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What's that? You're not on Twitter? Get out. From Will Smith to surgeons--freakin' surgeons!--millions of people worldwide are using this popular online service to offer up brief, 140-character descriptions of the key events in their fascinating lives. And you too could join the bandwagon/party/mayhem, but you sure aren't going to do it from Twitter's Web page. That just wouldn't be very Maximum PC of you when a host of other options exist for pulling an up-to-the-second ton information out of this living, breathing Web entity.
So join us as we explore five of the top Twitter clients. If you like what you see, perhaps you'll even be so inspired as to write your very own "Tweet," or "Twit," or "message" about your software adventures! Just promise you won't do it from the operating table, ok?
What it does: TweetDeck is the Alpha and the Omega of Twitter desktop clients. Why, you ask? Because this awesome application allows you to split Twitter feeds into a columnar format. Want to stash your personal Twitter messages into one column? Go ahead! Want to set up a separate live feed of all the @ replies that are coming your way? Easy. You can even organize a continuously updating feed based around a particular search word or phrase. This application is a must-have for crazy Twitter organizers... or those who just want the world's information at their fingers, instantly!
Download it here!
What it does: Twirl is the power user's Twitter application. Not only can you use it to sockpuppe... er... engage the community with multiple Twitter accounts at once, but Twirl also helps you cross-post your updates to a variety of other Web platforms, including MySpace, Facebook, and Linkedin. The program will automatically pull up any Twitter message that contains your user name, and helps you shorten your URLs and post pictures using add-on sources like is.gd and TwitPic. In short, Twhirl is a great tool for minimizing the time you need to make an awesome Twitter post.
Download it here!
What it does: TwitterFox isn't so much a standalone application as it is a Firefox extension. We still enjoy the simplicity of this Twitter notification program. Whenever one of your friends posts a new message, a little window pops up in the corner of your browser a la VH1's Pop-Up Video or, um, a common instant message. When you click on the program's icon, a miniature Twitter-listing pops up to tell you all of the recent messages you have to read, any @ replies you've received, and any direct messages that your fans have sent you.
Download it here!
What it does: We would chastise ourselves if we didn't mention this ultra-functional IM application as one of the best Twitter-interactive programs we've seen. Though we might be wrong in calling it an IM app, because it's hard to tell just what exactly is Digsby's key feature. The program just does too much! You can use it to receive pop-up, IM-style notifications of everything that's happening across a variety of your online communities: Facebook, AIM, your POP or IMAP e-mail, Twitter... the list is nearly endless. This is the perfect app for the person who's a member of too many online communities.
Download it here!
What it does: Blu might not win our hearts for its featureset, as this Twitter client comes with basic functionality: the ability to read your Twitter page, check out your replies and direct messages, and update your Twitter with whatever you're doing. We're nevertheless including this program on our list because it looks good--and we mean good. The floating client window is touched with a hint of transparency in addition to its overall look and feel, lending your desktop a touch of artistic flair. Updating your Twitter forces a little typing box to pop up, featuring a lovely numeric display of the "characters remaining" as part of the background of the window. We don't often trade features for gorgeous UI, but we'll make an exception for Blu.
Download it here!
Comments are closed on this article
n0ctis
February 23, 2009 at 2:36pm
Twitterbar for Firefox is my favorite Tweeting tool. You simply punch your tweet into Firefox's address bar and hit the very small, very out-of-the-way button in the bar and POOF: tweet.
http://twitpic.com/1nlye@skotnoctis
cloudberryman
February 24, 2009 at 3:07am
We have recently released a free Twitter add-on for IE called TweetIE, it works for IE 6,7 and 8. I hope the readers of this blog will find it interesting. http://chilp.it/tweetie I would also appreciate if the author of this blog could review our plug-in
n0ctis
February 24, 2009 at 7:57am
"author of this blog"
That's a sweeping, generic, copy and paste piece of advertising you're putting in comment threads, isn't it?
Google says so! There the exact phrasing is on vnunet and pcmag.com as well.
NT_
February 23, 2009 at 2:27pm
Twitter is many things to many people but is definitely worth your time, no matter your age or interests. I thought the entire concept was completely absurd until some of my favorite gaming podcasters lost their jobs, and the only way to "continue the conversation" was to follow them on Twitter. Despite believing that most Web 2.0 solutions are utter rubbish, I've really grown to appreciate the service.
Even though I almost exclusively follow gamers and a few tech people, there is a striking immediacy -- a focus on the present -- that is quite revolutionary. For example, MaximumPC's own @willsmith passed along THE striking cell-phone photo of the downed plane in the Hudson within (at most) three hours after the accident, and the pic wasn't seen on CNN.com until the next morning. If you find a group of people to follow that have common interests, you will be surprised how entertaining, informative and even educational Twitter can be.
The basic functions of the web interface are simple, but a few weeks of exploration are necessary to start understanding the culture, etiquette and to find your own "little corner of the internet". Twitter's help is a little lacking, but you'll get a lot of information about Twitter through Twitter. The web interface is your training wheel set, and once you've gotten your balance, look at some of the clients above.
I currently use twirl at home and TwitterFox at work. TweetDeck is definitely the most sophisticated app that I've used, but, with my presently focused feed, some features are unnecessary and twirl is fine. At work, I have vendors and sales people dropping in unexpectedly, so I use TwitterFox for its low profile. Bottom line, there are many ways to control your access to Twitter, and each seems to be free, so just experiment!
Twitter is bite-sized life in motion. Sample, snack or gorge as you will.
@NT_
Dirty Harry
February 26, 2009 at 3:58am
I'm with Gordon on Twitter. Total waste of time... who reallys gives a flying f**k what you're doing, call them or email and tell them... geez.
spoontr
February 23, 2009 at 2:54pm
I have to cast my vote for DestroyTwitter. It's got the functionality of TweetDeck, and the option to turn it off, in case you don't want such a monitor space-suck. Not to mention, it's got an interface very reminiscent of a clean Adobe interface.
