As we noted on Friday, Tweetie 2, the new iPhone Twitter client by Atebits, launched in the App Store. We did a preview of it a few weeks ago, noting that it was the best Twitter client out there. Judging from the response on Twitter and elsewhere, most seem to agree. So what’s next?
Atebits has a short post today outlining what we can expect from them coming up. First and foremost are all the small bug fixes for Tweetie 2. Noting that despite the name, Tweetie 2 is a 1.0 release, developer Loren Brichter says the bugs will be fixed “soon.” But the bigger story is what he wants to squeeze into the next release of Tweetie:
- New-style retweets
- Per-tweet geotagging
- Lists
Of course, all of those are contingent upon Twitter having the APIs for those features ready to go. But the Geolocation API, for example, is already partially deployed and should be a go soon. Brichter notes that Tweetie 2 was built to take advantage of all of these new features, and we saw that the other week when geolocation unexpectedly went live and tagged everyone’s tweets just off the coast of Africa.
Both the Retweet and Lists features are also currently being tested and tweaked as they near launch.
We also know that Atebits is preparing a new version of its Tweetie for Mac client, that will sync with Tweetie 2. And in his blog post, Brichter hints at another project he’s been working on not related to Tweetie. “Oh, and I haven’t been all Tweetie all the time, there is this other thing… stay tuned,” he writes.
In terms of how well Tweetie 2 is actually doing post-launch, Brichter declined to comment on specifics, but noted that it was the “#1 Top Grossing app in less than 24 hours, and currently #2 Top Paid overall. Pretty frickin’ insane,” he wrote to us in an email.
Update: Oh yes, and I have asked Brichter about the all-important Push Notification functionality. I will update when I hear back, but it is coming at some point. For now, try Boxcar.
I want atebits to have my babies. So fresh and ooooo so clean.
I LOVE Tweetie as well, but… uhh…. not as much as you I guess.
I hesitated for like 5 seconds to buy this app, having already purchased Tweetie shortly after it’s release. Now I wasn’t pissed that it wasn’t a free upgrade for existing Tweetie users, I ultimately want to reward a guy like Brichter with doing something better than everyone else in the space, and it’s more than worth it’s price-tag. Well done!
We have to remember that Tweetie is pretty much his job. Updates and stuff like that are cool, but we don’t really pay for them. It would be nicer if Apple had a path for upgrading as in-app purchases for a new version like Tweetie 2 easily make for spaghetti code.
Ahh, if only they’d released it for Android – the geolocation API’s been released since day one.
Hate to be one of those guys but… this needs push notifications (of course only on badge and sound)
yep, added a little update about that.
Looking forward to the response. Similarly, Tweetie Client for Mac not showing Twitter Client (for each tweet) is another strangely missing feature, and the only reason I still use Seesmic.
It’s so Apple-ish, it should be one of the default apps that comes on the iphone.
What about this ?Tweeting in different languages using this http://bit.ly/1e2gGW
People are downloading it because it has generated so much hype so they want to try it. Twittelator Pro still better UI as fewer taps for everything vs Tweetie 2. Also, Twittelator has all the same features including the per tweet geotagging already in place. Hype hype hype.
Twittelator’s UI isn’t better. Fewer taps isn’t the only thing involved in UI, and there’s a reason Tweetie got an Apple Design Award and Twittelator didn’t. Twittelator looks cluttered and haphazard in a lot of places.
Twittelator Pro’s latest UI is better than Tweetie “1.0,” but Tweetie 2 has just topped it with the release (and this is coming from a huge Twittelator fan).
The fact that I can swap out my profile picture in Tweetie is awesome as well, not to mention the third party tools to help fight against spam is what puts it over the top.
However, there does seem to be too many taps to access drafts. I do hope Tweetie changes that.
Tweetie UI looks less cluttered because it demands you make extra taps and swipes to do anything(including even to see a pic). Only then to you get to even choose what to do next. In Twittelator you get to take those actions directly in the timeline. While you’re eyes are glazing over at Tweeties pretty transitions the Twittelator user is already done. That’s good UI design. Something Apple clearly recognaise otherwise they wouldn’t have been featuring Twittelator as their featured Twitter client in their NY times add campaign. Oh and whisper it Tweetie2 is as buggy as a World War 1 TB ward. In my experience it’s a mélange of error messages and screen freezes. If you want to be amused by a fun and pretty UI go get yourself a copy of WeightBot. If you want to do some power tweeting, follow memes, and excercise real control over your Twitter experience then Twittelator is still the app to beat, by a country mile. Tweetie 2 is not without it’s merits but this tidal wave of hype and shilling isn’t matched by the application itself.
That’s funny, I can’t stand Twittelator’s UI and I’ve been using Tweetie 2.0 for more than a week and I GUARANTEE I use Twitter more than you do and it hasn’t crashed once on me yet.
Seriously who cares that you can’t stand it? Stop arguing from “authority” and, for once in your life set out your case. Scoble not liking something may cut it for the cult of numbnuts who hang on your everyword but it doesn’t cut it for me and I doubt it cuts it for the chap above who said that for all the claims being made on Tweeties behalf, that it’s the best Twitter client, he has yet to hear why, neither have I. Tweetie is a glossy toy, Twittelator is a Tweetie productivity beast.
I hope they update their desktop app.
Yeah. It’s so barebones.
As a long time Twitterific user, I wasn’t that impressed by Tweetie 2. Sure it has a cleaner and simpler interface, but certain tasks are easier to achieve in Twitterific than Tweetie. There are some basic features in Twitterific that I took for granted and really miss in Tweetie.
I give Twitterific a slight edge over Tweetie. I’ve used other Twitter apps, and nothing really comes close to these two apps. I’m not a search trend-obsessed freak, so TweetDeck’s columns aren’t enough to make me overlook its multitude of deficiencies.
I have yet to hear anyone tell me how its better than Twittelator Pro. I bought the first Tweetie but switched to Twittelator Pro not too long after. So can anyone give me a real answer or comparison that has actually used both?
Short answer: no, beyond some vague guff about a better UI, no one can tell you why it’s better. Here’s why they can’t, it’s not better. Even the UI claim is hogwash. What they mean is it’s UI is prettier. Better? Not a chance not unless by better they mean they get their kicks by tapping and swiping like a bunch of obsessive compulsives to get even basic stuff done. No doubt Tweetie is a good app. Some aspects of it’s UI are really a bit wow, I love the way you pull down to refresh your timeline. But over an evenings heavy tweeting Tweetie 2 becomes a pain in the neck. Endless swipes, endless screens and transitions. It’s a time waster and prettiness aside its UI is a step backwards. Twittelator’s UI may take more getting used to buy once you get the hang of it you begin to appreciate its genius. Where are drafts in Twittelator? Right where they should be on tap away within the compose window. Tweetie seems to be becoming the darling of the Twitter “LOL I’m drunk again” crowd. Twittelator still hammers it on features and, assuming you value your time, on the UI too. The amount more you can get done right in the Timeline in Twittelator vs Tweeties slideshow showiness isn’t even funny. I have both apps. The minute something better than Twittelator arrives on the scene I’ll be all over it but Tweetie2 isn’t that app, it’s not even close and frankly all this hype has more than a whiff if emperors new clothes about it.
I’ve never used Twitterlator, but looking over the feature list for Tweetie 2.0, it’s almost laughable. Most of these features were available in other Twitter apps ages ago.
I think people like Tweetie because it looks and feels most like a native 1st party Twitter app made by Apple themselves. It’s really impressive if you drill down into the app. It’s really tightly integrated into the iPhone’s address book as well. With other Twitter apps, it definitely feels like you’re using a 3rd party app.
The Nearby feature is awesome. I was tweeting with random fans at the Colts Titans game last night.
It’s brilliant alright. Been using it in Twittelator since I don’t know when.
Tweetie 2 has changed my twitter experience quite dramatically, I prefer using it to any desktop client. It’s seriously addictive as well, as it always drops you off at the last tweet you read, encouraging you to go through all the tweets you’ve missed, which was something I never bothered with in the past, which has had the effect of me catching more of my friends tweets that were getting lost previously in the river of tweets.
I think number one on that list HAS to be push notifications.
Tweetie 2.0 is the perfect application in all ways, except people who want push are having to pay an additional $3 for boxcar just to enable push.
Defo get Push Notifications working before you start on anything else developers!!
Yes, what’s next for TechCrunch to shill?
TC makes affiliate money for all those app sales, including this and the bogus ‘health’ app of earlier today.
How much did you make today, MG? What next to ‘review’ indeed?
Brilliant app, I wish it supported FB in integrated fashion.
I really love tweetie 2, it is hands down the best twitter app around. The way it remebers where you left off is great. But I’ve found that if you don’t check it for hours some tweets get left out, which sucks. With previous version version I could click more until I get to my last position but now there is no way to clear previous tweets. Hopefully he fixes this soon.
Sucks that you can’t set tweetie 2 to a dark background theme for less battery usage. I looked through all the settings .. Nothing
Yeah I really miss the dark theme. I tend to read my tweets in a dark environment and the white background can be a little overpowering. I hope they add it back in with the next update.
bok
Or get Echophon Pro for push notifications… Not only does Echophon automatically bring me to my last read tweet, but it also syncs the last read tweet on my work PC (via the Firefox plugin) and my Mac (via the very nice client).
I dunno, Tweetie’s always seemed a few steps behind on critical features and the “workflow” is a little bit slower than other Twitter apps in my experience.
I owned the first one and still don’t get the hype.
Making more money out of Twitter than Twitter themselves, I’d assume.
Tweetie 2 actually made me a fan of the app (as I did not like the first version as it seemed more hype than power).
BTW, what is the number one paid app overall? I’m just curious as I thought Tweetie dominated in both categories.
Push probably will come in ver 3
and will not
but that’s a whole new rework
be free…
Now that out of the way . Twiterrific pro is
way better period.
“Oh, and I haven’t been all Tweetie all the time, there is this other thing… stay tuned,”
I would like Atebits to release an iPhone app using the Facebook API, I like the official version from Joe Hewitt but would like to see what other developers can provide with their innovation!!
Ah now why didn’t my long-ish comment work?
comments a little messed up right now, we’re working on it. sorry about that.