The release of an iPad application is part of a move by Facebook to stay in synch with modern lifestyles that revolve increasingly around Internet-linked wireless mobile gadgets.

"Many of you have been asking about Facebook for iPad," Facebook mobile engineer Leon Dubinsky said in a blog post. "It's finally here."

Features added to the Facebook iPad software include being able to chat with friends or watch high-resolution streaming video, according to the engineer.

Facebook also upgraded its iPhone application to allow faster online searches, simpler navigation of pages, and access to more games and other socially-oriented mini-programs, Dubinsky said.

Approximately 800 million people belong to the Palo Alto, California-based social network.

Worldwide advance orders for the iPhone 4S, said to be much faster than its predecessor and with improved video and photo capabilities, set a record for an Apple product, the company said.

"The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched," said Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president, in a statement.

The smart phone, which will sell for between $199 and $399, depending on memory capacity, will be available in Apple stores in the United States from October 14.

It will be available in 22 other countries, including much of Europe, by the end of October.

The 4S was launched on October 4, one day before visionary Apple co-founder and longtime Steve Jobs died following a long battle with cancer. His health failing, Jobs had stepped down as chief executive in August and was replaced by Tim Cook, who presided over the launch of the new iPhone.