I have pretty much tried all the different Mac and iPhone Twitter apps out there right now. But I can’t seem to settle on one for my Mac and one for my iPhone that are going to fulfill each of my important Twitter needs. So I’ve decided to put together my list of grievances below and hope the authors of these services work on some of these issues I outline. Happy tweeting!
Tweetdeck
Along with Twitterific this was one of the first Twitter clients I started with on my Mac. I like the interface, ability to change its colors, and of course something it had before anyone else in the game did - groups. However now that Twitter has published its lists it makes it a moot point. Seems as if Tweetdeck is stating they will integrate lists into their app. How I wonder. Do away with their groups? Certainly doesn’t make sense to keep both. However it’s their iPhone app that bugs me. They just announced an update (after a loooooong time without one! are you listening Tweetdeck peoples) that integrates video recording but only 12 seconds of it because they use the website 12seconds. Seriously? I didn’t buy a mobile phone with video capabilities to have my video chopped to 12 seconds! And I won’t be able to upload the vid to any other site, just their choice of 12seconds. No other iPhone app that has video support made this horrible call. And horrible it is! Also I have been clamoring for them to add either Instapaper or Read It Later support. This is something I’m pretty sure every other iPhone app that anyone actually uses has. Nope - not in this version. I did inquire about its addition and the makers of Tweetdeck were gracious enough to inform me that they would consider it for their next version. Consider a major addition that all other apps have that is a deal breaker for some people and easy to incorporate into your app? Ouch. They’re painfully slow in updating their iPhone app (well except maybe for Tweetie) so I don’t expect any update too soon after this minor update they’ve made. As it is, Tweetdeck stays off my iPhone and since I can’t run it on my iPhone it will stay closed on my Mac for now as well. Sorry guys…
Tweetie
I really like Tweetie and their iPhone update Tweetie 2. I really want to LOVE Tweetie also. But the company is soooooo slow in updating both its Mac and iPhone apps it frustrates me to no end. Tweetie on my iPhone does have better video support, and lovely integrates Instapaper as well (Yay!) However I hate shopping. And I’m one stop shopper. I want to see my Mac app and my iPhone app talk to each other. I mean isn’t that the whole point? Mobility as our number one source of energy?!? I need to see Tweetie integrate that before they become my choice on both my platforms. The Mac app is very nice looking, has a tab for favorites (Echofon wake up!), and seems to integrate most of what I need in my desktop app. The iPhone app pretty much does it all, no complaints here. However here is my issue: Because they are sooooo slow in incorporating updates to both platforms I just don’t know when I will see the integration to allow both to process my last read tweet so I don’t have to scroll and figure out where I left off (highly annoying) or the new Twitter lists feature. That’s what scares me the most about Tweetie. If they integate both of those things quickly they would be my, and i venture to say most peoples choice for both platforms. Sadly to say with their track record I don’t see it happening too soon so don’t hold your breath ;)
Twitterific
Sad. Almost like a death. Their Mac app, which I think may have actually been the first one out of the gate a while back for desktop apps, is like a 87 year old grandmother who has the ability to walk yet she’s so old really needs a wheelchair otherwise someone may get hurt - and it’ll probably be you! That’s my feelings on their Mac app. Compared to almost every Mac app out there today it is woefully inadequate and unusable. It doesn’t communicate with the iPhone app which I must say is quite wonderful. The iPhone app has pretty much everything you need to work with. Great UI! Easy to use and figure out is nuances. However doesn’t yet (or ever) communicate with desktop app. Big problem. Also yet to support lists feature. Same problem I have with Tweetie I have with Twitterific. I’m just not sure why these two companies, when Twitter right now is the biggest thing out there since sliced bread, are so painfully slow in updating their platforms. Boggles my mind. Tweetdeck, Echofon, Seesmic, Twittelator, even Eventbox (soon to be renamed Socialite) and Nambu update more frequently. C’mon guys… We’re waiting.
Echofon
Let me just say that or the past few weeks I have been juggling both the Mac and iPhone app on and off. Their integration is petty sweet and the only one I have seem to find where the iPhone, Mac AND their web app all talk to each other thru push services. Nice! The web app actually sits on my bottom menu bar in Firefox at work and is a pleasure to read. However no access to my favorites. Bad! The iPhone is very useful and pretty much has all options you need. The UI isn’t my favorite. Not as clean looking as Tweetie and not as colorful as Twitterific. The Mac app is what seems to be lagging behind. No lists integration just yet (hey I understand it’s new! hehe) but my biggest issue is on the Mac app there is no tab for favorites. This is a deal breaker for me. Every other Mac app has a way you can pull up your favorites. Why doesn’t Echofon have one? They have the option o their iPhone app, but not on their Mac or web app. I must say this is very very odd. WOuld seem to be a minor fix. Response I’ve gotten from Echofon is that it isn’t there yet. Well yeah duh I could figure that out myself - I’d just rather know why and if they are planning on adding it something before I die ;)
Seesmic
Again communication between apps is important to me. I really like Seesmic (but, like Tweetdeck, could do without memory-hogging Adobe Air platform). However their web app and their Mac app don’t communicate. Their Mac app doesn’t have smooth scrolling which makes scrolling pretty painful. mac app also doesn’t have ability to read newest tweet without having to figure out the last one you read first option. Ouch. They seem to now have been one of the first to start integration of new lists feature so kudos to them and it seems to work fine (although I’d like to be able to have each list autorefresh, less work intensive if that was available and hopefully they work on that). But killer for me - no iPhone app. It has said coming soon on their website forever! And there has been no blog or tweet update about it so no telling when this will be released.
Twittelator
This one is easy: needs a Mac app. The iPhone app does more than any other iPhone app out there in regards to Twitter, and they are working on integrating lists into their iPhone app. But needs a Mac app for social and mobile integration. I love the iPhone app; however until (or if) a Mac app is adding it has to stay off my iPhone (but I’d love to have it back on so Twittelator guys if you’re reading this show us some love!)
Socialite (AKA Eventbox)
This software was bought out so its not fair yet to mark up its misgivings. However no iPhone app has been noted by the company. Bummer. The BETA of what they are working to include in Socialte on the Mac seems promising. Loving the Google Reader RSS integration! However I will have to wait and see what finish product looks like prior to giving my true opinion. If it remains a standalone Mac app then I’m not sure how much use I will have for it, unfortunately.
There are a few others out there but the above are the ones I have spent the most time with. I’m still so confused. Which one(s) do I use?!? Here’s to hoping one of these companies swoops down like a fairy godmother and makes all my dreams come true! (well, or at least my Twitter reality) ;)
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