Can't Exceed 140 Characters For Your Tweets?

Can't exceed 140 characters for your Twitter updates? when sometimes there's more to say than 140 characters.

Problem solved!

Twerbose lets you post, comment tweets with longer characters, and insert images and videos in your tweets, now that is really cool.

XLTweet comes from the creator of TwitWall, also extends your twitter character capability to beyond 140 characters. XLTweet will tweet the first 120 characterss, create a bit.ly short url similar to Twitter's tiny url, then save the rest on your own XLTweet page. Also, XLTweet automatically adds your XLTweet generated tweets to your favorites just in case you forgot XLTweet link.

BiggerTwitter is an addon rather a Twitter clone that lets you post massive tweets and is posted directly to your Twitter profile.

TwitLonger is created by a freelance developer Stuart Gibson. TwitLonger longers your tweets beyond 140. TwitLonger automatically tweets your updates to your Twitter profile. However, there is a google adsense at the bottom of the tweets generated by TwitLonger.

Though these Twitter extensions deviates to the idea of micro-blogging, they are still great extensions for twittering beyond 140 characters, especially when sharing links that do not fit the limited number of characters.

Problem Solved!

Turning Twitter Into A Feed (Tweet) Reader

If Google Reader is capable of marking Read and Unread to your subscribed feeds, a new Twitter client called TwitteReader is also capable of marking Read and Unread to your friend's Twitter updates. You may also star items that are added to your favorite tweets.

TwitteReader is simple unlike Google Reader, which has advanced features such a sidebar containing your favorite blogsites, and on the main window are the entries from these websites. Google Reader is capable of item sharing such as this one (my  shared items). However, TwitteReader also  has great features, like:

1. Offline marking and unmarking read messages


2. Page system


3. Shortcut keys r-refresh, k-up and j-down


4. No signup required


5. Update Twitter (send messages) and reply to users


6. Delete updates


7. Favorite and unfavorite messages


8. Message parser


9. Messages auto-reload each 5 minutes

Take a look at my TwitteReader:

Addons include:

1. marking system was remade. It is now based on offline marking (and unmarking) and on refresh or on leave of the "read" page, it will store the marks online. Much faster user interface and only one AJAX communication with the server


2. when users delete messages, the system now detects them and delete their record on the database as well


3. page system added. Each page has its own unread counter


4. code reviewed and commented. Stable beta version 0.23 zipped and shared


5. 'r' key, shortcut for refresh button added


6. signup isn't required anymore. Twitter users login with their username and password and start reading right away


7. update Twitter over TwitteReader is now available. Just like in Twitter, you have your 140 characters to write and the update button


8. unique link to message added to the options bar


9. favorite status icon added. Soon editable


10. reply icon added. Soon available


11. number of characters left reset after submited update


12. reply feature working


13. @username links bug fixed


14. create/remove favorite now available


15. works on smaller screens now. Key interface was getting scroller to jump around


16. remember username featu re added. Also, if you have save passwords on your browser, when username is inserted, it can fill in your password automatically and if there is a username a nd password it auto-logins


17. delete (own) messages now available


18. message parser updated. Well parsed urls and @username links


19. after some feedback I've set mysql_real_escape_string() to all comunication variables


20. install instructions for self hosting released


21. shortcuts now working on IE (7 at least)


22. shortcuts (keys) interface interaction optimized. Some bugs fixed

To sum it all up, TwitteReader is an extension to Twitter. Read More.

Facebook Is Updating To A Platform Similar To Twitter's

Twitter as we all know has become a fast growing micro-blogging social network that even Facebook is making their own platform similar to Twitter's after a failed bid.

Twitter Inc. is at a critical juncture now that the popular Facebook Inc. has redesigned its services to, well, be a lot more like Twitter, according to analysts.

Facebook announced late yesterday that its public profiles have been updated to allow users to share their information with an unlimited number of friends. The updates, according to Facebook, can "be brief messages" similar to Tweets or longer ones that include photos and videos. The new Facebook setup will also enable businesses, organizations or even celebrities to blast out information to customers, members or fans. Read More

But I don't really find the reason why Facebook has to compete with Twitter because both are different and are similar in ways. Well, its not a question of competition, its to attract users and make online social networking better. Both are status updaters, wherein members get to update their status as often as they can. Members may also use Twitter application in order for them to update their Twitter status just within his or her Facebook Box. See how my Twitter app looks like in my Facebook Box

And this is how the new Facebook Homepage looks like.

See original view here.

Updates will be able to be filtered by groups, specific friends, family, or by applications. A new publishing box for sharing updates will incorporate the ability to add not just status notes, but also links, photos, and videos. A new widget will highlight items from friends and other connections members interact with the most. Read More.

Generally, I have nothing against Facebook designing a new homepage, however I enjoy Facebook because of its originality in fetaures and this new Twitter-like homapage project omits this value of originality. Regardless of my biases, this new homepage will allow users to filter their feeds, and thus making life easier for that matter! A thumbs up for Facebook.