#takebackfridays: Tweetie

Screenshot of Tweetie

I’m about two weeks and a few days late but it’s all good. Here’s my first #takebackfriday… on a Monday.

From the makers of the best Twitter client on iPhone comes a version of the app for Mac OS X. Acknowledging that a different platform requires a revised client, Tweetie for Mac comes with its own logo, completely different to the one used in the iPhone, and a very simple and sleek look and feel.

It’s support for multiple accounts is very well done. A navigation bar on the left contains icons for each Twitter account added, and “sub icons” for the different feeds under each account (timeline, replies, direct messages, etc.). This is especially useful when you’re running multiple Twitter accounts and you quickly want to post between them. This is something we do often for the @FIUSM and @RadiateFM twitters.

It’s simple interface makes it a breeze to teach others how to use. We have Tweetie installed in the FIU Student Media newsroom so that reporters can go in and update our Twitter accounts with ease and without having to remember (or reveal) passwords as Tweetie can keep you logged in.

Tweetie is an easy replacement for TweetDeck and Twitteriffic (I was using both before switching). The only thing the new client lacks is notification of new Tweets for searches. I like being notified whenever there’s a new Tweet about FIU. It’s particularly useful for breaking news. Unfortunately, I have to go in and check the saved search every couple minutes (if I remember) to stay up to date.

Tweetie was one of the best purchases I made for iPhone and now it’s one of the best purchases I’ve made for Mac. Tweetie is written by atebits, created by Loren Brichter in Berkely, California. If you don’t have the cash to spend $19.95 on Tweetie for Mac, you can still operate Tweetie free of charge with ads by downloading it here. I do suggest you shell out the $3 for Tweetie for iPhone, though.