mark.bockenstedt.net » TweetDeck http://mark.bockenstedt.net Tech Tips, How-To's, and Miscellaneous Geekery Tue, 19 May 2009 03:05:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 TweetDeck Continually Improves the Twitter Experience http://mark.bockenstedt.net/2008/11/17/tweetdeck-continually-improves-the-twitter-experience/ http://mark.bockenstedt.net/2008/11/17/tweetdeck-continually-improves-the-twitter-experience/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:30:22 +0000 Mark http://mark.bockenstedt.net/?p=527 I’ve used a lot of Twitter applications. I’ve reviewed at least four on this site. I generally don’t stick with a single application for more than a week or two. TweetDeck has become the only exception to that rule – it has changed the way I use Twitter. I started using it back when it was somewhere around version 0.15. Since then, it’s evolved into an extremely powerful tool.

If you haven’t used TweetDeck, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Users of Tweenky will find a number of similarities with TweetDeck, but I think TweetDeck is still the best Twitter client. It puts a ridiculous amount of information right at your fingertips, but does it in a way that’s easy to manage and use. It takes a columnar approach to tweet display and allows you to create columns for a multitude of categories including replies, searches, direct messages, favorites, groups, TwitScoop, and 12seconds.tv.

The latest release of TweetDeck (v 0.20b) came out today and implements a stunning number of fixes and new features. One of my favorite features is the ability to filter a stream based on keywords. You can choose to include or exclude a keyword to refine what’s displayed in that column. Oh, how handy this could have been during the election.

Some of TweetDeck’s most prominent appeal comes from its ability to usefully display a wealth of information. While some argue that there’s too much of a need for desktop real estate, I feel that TweetDeck’s implementation of columns is a perfect approach to enabling multiple streams without having to switch views. You can literally just watch the tweets go by without lifting a finger. Naturally, your experience will vary based on the amount of screen space you let it have, but it’s much better served for use with a widescreen monitor.

A single feature does not make a good Twitter client. Many great features, a solid user base, and listening to user requests has made TweetDeck the best Twitter client on the market today. It is a true power user’s tool, which may ultimately make Twitter noobs shy away from it. Trust me when I say once you’ve learned how to use TweetDeck effectively, you’ll probably never use another desktop Twitter client.

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]]> http://mark.bockenstedt.net/2008/11/17/tweetdeck-continually-improves-the-twitter-experience/feed/ 0 Tweenky Gives TweetDeck Some Competition http://mark.bockenstedt.net/2008/09/03/tweenky-gives-tweetdeck-some-competition/ http://mark.bockenstedt.net/2008/09/03/tweenky-gives-tweetdeck-some-competition/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:37 +0000 Mark http://mark.bockenstedt.net/?p=375 I was tipped off by @microblink last night to a new third-party Twitter service called Tweenky. I was quick to jump onboard with the service knowing nothing about it. After the last few lackluster services I reviewed, I was taking a shot in the dark that this service would be something worthy of reviewing. I have to say, I was not disappointed.

Tweenky has nearly everything I’m looking for in a good Twitter client (post about that to come later this week). It also supports the social network Identi.ca, though it’s kind of auxiliary to the main purpose. Coincidentally, all Twitter features work in Identi.ca too. Rest assured I’ll have a full-fledged review of this site worthy of my reviewing time to come also. But for now, enjoy some screenshots…

Main UI

Fetching Tweets

Fetching Tweets

Search Results

Showing Folder Options

There are a few highlights I’d like to point out:

  • Searching is so easy, it’s foolish not to use it. I preferred to add my searches to Quick Links so they showed up in their own pane. There’s also folder view, but I’m all about concise.
  • Shows hot topics on Twitter (some users are certainly interested in this)
  • Ability to switch views (timeline, replies, your tweets, etc). No direct message reading yet though.
  • The service auto updates and colors certain tweets according to their status as read
  • Colors your tweets a soothing shade of green
  • Did I mention that searching fricken’ rocks?
  • Since it’s a web app (part good, part bad) you only have to set it up once. I’m going to enjoy hitting the site from other locations with my preferences saved.

Updated: Just to clarify the title, comparing Tweenky with TweetDeck is not entirely a fair comparison as the realms of use are entirely different (web-based vs AIR). The competition comes from the features each employs and the user experience that comes from the apps.

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