Facebook took a giant leap into its mobile future today by launching the highly anticipated Facebook for iPad app.

Facebook's app (download here) joins other popular social-networking apps on the iPad including Twitter, Flipboard, and Gowalla, all of which had a heady lead on Facebook.

Facebook for iPad was rumored to arrive at F8, the company's developer conference held late last month, and then it was rumored to arrive at Apple's launch event for the iPhone 4S last week. It was a no-show for both events.

According to Facebook, the "full Facebook experience" is on the iPad--driven by your fingertips on the touch pad. Features include larger photos for a vivid slideshows on-the-go. There's a search bar at the top of the left-hand navigation menu, and groups, lists, games and apps are also located on the left-hand menu, while notifications and messages are at the top of every screen.

Facebook users can take advantage of the iPad's sizable touch screen to video chat with friends, IM, and play games using full-screen mode. Watching and recording HD video is also possible in the app.