Filed under: Web services, Apple, Shareware, iPhone, web 2.0
Tweetsville: Is this the daddy of all iPhone Twitter clients?
It wasn't too long ago that I chose Twitterrific as one of my favourite three applications for the iPhone as part of our 'Favourite Apps' series. Even then, there were plenty of alternatives out there for you to use: Twinkle, Twittelator [and Twittelator Pro]. However the release of Tweetsville today appears to have changed my mind as my Twitter client of choice.The most noticeable difference between Tweetsville and its competitiors is that the application sticks to a very conventional user interface: users will be instantly familiar with most of the controls, and a hybrid of both the iPod and Mail-esque look to the application [along with some nice touches that shows you posting tweets as messages 'To the Twitterverse'] mean you'll feel instantly at home.
On top of the nice little touches, there's TwitPic integration for posting photos and linking to them in tweets, a customisable toolbar [and two timeline views to pick from], not to mention built-in support for Twitter Search and Twitter Trends - Twitter's two biggest service additions recently.
Even though there's almost every feature you could need on the go, it's utterly intuitive to use and almost instantly has become my de-facto iPhone Twitter client: sorry Twitterrific.
Gallery: Tweetsville
Some will be unhappy without there being a free version to try - though it's worth remembering the application costs just $3.99, which isn't exactly bank-breaking - and there's no inline @replies to be found in one of the two timeline views. It's also worth pointing out that other clients include features for re-tweeting links. Despite these [admittedly few] pitfalls, for a true Twitter control panel that has almost all the features you need - along with a clean, familiar and above-all thought-out user interface - I can't help but give Tweetsville a very firm thumbs-up.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Scott said 7:18AM on 11-14-2008
I wouldn't shake off Twitterrific just yet. It seems the Tweetsville feature to take a photo and upload it to Twitpic is broken and fails when tried. I'm sure the Twitpic upload will be fixed but come on, de-facto iPhone Twitter client? it's too early to call that one.
And yes, it would be nice to have a 'lite' version for those that like to "try before you buy" because although $3.99 wont break the bank it sure hurts when you purchase a product that wont do what other free apps will.
I'll give Tweetsville a fair try since I have already bought but I'll also keep Twitterrific on my phone as well.
Reply
Matt Shaw said 12:12PM on 11-14-2008
It should come as no surprise that the developer of Tweetsville is a former and no current again Apple employee working on the iTunes team. This app has been crafted and developed with real care and superb attention to detail as to how one uses the app.
Secondly unlike apps such as Twitterific or Twinkle the UI paradigms are consistent with other native iPhone apps which may make it more a more attractive proposition to those who would reject other apps for having too flashy a UI.
I have switched to this as my default Twitter app mainly because everything I need of it and nothing more. I also don't think the price nor the lack of a free light version are significant issues, at this price (Less than a pint of beer at London prices) it is almost a throw away expense.
Reply
Steve Daly said 10:31AM on 12-02-2008
I read this article and quickly purchased and installed the application. I enjoyed it - while it worked. It no longer works and crashes when I click on the timeline link.
I posted my problem on their GetSatisfaction page and got a quick response that they are working on the problem. Hopefully they will get an update done soon. It's back to Twitterific for now.
Reply