updating again to match the new settings look & feel. Ah the joys of depending on a third party platform . . .
I’m getting pretty sick and fed up of FB continually moving the goalposts. There are tons of unfixed bugs in the system but they just keep re-inventing things and don’t seem to understand that what they think is “cool” is just a nightmare for the rest of us.
I feel regret that FB will remove Tab from Profile. I think they want to see more pages in FB because Pages may use ads rather than Personal profile and when people create pages they will try to draw more FB users.
Wish they could support developers with more robust tools than changing there code like underware , but probably they are on the run to fix all the holes with more restrictions .