In today’s mobile and social news roundup: Facebook phone will be revealed on April 4; Amazon acquires Goodreads; Windows 8 tweaked for smaller tablet compatibility; Softbank and Sprint to abandon Huawei products; and Apple patent hints at flexible screen technology.

Facebook phone will be revealed on April 4

After years of rumors and speculations, it looks like the Facebook phone is finally coming.  In a cryptic invitation sent to the press, the social networking giant wrote, “Come See Our New Home on Android.”  The event is set for Thursday, April 4th at 10AM Pacific Time in 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA.

The rumored Faceboook phone is said to be manufactured in collaboration with HTC,  dubbed the HTC Myst.  What makes the phone a Facebook phone is a dedicated Facebook button that lets you access the social service with the simple touch of a button to update your status, send messages, view notifications and other Facebook features.  Some are also suggesting that it will have a different UI than most HTC phones because of the Facebook integration.  At least we won’t have to wait another year to find out if the previous rumors are true.

Facebook is entering the crowded world of smartphones with a manufacturer that made its mark teaming with Google in Android’s early days.  This could be an interesting opportunity for both Facebook and HTC, but the focus will need to be Consumer Services and Smart Apps if this initiative hopes to differentiate in the market and attract real customers.

Here with more analysis on Facebook’s smartphone as a lifestyle gadget is Senior Managing Editor John Casaretto, who appeared on this morning’s NewsDesk show.

Amazon acquires Goodreads

In an effort to expand its book offerings, Amazon has agreed to acquire social reading site Goodreads for an undisclosed amount.  Goodreads will bring 16 million members and 30,000 books clubs to Amazon.

“Amazon and Goodreads share a passion for reinventing reading,” said Russ Grandinetti, Amazon Vice President, Kindle Content. “Goodreads has helped change how we discover and discuss books and, with Kindle, Amazon has helped expand reading around the world. In addition, both Amazon and Goodreads have helped thousands of authors reach a wider audience and make a better living at their craft. Together we intend to build many new ways to delight readers and authors alike.”

Windows 8 tweaked for smaller tablet compatibility

The hardware specifications of Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform has been silently tweaked to make it compatible for use in 7-inch tablets with a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels at a depth of 32 bits.  If this sounds like great news for partner manufacturers, it isn’t – Microsoft doesn’t want partners to use Windows 8 in tablets with low resolution.

“This doesn’t imply we’re encouraging partners to regularly use a lower screen resolution,” Microsoft said. “In fact, we see customers embracing the higher resolution screens that make a great Windows experience. We understand that partners exploring designs for certain markets could find greater design flexibility helpful.”

If manufacturers aren’t allowed to use it, what’s the point in changing the specifications?  It’s for Microsoft’s smaller tablet or Windows Reader, which is rumored to be in the works for some time now.

Softbank and Sprint to abandon Huawei products

Softbank, a Japanese company that recently acquired 70 percent of Sprint’s stake, and Sprint both promised to ditch using Huawei devices.  Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications company that sells routers and other internet devices, believed to be collaborating with the communist government.  Aside from that, Clearwire has also made the same promise to Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers and  the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States.

Apple patent hints at flexible screen technology

As the possibilities for flexible screen technology continue to rise, Apple keeps adding patents to use the said design in its future products.  In a patent filed way back in September 2011 but only recently published, a device with a wrap-around AMOLED display with face tracking was described.

“A flexible display can be folded in such a way as to form a continuous loop such that images (still or video) can be presented in a wrap-around manner in which the images appear to be presented in a continuous loop,” the patent said.