Status updates and notifications

I would love more ability to interact passively. 
That is seeing status updates and posting status updates, even getting notifications of them of people I am following or who are in any common groups we are in. 
Also a better way to view pics. Maybe thumbnails that you can click on to expand. That would be awesome. Indeed if you could mimic the look of the old GF site that would be a wet dream.

Thanks,
ZZ!