I know many of you have been eagerly anticipating the newest version of the official Facebook app, which we teased last month (on Facebook, natch.)

Well, the wait is over: The update—version 2.5, officially—just showed up in Marketplace and carries some tasty additions. Most of you probably already have this app in your arsenal. If not, what better time to grab it. Here’s some of what’s new or improved:

• Threaded messaging: Full Facebook threaded messaging, including group messaging.
• Better tagging: Now you can tag friends and locations in your posts in the “with” and “at” format.
• Wall cleanup: Use tap and hold to delete posts and comments from your Wall.
• Hot links: Links in posts are now tappable.
• More to “Like”: You can now Like comments,

Download Facebook 2.5

P.S. If you’re unable to download the new app or update the one on your phone, make sure your phone has Windows Phone 7.5 installed, See this post for more details or Update Central for installation instructions.

We think our Start screen is pretty sweet. But have you ever seen a cake shaped like a Windows Phone? Our fans have shared a few on Facebook, so we thought it’d be fun to throw a contest for the best Windows Phone inspired cake.

You can submit a cake and vote for your favorite on our Cake Contest Facebook page. So pre-heat your oven or call the bakery, because the top 3 cakes with the most likes will win a brand new Windows Phone.      

Here’s how to enter:

1. Create a Windows Phone-inspired cake.
2. Submit a photo of your cake on our Cake Contest Facebook page. (You can also submit a photo of a cake you made in the past, as long as you’re the baker.)

Entries must be received by Wednesday, May 30. Voting ends June 6. Our lawyers pinned the contest’s official rules here on SkyDrive, if you want to check them out. (Click View Folder if you don’t see them immediately.)

We can’t wait to see your creations. Good luck!

Today’s the day. This afternoon we started requiring Windows Phone 7.5 on phones to download, buy, update, or review apps in Marketplace. As I’ve written previously, this change applies to both the phone and web Marketplace storefronts. (If you’re just tuning in, please read my earlier post for the full details on why we’re implementing this new requirement.)

Most phones are already running Windows Phone 7.5, which was released last fall, and so most of you won’t notice anything different about how the Marketplace works. However, if your phone has an earlier version of our software installed, you’ll soon start seeing an error message when you try to download a new app, or update one you already own. (I say “soon" because it will take a day or two for the changes we made today to take effect.)

If you do get the error, all you need to do is install the free Windows Phone 7.5 update. You’ll find all the information you need to do that, including an update checklist and easy step-by-step instructions, on Update Central. (Not sure if you have Windows Phone 7.5 installed? Here’s how to check.)

By the way, even if you don’t use Marketplace, there are still lots of great reasons to update. We made hundreds of improvements, big and small, in Windows Phone 7.5. Here’s just a sampling of what I mean. So I’d encourage you to set aside time to update your phone for that reason alone.

You might have noticed that we had a promotion over the weekend – sign up for our newsletter, and get a free Xbox avatar prop:

We thought it was a cool little incentive. You guys did too, given the number of new signups we saw, and apparently others agreed – it showed up on a variety of sites.

Then, someone abused the system, and ended up reserving all of the remaining codes for themselves so that actual users were left in the dust and when some people tried to get their avatar gear, it was already taken. We even saw the codes show up on ebay.

We are flattered that our avatar prop is so popular, but frustrated that someone abused the system to reserve a bunch of codes for themselves and shut out legitimate users in the process. We’ve now ended the promotion for the skateboard. If you signed up for the newsletter (thanks, BTW!), got the invite for the gear and weren’t able to redeem your code, we will be making it right: we will send you a code in the next few days for a different prop (a Windows Phone foam finger):

Our fans have created some fantastic Windows Phone wallpapers over the years. Today we’re unveiling a new nature series from Windows Phone fan and London-based graphic designer Levi Freeman. What’s unique about these is that they’re the first to carry our design team’s official seal of approval. We also hope they’re the first of many collaboration efforts with artists to come.

Visit Levi’s site to grab the entire set of eight for your lock screen. You can see a few of my favorites below.

To use the ones Levi created, you’ll first need to save his photos to your phone. If you’re reading his post on your PC, use your phone to scan the QR code for the wallpaper you want, tap and hold the image, then tap Save Picture. If you’re reading his blog on your phone, just tap the QR code image, then tap and hold the wallpaper and save it to your phone. Finally, this how-to article shows you how to change wallpapers on your lock screen.

Turns out there’s also an interesting backstory to the wallpapers. Besides being a Windows Phone fan, Levi, 25, is a recent graduate of the University of Arts London, one of Europe’s largest art and design schools. Last year his work caught the eye of Albert Shum, who runs the Windows Phone design studio. The two arranged to meet briefly while Albert was in London for Nokia World last October.

I’ll let Levi pick up the story from here. Visit his site to read more about him and what happened next. On his blog you can find also out more about the inspiration and locations for each shot. Let us know what you think. Which one is your favorite?