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Most Nickelback fans I know are addicted to their music, but ashamed to admit it. That’s how I feel about Facebook. There’s so much I hate about it, but I’m addicted. It’s an easy way to keep up with my friends and acquaintances.
However, one of the things I hate about Facebook is the mobile app. Until recently, it felt like Facebook really missed a ton of great design possibilities. That being said, I like trying out other takes on what Facebook could be like on a mobile device. Spatio is a whole different take on Facebook: it’s Holo-themed, supports multiple accounts and offers a whole different take on your Newsfeed. Is it for you? Read on to find out. (more…)
Earlier this week, we published a recap of our favorite Android Twitter clients. Some of our team members love the unique look of Falcon Pro, others the versatility of Plume, and others the simplicity of the official Twitter client.
These were the most popular choices, but there were a lot of other less obvious picks as well, ranging from the old and still excellent Twicca to the new and promising Robird. We realize the choice of a favorite Twitter app is unique for each of us, depending on our uses and needs, so that’s why we ask you: what Twitter client do you use?
Since the timid beginnings of the Android platform, we have seen several Twitter clients rise and soar, some falling quickly, others garnering a loyal fanbase and developing further. From the good ol’ Tweetdeck and Seesmic to the shiny new Falcon Pro and Tweetings, passing by the ever-present and ever-loved Plume, there’s no shortage of Twitter client choice and you’d be hard-pressed to find a topic that ignites passionate debates as much as the “best Twitter client” conversation. Mention that once, and you’ll have a slew of replies from people naming one of dozens of different apps and discussing how excellent their choice is.
On Android.Appstorm, we’ve long ago recognized that there’s really no definite answer to the question. As long as there are developers out there coding new clients, we will try them and we will review them for you. We also reckon that every client is flawed and perfect at the same time. Because there are as many different Twitter usages as there are Twitter users, any app can be excellent for a particular person but simply dreadful for another. That’s why, over the past couple of months, we have shared with you our favorite clients in our “My Twitter Client” series.
Below, you will find quick links to some of our writer’s picks, where they explain what they need in a Twitter app, the reasons for their choice and what they love about it. I’ve also added links to some of our most recent reviews, for a more complete overview of the Twitter options landscape. Check them out, and let us know in the comments which app you use and why.
Team’s Favorite Twitter Clients
- Richard Moss: Plume
- Mark Wilson: Janetter
- Abhimanyu Ghoshal: Twicca
- Md Saim Fattah: Tweetings
- Robert Iagar: Twitter
- Joe Casabona: Robird
- Rita El Khoury: Twitter, Falcon Pro and Plume
Other Twitter Client Reviews
I still remember having a few heated debates back in 2008 with social media advocates about the future of Twitter. At the time, although I had an account on the service, I had never used it. Instead, I was a firm believer that Jaiku — which Google later bought and used as a stepping stone for Buzz and Google+ — would prevail because of its native support for conversations. Twitter was a chaotic mess, with no way to follow a conversation back. But oh how things change!
In 2009, I had abandoned Jaiku and moved to Twitter. But when I switched to Android 2 years ago, the sheer amount of Twitter clients had me befuddled for months until I settled on the official app. Then I got bored, tried several alternatives again, used some for a while, dismissed others quickly… And up to this day, I don’t think there is one Twitter Android client to rule them all, so I use the official Twitter app on my phone, Falcon Pro on my tablet, and Plume on my Android TV stick. Read on to find out why.
When it comes to Twitter clients I bounce around a lot — on all platforms. Heck on the desktop I use TweetDeck even though I’m not a huge fan of it. I haven’t really found a free app that I really like and I really don’t want to pay a ton of money for a client when the service itself is free. On Android, I’ve run the gamut: Twitter’s official app, Twicca, Carbon, Tweetlanes, Falcon, Tweetdeck, and more. Each, while good, left me wanting something more. Then I found out about Robird.
Before I entered the social part of the Internet, I was reluctant to share any kind of information. I can’t really remember how it all changed, it’s funny, because it wasn’t even that long ago — four or five years. Now I’ve got an account basically on every website I visit on a daily basis, including social sites. This means Facebook, Google+ and let’s not forget about twitter. At first, I was attracted to the idea of micro-blogging: sharing things you do as they happen, without the need of logging them or remembering them at the end of the day was different, and quite intriguing. Even though news sites and blogs use Twitter to spread the word about their published articles, it is still that micro-blogging service that we all know and love.
As with all services out there, Twitter has an API (Application Programming Interface) that enables application developers to create countless applications for viewing feeds and analyzing data. Devs have done just that and there are numerous clients on the Play Store that cater to different types of users. The one that caught my attention was Twitter’s own application and today I’ll try and share with you why I use it and not any other third party application.
The perfect Twitter app would only exist in a utopian world where all the users have similar requirements and the same standards of judgment. Utopia is a myth and so is the existence of a perfect Twitter app. This realization though, took a long time and numerous Twitter clients, in coming. There is not a single Twitter app worth its salt on the Play Store that I have not tried. From the well known to the obscure, I have tested them all, liked some, hated many but loved none. After much ado, I came to the conclusion of sticking to the client that comes closest to fulfilling all of my Twitter needs, which brings me to Tweetings.
Tweetings, obviously, has all the usual features of a Twitter client well in place, placing it on par with most other clients and making it perfectly capable of being used as your default app. However, there are two telling features of Tweetings that tilt the balance decisively in its favor and clinch the deal for me.
With the recent mushrooming of Twitter apps like Falcon, Carbon and Tweetings, it is becoming hard for developers to differentiate their apps and offer unique features. Many focus on power users and implement advanced functions, such as multi-account support and Tweet Marker compatibility.
TweetLine, however, takes a very different approach and emphasizes simplicity and customization: no more complicated screens, overcrowded timelines and hard-to read tweets. It’s all numbed down to an easy-to-use interface that requires very few taps to get something done. The interface is also designed to fit your personal needs, as columns and colors are fully customizable.
With so many social networks and cloud storage services out there, it can become ridiculously hard to manage them all. Many of us are trying to be everywhere at once, while others just wish everyone else would make up their minds where the best virtual hangout is. Some are torn between their Facebook and Twitter friends, or can’t decide whether to post that photo on Instagram or Photobucket. It can all become overwhelming very fast.
Fortunately, a number of developers have had these same thoughts and aimed to help consolidate your life in the cloud. There are apps that help you post to multiple networks at the same time, apps that let you see all your friends social activity in one place, apps that help you collaborate with colleagues regardless of what tools they choose, and even apps to help you keep your own content in order. This post will highlight a few of these to help you make the most of your life in the cloud.
Let me save you the trouble and say what’s already on your mind: Twicca is old-school. Like Froyo-level old-school. In fact, it’s probably one of the few apps that I began using when I got my first Android device and continue to use even now — and I think the reason behind that is because I still use Twitter the same way I did back then.
On Android, I’m not a Twitter power user; I save the heavy lifting for web apps on my desktop, which is where I’m parked for most of the day. What I need is something that’s quick, easy to use and allows me to focus on reading tweets when I’m in between appointments, running mundane errands, or commuting.
