Review: Tweetie 2 is the Best iPhone App. Period.
12:52 pm, October 10th, 2009, Pete Mortensen
In the world of iPhone apps, there are generally three categories of quality:
- Crapware that you throw away a few minutes after downloading
- Moderately useful software that you keep around but use a few times a week
- Daily tools that become a key part of your iPhone experience
With the release of Loren Brichter’s much-anticipated Tweetie 2 for iPhone, however, I think it’s time to establish a new category: “iPhone software better than anything Apple.” In fact, I’m willing to go so far as to claim it is the single-best app ever written for the platform. It’s incredibly useful, smooth as butter, innovative in design and features, and just works as you expect that it would. It’s as if it sprung, fully formed, from the skull of the iPhone, as if to say, “This is how it should work.” Not only has Tweetie 2 raised the bar for mobile Twitter clients, it’s raised the bar for mobile software.
I’ve been playing with it non-stop since its release yesterday, so there’s a lot of ground to cover. I’m going to break this review into three major categories: Interface, Features, and Magic. Hit the jump to see it all. There’s so much to talk about!
Jobs’s Own Interface
The first time you fire up Tweetie, you’ll notice that the user interface has been completely overhauled. Instead of speech bubbles in the time line, all comments are in a nice, streamlined column view. Though I was initially worried this might sap some character from the application, I’ve actually found it a lot easier on the eyes.
Generally speaking, it just feels like a refinement to what was already an excellent core function of what most people (Apple included) agreed was the best first-generation Twitter app for iPhone. But if you look closer, there’s a lot of new stuff to love.
First of all, rotate to the left. Full landscape support! And really nicely executed support, at that. It’s seamless, quick, and loses none of its functionality while on its side, as some apps (the previous version of this one included) must. Additionally, the app now uses glowing blue dots to indicate the presence of new messages in your timeline, new mentions of your name, and new direct messages. It’s quite slick, and will save you wasted time clicking over just to check. Search is also now a top-level panel, which is a great time-savings. It was really obnoxious to dig through the “More” menu in Tweetie 1 to get to the search page.
All told, it’s lovely, it just works, and it delivers the wow factor without being flashy.
More features to the ounce
If Tweetie 2 is remembered for anything, it should be for breaking the uncanny valley of pseudo-multitasking for iPhone. It is the first third-party app ever that you can leave and come back to later yet have it feel like it never shut down. Brichter calls this feature “Persistence.” No matter what you’re doing in the app, if you go to the home screen and do something in another app, when you relaunch Tweetie 2, it will pull up exactly what you were working on before. Incredibly, it’s really fast, too. In fact, it’s faster to get back in to action than Tweetie 1 was.
If Persistence were the only big new feature on Tweetie 2, it would be remarkable. But there’s a lot more going on, too. Most of it is visible in the brilliant new composition mode. In addition to being a bit cleaner, the app now uses the characters remaining counter as a button that rotates 180 degrees to hide the keyboard and reveal all kinds of neat stuff, including better camera integration (now with video support), direct access to the photo library, geotagging (with hooks for Twitter’s announced geo API), username look-up for mentions, recent hashtags, and URL shrinking. It’s insane. While I’m certain that there are probably other key features for composing the world’s best Tweets with ease, I can’t think of any. Maybe galactic coordinates?
But that’s not all. Tweetie scored points in the first version for its swipe-to-reveal options interaction. Basically, if you rub your finger over an individual Tweet, a few options would pop up. And now there are more. You can reply, deal with links (open, mail, repost, read later via Instapaper), go to user profile, favorite, or miscellaneous (retweet, quote, post link to tweet, mail, and translate). It’s everything you need, right where you need it.
And there’s still more. The new user profile pages are rich with information. You can now quickly assess someone else’s volume of tweets, number of followers and people they’re following, and how often they favorite things, and even check their stats on TweetBlocker, Follow Cost, and Favstar.fm. Basically, you’ll get a clear sense of what it means to add this person to your timeline.
The app also offers integration with iPhone Contacts, so you can now associate their profile pics, home page, Twitter name, and other relevant data with their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Oddly enough, this feature is the only scenario of use for Tweetie 2 where I noticed any lag at all, but it’s quite significant. I typically had to wait about 10 seconds to advance from the profile page to the Contacts integration screen on my 3GS. It’s not a show-stopper by any means, but it mainly stands out because everything else is so quick and so perfectly executed.
All that, and Tweetie 2 also offers robust offline support and simplified timeline search. It’s an embarrassment of riches.
Magic: The Twittering
I won’t spend too long on the unique magic of Tweetie that puts it head-an-shoulders above its competitors (and above all other iPhone apps), but it’s important to touch on. An app that did everything I’ve described above would be popular and well-liked. It wouldn’t be obsessed over the way that Tweetie is. Tweetie is beloved more because of how it does what it does instead of its design or functionality. It has so much character.
Though there are sprinkles of magic throughout the app, the one thing I want to talk about is how you refresh your various timelines to check for new content. In the previous version — and in virtually all Twitter and RSS apps for iPhone — you would hit a button that looks like an inwardly looping arrow to check for new stuff. Tweetie does things differently. You just pull down, and a little arrow says “Pull Down to Refresh.” As you pull further, it says “Release to Refresh.” You let go, and with a delightful clicking sound and a POP!, you have new tweets to read.
It’s so cool. And it’s actually a better interaction for doing this if you’re a true Tweet addict (as I’ve become) than moving your thumb to a corner to click a button.
What are you waiting for?
Tweetie 2 costs $3 (iTunes link) from the App Store for both new and existing users, and it’s worth every penny. Anyone whining about the price doesn’t care about quality and doesn’t deserve its beauty, anyway.
Seriously. Five-and-a-half stars out of four.
Posted by Pete Mortensen in Reviews, iPhone Apps | Comment on this article
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I had my doubts about paying for the upgrade and actually decieded to stick with Tweetie 1. However, I was eventually persuaded to upgrade and was won over big style within minutes. The longer you use it, the more you discover.
It really is so much faster too.
Kev Robinson, on October 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Twitbird Pro has had the “persistence” feature for quite some time now. It works just like Tweetie, so Tweetie 2 is not the only app to ever do this.
warplayer, on October 10th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Totally agree with pretty much everything you’ve said!! Fantastic application. I would have happily paid more for it actually.
Andrew Macdonald, on October 10th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Not hijacking your post or anything, but since you seem like a heavy user..has the battery crapping out in 3 hours issue for the firmware 3.1 issue affected you??
http://bit.ly/1RhCiP
Satya, on October 10th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
@Satya
Not for me. Battery life has been virtually the same on my 3GS for 3.0 and 3.1 alike.
Pete Mortensen, on October 10th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I like Twitteriffic better..
Reader, on October 10th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
overrated garbage.
me, on October 10th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
not unlike your website – i might add.
me, on October 10th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I still wish there was a upgrade option since I bought Tweetie 1 2-3 weeks ago :/
KSB, on October 10th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
The best Twitter app would offer themes too, which Tweetie 2 does not. FAIL
Lincoln, on October 10th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Though I can appreciate this notion, the simple fact is that their business model for this has left a lot to be desired, in my opinion. Going so far as to review this on the app’s value itself is one thing, but to combine that in extension to suggest this is THE best app is too bad. I’m not trying to turn this into a “Facebook vs Twitter” dialog, but if Firstclass can come out with something like their new app, and Tweetie basically just updates their version into strong-arming you to buy a new app… to not throw a spotlight on that practice is irresponsible reporting. Your conclusion that people complaining about the price don’t care about quality or deserve its beauty is unnecessary. I don’t think it’s too much to say that this practice being currently employed by several developers is unfortunate. And, that’s coming from someone who HAS paid already for those apps. If you can’t see the concern, then that’s because you can’t see past your own absorptions.
Shane, on October 10th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
As another person mentioned, TwitBird Pro has had persistence for some time now. I prefer bubbles, to plain blocks of text and the fact that you don’t know anything more about a competing app makes me wonder if the rest of your review accurately compares this app to others.
Also, you brag on how this app does things (like refresh) differently but often that is a bad thing. You get used to certain consistency across apps and when a single app does things differently it slows you down.
Is there a free version to test it out, because I’m pretty happy with TwitBird Pro.
Tom Steele, on October 10th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Did you receive the app for free? Did you get any monies by the developer for this review? Just wondering
Marvin, on October 10th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
This may be the drop-dead app for those who give a rat’s ass about Twitter. Those who just find it annoying may not be so impressed.
PFR, on October 10th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
how can it be the best app on the iphone if you dont care about twitter?
i say you flubbed big time in that remark.
i like the tuaw app better then twitter bs.
bubbakush, on October 10th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
@Marvin
I hate to disappoint your view of the world, but I paid full price for both Tweetie 1 and 2. I’m happy to post both receipts (whenever Apple gets around to mailing the one for version 2. They’re slow that way.). Ask anyone I know. I’ve been checking the App Store obsessively for the update since I learned of Tweetie 2, which wad how I bought it within 20 minutes of release.
I am a fanboy of brilliant UI design. This is the Cult, remember?
Pete Mortensen, on October 11th, 2009 at 2:37 am
I’ve never liked Tweetie, and this version is only marginally better. I’ve used a LOT of iPhone Twitter apps, and so far my favorite is TwitBird Pro. It has a lot of the features you mentioned for Tweetie 2, and more. One of my favorite things about it is in-line images (though I wish they were in the feed and not only when you tap the tweet), and automatic showing of the tweet for which a tweet is a reply to – which, IMO, ALL Twitter apps should have the option of doing. It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as Tweetie 2, but it’s worth it. That’s saying a lot coming from me. I’ve used some solely for their fancy looks many times.
Mandy, on October 11th, 2009 at 2:54 am
I think is over rated too. I used daily Twitteriffic for a long time and all this features are present in Twitteriffic from day one.
I think tweetie as a very good marketing account! they sell something for new when is not true.
Ah: Twitteriffic is gratis too! only one Ad to watch.
cifero, on October 11th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Marvin, reviewers don’t generally pay for the software they review. If they did, it would make it impossible to do the job: when you review hundreds of peices of software per year, you would end up severely out of pocket.
If you’re trying to imply that Pete is paid to give a favourable review, you should just come out and say it rather than try and snarkily imply it. Of course, you don’t have any evidence for that, so you won’t because you lack the cojones to do it. But there you go.
Ian Betteridge, on October 11th, 2009 at 4:07 am
There is so much hype about this app that I decided to try. Generally it’s nothing great, but OK. There are 3 thing though that I would describe as ‘fancy designers ideas’:
- drag to refresh, easy to perform once you discover it…
- glowing dots – WHY? Why there is no badge with number of messages like in every single other app in the world? Is it being different just for sake of it?
- attach/more/character counter button when you write a post. This is such a waste of space. 140 charactersis only 4 lines long while text box takes half of the screen. I have to click this button to see more options (with nice icons). It’s one tap too much. Why there is no toolbar with all the options under the post? Simple, compact, elegant. This guys should learn more about KISS principle.
I like conversations view, so I might try it but I will switch to Echofon sooner or later.
Marcin, on October 11th, 2009 at 5:28 am
Ummm… just putting this out there. Guitartoolkit and it’s recent “partner” app tabtoolkit both have interfaces that would rival this and persistance as well (and aren’t really any more specialised than a Twitter client). Another thing to note is that tweetie is lacking in features many deem necessary in a Twitter client such as groups. Overall an extremely biased review.
Garrett, on October 11th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I still think Tweetie 2 is very good and earn ALL its money
and I still think Twitterrific pro (death to ads) and Tweetie 2 are the two best twitter clients.
-
groups are not a feature of twitter and cumbersome in twitter clients because of that.
-
many developpers ask money for new major version of their app (and in apple app store they are forced to create a whole new entry) and it’s really totally fine. I _want_ to pay people money for their hard work
and there are hard work here.
oomu, on October 11th, 2009 at 9:37 am
the tweetie2 ui is really polished. I understand why “the cult” is fond of it.
oomu, on October 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Tweeter sucks, therehenceforthtoothwithergo, Tweetie 2 sucks. But if the kiddies like it, what cha gonna do?
Doctor Bob, on October 11th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Best iPhone app. Period? That’s a rather bold statement. For a non-twitter user such as myself, I’d wager it ranks in the most useless iPhone apps. Period. Skype is by far a more useful app for the general iPhone using population.
Alastair, on October 11th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I too downloaded Tweetie 2 in order to see what all this hype was about. You and Scoble seemed to both say this was an app that blows all other apps out of the water…not just for Twitter but all apps in general. What a load of crap!
Tweetie 2 is OK but nothing brilliant. It has no extra features not already found in Twittelator Pro or Echofon. The UI is far from brilliant with Tweetie 2. It takes two clicks to open a link in a tweet whereas it is one click to do so with Twittelator Pro and other apps. Sliding my finger across the tweet takes several slides to get a response sometimes and then only reveals 4 options whereas a single tap with twittelator reveals 9 options. Theming is gone now with only the option to change font size…big step backwards. A blue dot to show there are more tweets…big whoop! Many others give a badge showing how many tweets there are.
Tweetie 2 is popular because of hype alone. People are probabaly downloading it to see what the hype is about and will either believe this emporor has no clothes fantasy or see what a crock this is. Hey, why not charge even more so people will think it is of greater value?
Dr Robert Schertzer, on October 11th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Should say: “Best iPhone App….IF YOU TWEET.”
some of us have better things to do that play with this soon-to-be-passé form of social interaction….
Doug Aghassi, on October 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I’ve never heard of ‘TwitBird Pro’ until reading this thread – and suddenly see it mentioned several times. Reeks of spam.
PS: Tweetie 2 is quite nice, and Loren deserves every penny he charges for it.
Scott, on October 11th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Twitterific, i don’t have to pay for it and if that isn’t the best part about it. It has a simple, efficient way of showing me my tweets and the people i follow. Twitter is a simple website, the app keeps it simple. ‘Sides, the Facebook app is far far more awesome at encapsulating such a vast website. This article reeks of bias, PR and Twitterpsychosis.
Subhash Dawda, on October 12th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Pete,
Seems that you are getting a lot of hate on this review in the comments. Having tried many twitter clients myself I have to say that I agree with every single word in your article. If only every app in the store were as simple, beautiful and functional as Tweetie. Whether or not someone wants to use twitter is one thing but that doesn’t change the fact that this is the best-designed app out there. Period.
David Brainer-Banker, on October 12th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Like many others, I’m sure, I bought Tweetie 2 for my iPhone on Friday. While I agree, the UI is cool, and it’s a very well-conceived app, I don’t know how long I can continue to use it.
The problem? Many of my follows don’t appear in my timeline in Tweetie 2. No idea why this is…but it is.
If I see an update to it, I’ll try it again…but for now I’ll stick with Twitterrific.
Mike Osborn, on October 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
i will probably check out this version, but… lots of apps have “persistance” already. every game i have tried has it, and plenty of non games do as well.
joshsisk, on October 15th, 2009 at 11:03 pm