Hubze, a do-it-yourself Facebook fan page creation service, offered its services using FBML (Facebook markup language) before iframes came on the scene. It still offers its FMBL service, however. When you create a design, the service will generate the design in FBML code, which you will then import into a backend Facebook application for programmers.
We evaluated Hubze's iFrame Engine ProPlus package, which is a service that does not require programming expertise, but it still comes in handy. Hubze offers a tool for inserting HTML code or JavaScript into each component of its templates. In February 2011, Facebook established iFrames that allow programmers to use regular coding languages such as HTML and JavaScript to modify Facebook pages. As a result, companies like Hubze have now been able to develop do-it-yourself tab-creation services that allow the public to create custom Facebook pages.
Photoshop knowledge is a requirement for using this service. Each of Hubze's Facebook templates include varying pixel widths, and any images that you upload need to meet the indicated pixel dimensions. That means you need to be able to customize your images in an external graphics application such as Photoshop.
Hubze offers a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) design interface that allows you to upload your own images. It also allows you to add hyperlinks to text. You can edit or delete the tabs you've created using its service even after the tabs have gone live, which is a feature that not all services provide. However, it does not allow you to customize your tab names or add a hotspot on images.
Hubze offers seven basic templates with varying column widths and image placements. However, its templates do not include clip art. It offers some widgets but very few of the business-savvy tools that its competitors provide. For example, it allows you to upload videos and background music, and it provides tools for building a custom contact form. But it does not enable you to upload a map, a photo collage, a Twitter feed, or an RSS feed from your blog.
Hubze provides step-by-step video tutorials within each of its templates. However, the tutorials are only available once you have purchased its services. Unlike many of its competitors, Hubze does not provide a free entry-level package, nor does it offer a free trial. Its ProPlus package requires an upfront payment that will cover you for the first year.
Navigating Hubze's design interface is fairly straightforward, mostly because its templates all have a very basic structure. The templates give you font, point size and color options. You can change the text alignment and bold, italicize or underline your text. Its interface does require that you to know how to use Photoshop in order to size your images using pixel measurements. But we are pleased to say that publishing a Facebook tab with Hubze is a smooth process.
Hubze does not have any contact information on its website. The only way we could contact them was by posting a message on Hubze's Facebook page. Once we did so, a member of the company's staff was very helpful in accommodating us. We exchanged messages through Facebook with the representative until we received the information we needed.
Hubze's website does provide tutorials and articles, but it does not provide a section with answers to frequently asked questions. The video tutorial on the homepage is somewhat outdated, describing its FBML services instead of its more recent and user-friendly addition that doesn't require programming knowledge. To have access to its tech support team and most of its tutorials you must first purchase its services.
Although programming knowledge is not required to use Hubze's iFrame Engine services, Hubze still caters to programmers, both in the design of its web interface and the targeted audience in its tutorials, which make its instructions less than clear for average users. Basic Photoshop skills are a requirement if you want to add any specialized content to your Facebook fan page. Finally, we would like to see Hubze add contact information to its website to assure its customers that their investments are secure.
