(Image source: Into Mobile)

BY YUTAKA HAYASHI

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

Ever since a giant leak sprung back in July --- iPad users have been anticipating the official Facebook iPad app. But as of the F8 conference last week -- still no official word. Now, we may have an inkling of when it’ll be released. According to Mashable:

“Facebook will launch its long-awaited iPad app at Apple’s iPhone 5 launch event on Oct. 4, Mashable has learned. In addition to the iPad app, Facebook is also expected to release a revamped version of its iPhone app and may unveil an HTML5-based mobile app marketplace.”

Some techies are finding that bit of news -- hard to believe.  PC Mag notes -- these two companies have been seemingly at odds for a while.

“When Apple unveiled iOS 5 at a June event, it showed deeper integration with Twitter, but not Facebook. On top of that,Steve Jobs had reportedly said that the reason Apple debuted its own social network, Ping, was because Facebook's conditions for being integrated into iTunes were ‘onerous.’”

NBC Los Angeles talks with an analyst who agrees -- if the reports are true -- tech makes for strange bedfellows.

“It’s no secret that the two companies have been in odds with each other over a lot of issues including patents during the past two years, but Facebook and Apple need each other. Facebook doesn’t have a mobile platform, Apple doesn’t have a social platform, but reportedly the relationship is a lot more chummy than we think.”

Chummy is right. Techcrunch reports, Facebook might also be working with Apple on its HTML5 Project -- which was initially thought to be intended to take on Apple.  It speculates on the reasons:

“Maybe it’s because Apple hates Google that much, or maybe it’s because they realize that HTML5 apps are still no real threat to the native app movement. Or maybe they want Facebook’s wildly popular social games to run inside of Facebook’s apps — including the iPad app.”

Now, inquiring minds want to know -- will this alliance of Apple and Facebook last long?
A blogger for The New York Times doesn’t think so:

“More news and confirmation of the iPad application’s existence will surely put a fire underneath both Apple and Facebook. But when you have two of the largest companies in technology battling for control and integration of their respective networks, there’s definitely going to be some bloodshed along the way.”