Earlier today, Twitter updated its iPhone app to version 4.3
that includes new features like expanded tweets, per-user
notifications, and more. For new Twitter users, this update is
excellent.
Everyone with iOS 6 installed in their iPhone had already noticed this update in the Twitter app changelog on App Store .
First thing that you'll notice after installing the new Twitter app is a new twitter bird image on the icon image.
In v 4.3 Twitter.Inc has made a pretty interesting tweaks. Read more for in depth information ...
When you first log into Twitter for iPhone, you are taken through a
series of screens that help you find people to follow from your address
book and by category. Once taken into the app, it's clear that Twitter's
focus is to keep the interest of new users with the #Discover tab and
"Similar to" section of user profiles.
The #Discover tab allows users to view Twitter-selected tweets by
people who share your interests, view activity of those you follow (like
who they are following and tweets they have favorited), check out the
latest trends, see a list of users that Twitter recommends you follow,
browse categories, and find friends.
One of the most bragged about new features of Twitter for iPhone is what
they call Expanded Tweets. It's still in the rollout phase, but what it
does is let you see content previews, view images, play videos, and
more when viewing the Tweet details containing links to partner
websites. For example, if someone includes a link to a YouTube video,
you'll be able to watch it right there in the Tweet details. With that
said, I have yet to see that work with a YouTube or Vimeo video (both of
whom are partner websites), but Twitter has stated that this feature is
rolling out slowly. The only embedded content I've experience is photos
-- something that's popular in many other Twitter clients.
Here's what Twitter v 4.3 looks like on the new iPad :
Another big feature of the new Twitter for iPhone is the ability to
subscribe to receive a notification every time a specific user sends a
tweet.This is a pretty nifty feature and is a
great way to make sure you don't miss tweets from those you deem extra
important.
The last main feature I want to address is actually one I really
like and hope to see other Twitter clients and apps start using --
ambient notifications. Instead of an intrusive popup at the top of
screen notifying you of actions, like when your tweet sends, Twitter for
iPhone slides away the status bar and replaces it with the
notification. This is so awesome because it doesn't interfere with how
you interact with the app when the notification appears and prevents you
from accidentally tapping on it.
