There’s a lot to pore over with Facebook’s new iPad app and the new HTML5 mobile app platform. But I think Matt Rosoff of Business Insider has keyed in on the most important thing that’s currently being drowned in spin:

Facebook won’t let developers use Facebook Credits on the iPhone or iPad.

Obviously, in the native app, Facebook would have to give a 30% cut to Apple for any purchases made. But what’s important is how much of the app is actually HTML5-based. Facebook is crippling their own HTML5 work here. Fascinating.

Why?

Well, either Facebook doesn’t want to pay Apple the 30% cut of all in-app sales. Or Apple doesn’t want Facebook circumventing their own in-app system. Or both. 

As BI notes, this has likely been a big reason for the hold up of the Facebook iPad app — which such looks to be the exact same one I found and leaked leaked months ago. The one that was feature-complete in May.

You won’t hear a peep on this stuff on the record from either side, but there’s a ton going on behind the scenes here.

WSJ:

Some app developers and analysts believe Facebook’s underlying motivation is to position itself as an alternative development platform for programmers that now tailor mobile apps specifically for Apple’s iOS operating system or Google Inc.’s Android. Technology blog TechCrunch reported that Facebook is working on a mobile platform dubbed “Project Titan” that was designed to bypass Apple by using the HTML5 technology that works with the iPhone and iPad’s mobile browser, Safari.

Well, they totally fucked up the project name — but at least that was a real Facebook project. “Titan” was the codename for what becomes Messages. “Spartan” is the name they’re looking for here.

Also, I’m still confused by the WSJ’s linking rules. They link to their own stuff, but no one else, even when citing them.