Twitter for Mac, Twitter for Windows?

In January, we saw with the release of the new Mac App Store Twitter released their new client for Mac,updating the outdated Tweetie, after Twitter bought Atebits, creator of Tweetie and claiming rights to the application. Atebits was also the developer who invented Tweetie for iPhone which in turn changed to Twitter for iPhone. 

Twitter then created Twitter for Android & Twitter for Windows Phone after releasing a BlackBerry client too. With the majority of smartphones sorted, what about the other computer operating systems? Windows & Linux?

Twitter clients which are widely available for Windows and Linux, thanks to the Adobe Air platform are standard and allow the user to control their Twitter account within the client itself, without the need of logging into the web interface. TweetDeck is a great client for those power users where as Twhirl and DestroyTwitter are primarily focused at the casual tweeter. However, with the Adobe Air platform compatible with Mac too, Twitter is facing quite a competition and will need to add more functions than they did with their Mac application to win Windows users over. 

I'm both a Mac and a PC as I operate both within my household so I have no bias opinion, but I ask "what is yours?". Leave a comment below!

Twitter

Twitter for Mac: Initial Thoughts

The day has come, January 6th 2011. Apple has released their Mac App Store, not yet full to the brim, launching with only 1,000 apps. Pretty impressive for a start though. However, there has been one application some Mac users have been boasting about. What is it? The top free app available, Twitter for Mac.

With a elegant user interface, Twitter for Mac is almost like a dream come true. A total redesign of Tweetie, which was owned by Atebits that Twitter bought out in April last year. Although it is free, Twitter for Mac looks so good with sleek transitions between the timeline, @replies, direct messages, lists, your profile and search. The black sidebar complements not only the Twitter for iPhone and iPad apps, but the texture used on the timeline itself. All in all, Twitter for Mac looks like a paid app, still in the wrapper.

Real time updates in the timeline is another new addition that Tweetie didn't have and competes with Echofon and TweetDeck, which both released the feature out in November. 

Although Twitter for Mac has its good side, there is just one negative that strikes me. By default, Twitter for Mac automatically shortens links via t.co, which cannot be turned off, making my personal url shortener useless. Hopefully, Twitter sees this as a problem to some users can changes it in a later update. 

What are your thoughts about the new Twitter for Mac? Are you going to be using it? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Follow me on Twitter: @JonnyRowntree

iPevo Products for Sale

I have been a huge fan of iPevo and their products for years, ever since their debut of their wireless Bluetooth speakers. I own many iPevo products, but I am running out of room for them in my office, and I would like to let everyone here at TekSocial know about the items I have for sale through eBay. I wanted to let you all know first because I feel if they are to be sold, sell them to someone who can appreciate them, and who better to appreciate a tech item than a TekSocial reader? They are all brand new items and include everything they come with directly from iPevo. I have discounted them a lot compared to their retail value.

Click here to buy or bid.

Get the Real iOS4 Early for Free! (No UDID Registration Required)

This is a bring back tutorial on how to get the real iOS4 on your device completely free. Apple has released the GM (Gold Master) firmware file for all devices, so you no longer need to be an Apple developer to have the new OS. In this video I briefly run over how to install it on your device.

iTunes 9.2 Beta: http://is.gd/cM9Pd

iOS4 Device Firmwares:

iPod touch 2G: http://is.gd/cM9U3

iPod touch 3G: http://is.gd/cM9WN

iPhone 3G: http://is.gd/cM9ZO

iPhone 3GS: http://is.gd/cMa1Z

Customize with CandyBar

Those of you who have used Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger know that User Interface customization was typically an easy task and allowed you to make your Mac more your own. However, the software that users used to make these graphic changes in the past no longer works on Leopard and above. But have no fear! Candy Bar saves the day with a drag and drop interface to easily change any icon from a standard application icon to a system or volume icon. For just $29, Cnady Bar allows you to use free icon packs from The Iconfactory to change things up a little. Candy Bar also allows the customization of the dock. You can replace the background texture, "landing strip" seperator, lights and arrows and even convert the dock back to the old 2 dimensional version. Candy Bar is a must have for any Mac geek with a need for a personalized touch.

Download a 15 day trial of Candy Bar free from Panic Software and check out itsthurber.com for more reviews and Vlogs from me.