Facebook Timeline, a new profile design, has been announced at the F8 developer conference by founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The new Timeline function acts like a totally redesigned Facebook profile, which Zuckerberg described as a "new way to explain who you are". The new look Facebook acts like a time-based scrolling website, the idea is that the most recent stories and information you have posted are covered in full, but the further you go down, the smaller the stories. 

The top of the timeline is taken up by what we presume is a full screen profile picture. To the bottom left is the usual profile information: employer, location, etc. Dates themselves appear down the centre of the Timeline and split into two separate halves. 

"This is exactly how you want to browse through time", said Zuckerberg. Timeline brings better unity and easier navigation to those who have been using Facebook for several years. 

Everything is now embedded into the new look profile: apps, video, posts, photos, everything you are used to doing with Facebook. 

Filters at the top of the page called Timeline Views allow you to select individual content on the website so you can pick and choose specific updates, items, photos, topics or even locations, using a map. 

Applications are now also handled differently using the Open graph app infrastructure. They can be incorporated directly into the Timeline, being featured in a box at the top of the Timeline showing everything you have done with an app. 

The redesign is a major change for Facebook, which has adopted predominantly the same profile design and website look since 2008. Facebook Timeline will be rolling out progressively over the next few months.

UPDATE: The Timeline beta period begins now for developers. Music, movies, TV and news will also go live now. For those who want to know more about Timeline, Facebook has made an introductory video which is now live on its website. 

Users can ask to be added to the Timeline via Facebook and will find it goes live as it is rolled out globally, or you can head over and explore a bit for yourself on the Introducing Timeline page.