Twitter Releases Official App for Android
It was only a few weeks ago that Twitter announced their intention to release first-party mobile apps with their Twitter for iPhone app, and now hot on its heels comes the official Twitter for Android app. Twitter just let loose this little gem into the market, and it looks like it might just live up to the hype.
The app will bring Twitter sharing for links and pictures to other applications in Android, and a boat-load of integrated features:
Reading tweets is easy in a bunch of places on your phone. Quickly access your timeline with the home screen widget, view a tweet location on a map, and see your friend’s latest tweet in your phonebook, GoogleTalk list or any application that uses Android’s QuickContact bar.
Twitter syncs directly with your phonebook much like Facebook’s app currently does, allowing you to be up to date with your contacts’ latest tweets easily. One of the coolest things about Twitter’s announcement is the intention to open-source the APIs used in creating the app to integrate all of the functionality of Twitter for Android into any app that wants to use it.
And now the part no one wants to hear: Twitter for Android will only be available on devices currently running Android 2.1 or higher. Let the laments of those without an updated OS begin.
I’m not a huge Twitter user, but fellow-writer Quentyn Kennemer in the few minutes he has had with the app describes the interface as “slick” and “smooth.” Expect a full review from him in the not-so-distant future.
[via Twitter Blog]