'Tweetie' to 'Twitter'

From: @macnamara_MB

I knew this was coming ever since Twitter bought Tweetie. And guessed it wouldn’t be long until its launch when Tweetie was removed from the App Store on May 19th 2010.

On May 20th 2010, the official Twitter app was available world-wide. It is the official Twitter app, which has caused some concern for developers of other Twitter apps. The seller is listed as Twitter, Inc.

Here are a few quick notes on the new app based on just a quick look and my experience so far …

Note: The version number is 3.0 – the ultimate acknowledgement of the Tweetie to Twitter changeover. It is also, now, a completely FREE app as opposed to £1.19 previously.

It installed as an update to Tweetie, rather than a new app. I suppose that’s to be expected, but it did not behave like a nice, friendly update and carry over account settings. I had two accounts setup in Tweetie version 2.0, but was welcomed as a brand new user in the Twitter app – prompted to create a new account or sign in to an existing one. Not a huge thing, but a bit of a nuisance.

A cool new feature that you notice right away is that the app lets you use Twitter (or look at it might be a better way of saying it) without logging in and lets you sign up for a new account within the app. Frequent tweeters will know that you can’t usually see anything other than a couple of tweets on the homepage without an account.

There is now a dedicated Re-tweet button on the app’s bottom action bar – that’s quite handy. Then again, if you prefer the ‘old-school’ style using RT @username you still have to go to the ‘Quote Tweet’ option.

Sadly, there are reports that Twitter may be filtering out search results that include the ‘RT @username’ syntax. If true, that seems an over-the-top, and kind of nasty tactic. Why not let users choose how they like to use the service, (within reason)? Twitter has long been about the micro cultures which arise from which app or service you use to access the network.

The Follow / Un-follow button has been moved up to near the top of the user profile page, a nice change as it makes it quicker and easier to take this common action. The app also offers a Suggested Users list, divided into categories by topic area … something I think is quite cool.

Twitter is listed as a universal app, compatible with iPhone (OS 3 or later), iPod Touch, and the iPad, but there is no full-on iPad version yet. On the iPad this one still appears at iPhone size, with only the typical 2X scaled up mode to run on the full iPad screen.

Hope they bring an iPad version out soon, as there’s no real killer Twitter app for the device yet.

You can find the Twitter app in the App Store now, and as said it is completely FREE now.

This is my view on the NEW Twitter App, I look forward to reading yours.

Tweet me @Macnamara_MB or comment the blog.