Posts tagged Twitter
Twitter For Android Launches, Is Basic
Apr 30th
Twitter for Android just launched.
That’s awesome!
But, is it? Does it compete with the established brands such as Touiteur, Twidroid, even Seesmic? Well, it does sync your Twitter contacts with your Google contacts. That’s pretty neat. It does have list support, trending topics, search, location support, etc. And it surely has a nice design.
But I won’t use it. It’s just not all that usable for me. I will definitely mess around with it a bit more, but without things like multiple account support, colour tagging and in-app browser, it will likely sit unused, syncing the few people I share on Twitter with my contact list. Shame, too.
Check it out in the Android Marketplace.
Hit the break for another pic.
Android App Review: Touiteur
Mar 10th
LevelUp Studio is the creator of one of the most popular widget application suites for Android, Beautiful Widgets. They add a wide range of attractive functionality to the Android home screen. Touiteur (pronounced “Twitter” with a French accent) is a new Twitter application from LevelUp that gives users another beautiful and functional way to browse and update Twitter seamlessly.
There are two ways to tweet in the app: the first is by pressing the Tweet button at the bottom left of the screen, and choosing the option. The other, more seamless way, uses the seldom-used Android option of sliding down an option bar. By dragging your finger over this bar, it exposes a text input box that lets you tweet without losing your spot on the timeline. The same functionality exists for @replies and Direct Messages, including auto-completion of usernames.
When you tap on a tweet, below it appears a dynamic icon line which lets you Reply, Retweet, and DM. By pressing Links it gives all the web links and hashtags that appear in the tweet. You also have the option of showing the user’s profile, to favorite, to share via email, and to add the text to the clipboard.
One of the best things about the app is that it is fast. Really fast. Compared to its closest rival, Twicca (in terms of direct feature and look comparison) it loads your timeline at least twice as fast. Newer versions have improved speed across the board as well.
The Pro version includes multiple accounts, though the implementation is haphazard, and I would prefer it the way some other clients, like HootSuite, do it. In Touiteur, different accounts are differentiated via colored lines on the side of each tweet. These colors are completely customizable in the options menu, which is a nice touch, though.
One of the nicest features included in Touiteur is the ability to follow a conversation you’ve been having with someone. When you press on either a reply someone has made to you, or you to someone else, in your timeline, your previous conversation will show up below the tweets. I cannot stress how helpful this was for me, and it was the first Twitter client I’ve used that supports this.
Other features include auto URL-shortening and auto picture hosting support, which is standard in most Twitter apps now. Widget support is also included, which means adding a dynamic moving list of tweets to your homescreen, which can be very helpful when you just want to check your newest tweets without having to open the program.
I would like to see some geo-tagging support in a future update, as well as the ability to separate accounts into different timelines. The developer seems to be actively developing the program, and claims that features such as TwitLonger support is on the way.
Compared to other Twitter apps on the Android platform, I think Touiteur is among the best. While it doesn’t have the same name recognition as Seesmic or the new-to-Marketplace Hootsuite, it improves upon them with its speed, attractive and functional interface.
Rating: 8/10
UberTwitter likes change
Mar 2nd
Did you guys see Unbreakable? You know, that M. Night Shyamalan (yea, that’s actually how it’s spelled – I had to look it up) movie from a decade ago with Bruce Willis playing a super hero – though he doesn’t know it at first. At the end of the movie, the villain (played by Samuel MotherF*n Jackson) gives a monologue about how he and Willis are the exact opposites (Willis being invincible – except for water, which is the most pathetic weakness ever and Jackson being more fragile than an icicle).
Why am I talking about this? Because these two polar opposites relate nicely to updates from my preferred Twitter app (SocialScope) and the one I used to use (UberTwitter). Getting a SS update is about as hard as getting the app itself, where as UT freely available and updated all the time.
I am curious though, how much can really be changed when you update something this often. I mean, obviously things change. If they didn’t, someone would notice and call them on it.
As all the Twitter apps move forward, there are a set of, almost, required features they have to have in order to stay relevant. Things like, making/managing lists, adding avatars from your phone or less battery/memory drain so I’m going to be focusing on the big steps UT has made lately.
One thing UT added recently (added in beta 6, bug-fixed in beta 7) was the integration with TwitLonger. This allows you to send tweets longer than 140 characters and automatically provides a link in your tweet to your miniature opus. This is really useful when retweeting or adding any sort of link and is the biggest reason I still have UT on my phone, even though it isn’t running unless I need to tweet something long.
Ok, wow. I was just reading over the .945 change log and I found the coolest thing ever – whatthetrend.com. You know how sometimes you seen a trending topic and have no idea who/why/what it is? This site tells you, and it now works with UT. For example, #Seuss is a trending topic because today is Dr. Seuss’ birthday! (Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss!!)
So where would I rank UT, personally? As I mentioned before, I’m a huge SocialScope fan. However, I was all about UberTwitter up until I got my invite. Having not tried Tweetissimo yet, I’d say UberTwitter is my second favorite app, but will always be on my phone. You know, just in case I have a lot to say.
Follow me on twitter
New Contest! Who do you wish had Twitter?
Mar 1st
When Cell Guru asked me to come up with a new contest, I wanted to do something fun and really pick your brains.
I know most, if not all, of you have seen Fight Club (don’t give me any of that “I read the book and it was better” crap… I did too and it wasn’t even Palahniuk’s best work – Survivor FTW) and the same number have a Twitter account. Well I watched it while I was doing laundry the other day and I’ve always loved the “who would you fight” question.
So here is my question: What person from history (past or present) do you wish had Twitter and what would you love to see them tweet?
Maybe you’d like to see da Vinci mention he just painted the “some chick with the craziest smile”, or Martin Luther tweet the location of his 95 Theses (think he’d use foursquare?).
Possibly Nero tweeting a joke about “starting fires under the people of Rome” or even a Noah “looks like rain” comment?
So let’s hear it guys and gals. You know the drill: you leave comments and we give out prizes. This time we’ve teamed up cellunlock.net to give out 50 – yes, 5 0 – unlock codes to our favorite comments.
The contest will run until Friday at midnight with the winners announced Sunday evening.
Happy commenting!
Follow me on twitterTwitter for BlackBerry vs SocialScope
Feb 19th
It’s been just over a week since Twitter for BlackBerry came out so I figured it’s about time to compare it to my preferred Twitter app: SocialScope.
I’m only going to be comparing the similar functions of the two apps so even though SS carries Flickr (anyone use this? what’s it for?) and foursquare support, I won’t be discussing them further than this sentence that ends right here.
After waiting for months for a SS invite, I finally got one on Christmas Eve (talk about timing!). I actually got it from a friend who had an extra – like my own personal Santa. With most BB apps, it’s the little things I appreciate. For example, SS puts all of the tweets I send facing the opposite direction (the people I follow show up avatar then tweet; mine show up tweet then avatar), making it easier to find my own tweets; T4BB doesn’t have this option. SS also has the option for 2 accounts, though it’s possible T4BB will add this feature in the future.
Also, SS (and UberTwitter – haven’t used any others significantly to vouch for) use different colors for @replies and DM’s in your timeline (replies are yellow, DM’s are blue) to help them stand out.
One area T4BB totally beats SS is with software updates. It’s only been a week, but T4BB has already updated their app (though rather minimally) where as SS updates are as hard to get as, well, the app itself. Another is that T4BB alerts you to new tweets via your Messages folder (“opening” the message opens T4BB) which is also nice.
As far as appearances go, both apps look clean and polished, as you would expect from any app really.
SS also has significantly more options in the settings menu. You can choose how tweets are displayed (username or actual name), what service you use for uploading images, image caching, etc.
I really don’t see myself leaving SS, but you never know. We’ll just have to wait and see what RIM does with their app
So what do you guys think? Like SocialScope? Or Twitter for BlackBerry? Or maybe you prefer UberTiwtter? Or even Seesmic?
Leave some comments and let us know!
RIM Twitter For BlackBerry Released; Leaked
Feb 11th
The long awaited, long rumored Twitter client from Research In Motion launched today. While initially the application was only given out to a select “Beta” testers via invite code, it certainly did not take long to reach hands of others. Many have downloaded and installed the app and Twitter time lines are filling up with the “Twitter For BlackBerry” branding but most seem to have mixed feelings on it. The UI is kind of alright and it’s certainly laggy to say the least but, the saving grace there for RIM I suppose is that it’s a beta.
Additional features are expected to be added over time but for now, it is what it is. Another option that some may choose but others will pass over while using what is already out there and working fine. We checked it out and have our thoughts on it..but if you were one of the ones that got either the official or leaked release, let us know how you all feel about it. Win or bust folks?
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