• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, May 9, 2013

Facebook on Thursday released a new version of Facebook Home, its software overlay for Android phones. The update was rolled out along with a new Facebook app for Android in the Google Play Store.

Receiving less than enthusiastic reviews following its launch last month, Home has been installed on Android devices 1 million times to date, according to Facebook. Meanwhile, HTC has slashed the price on the HTC First -- which served as a showcase device for Facebook Home -- from $99 to 99 cents.

In contrast to the HTC One, the First was widely panned by reviewers. With less than 10,000 units sold in its first three days of availability, at least one financial analyst called the First “pretty much dead” already. Fortunately for Facebook, Home is available on other Android models, including the HTC One.

The company said it is planning additional improvements to Home in the coming weeks, but that today’s launch will include bug fixes. The app has earned a rating of two out of five stars in Google Play to date.