TweetDeck for iPhone 2.0 (finally)

TweetDeck is my favourite Twitter client on the desktop (below right) and its ability to sync settings with a mobile application is a major reason why.

In fact I think Twitter's usefulness is dependent on TweetDeck columns displaying Twitter Lists, searches and tags. Add to that support for other social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare and TweetDeck becomes your social dashboard.

Maybe that's why I've tolerated TweetDeck iOS even though it became the most unreliable and annoying application on my phone. It was long overdue for an update as didn't get on well with iOS4. Even if not crashing (which it did frequently) it wasn't capable of multi-tasking. When minimised & restored it reloaded from scratch and lost the previous read/unread states. Very frustrating.

Tonight that all changed with the release of a shiny new TweetDeck iOS 2. I'm still learning to drive it but so far it is proving to be as enjoyable as the previous version was annoying! I haven't managed to crash it once and find the new interface very engaging. You can see some of that in the screen-captures below but they don't convey it's slick operation.

The new iOS app is available from the app store, desktop and chrome versions from www.tweetdeck.com

Follow @iosdeck on Twitter, see their blog post or FAQ Support Documents

PS: Android users need not feel left out as they have been enjoying a similar version of TweetDeck for several months. I wonder if they'll do a Windows Phone version?

Below Left: The Home column which merges all your primary account timelines. I have Twitter, Facebook & Foursquare appearing here. Below right:How, after a pinch to enter this mode, columns can be moved, edited and deleted.

  

Below Right: The profile view you can access from any Tweet. I like the “Allegedly From”! Below Right: The compose screen showing auto fill offering to complete the @ from the two “mr”’s I follow.

Currently TweetDeck iOS 2 supports Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare but the latter two were already part of my TweetDeck Profile (added from the desktop app). Not sure you can add these purely from the iOS app.

 

UPDATE 2011-04-27: Some things I’m missing.

If there I haven’t found them, if not make this my 2.0.1 wish list;

• LinkedIn Support
• Tags: Cant find how to enter them in the editor other than typing. Is there autocomplete or a list anywhere?
• Twitter List Management; You can create columns for lists but can’t find any way to add/remove people from them. Perhaps it’s because Twitter’s list API is flaky at best as their own app often fails to complete list changes.
• Time posted on the column views. You can see it when you click into a Tweet but would like some indication in the column views Thanks to @kiwifrenzy: "Time posted on the column views" Time is at the top below the Home text. I personally don't like this. Now I know it’s there I don’t mind it.
• Light Theme Option: The old light one (Grey background, dark text) worked better in some bright conditions