That said, Facebook's official iPad app shouldn't merely recreate its iPhone interface. The iPad obviously offers a lot more screen real estate, and Facebook should exploit it. Just like Twitter and Mail show sidebars on the iPad that don't appear on the iPhone, Facebook should consider making core navigation elements permanent on the iPad. And if Facebook can figure out a way to keep Facebook Chat omnipresent throughout the app--just as it does on the website today--that will be excellent. I could imagine a Words With Friends-style popover chat window that's always in the app's top bar, incrementing your unread message count.

Facebook set the bar high for itself by creating (and regularly updating) a truly impressive iPhone app. Thus, I have high hopes for Facebook's iPad app. Given just how long the company's taken to work on the app, I hope it's taken the time to perfect it. With any luck, we'll know soon enough.