Daily Bits

Social Networks

Official Twitter App for iPhone Goes Live, and It’s Good

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So finally, the official Twitter app has landed on the iPhone, following earlier release for the BlackBerry and Android devices. In case you forgot, Twitter app for iPhone is actually a “refurbished” version of the previously available Tweetie app. I didn’t get to use Tweetie before so I couldn’t really say whether this official Twitter version is better than Tweetie. But what I can say is that Twiiter app for iPhone has loads of goodies and you won’t have a hard time liking and using it from this day on.

So, what’s new and what’s hot with the  official Twitter app for iPhone? To be honest it’s probably the same as other previously released third-party Twitter apps. You get to post tweets, read timeline, retweets, see your lists, attach photos from your camera, send DMs, search Twitter and a plethora of other usual Twitter features and functionality.

One feature of the app worth noting is support for multiple Twitter accounts. And the interface for switching from one account to another is quite intuitive. Given then small screen real estate of the iPhone, I’m not expecting the app to support multi-columns. Although TweetDeck has done an easier interface for scrolling through your multiple accounts and it was quite good. I’m actually looking forward to the iPad version of  this apps and hoping that the two column format will be carried out quite well.

Another notable feature of Twitter app for iPhone is that you can now search and browser Twitter.com even if you haven’t signed up for a Twitter account yet. Wait how could you not, still?

Overall, the official Twitter app for iPhone is a very good app. It might not be the best among the currently available Twitter apps for iPhone but it is certainly among those above average.

So, have you downloaded Twitter for iPhone? How do you find it so far? Share with us you experience using Twitter app for iPhone by leaving a comment below.

MySpace to Unveil New, (Better than Facebook?) User Privacy Settings

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MySpace is not going to take the issues confronted by Facebook with regards to privacy settings just like that. And so, to indirectly add injuries to the many problems faced by Facebook, MySpace has just announced that it will soon roll out a new and simpler privacy settings for MySpace users.

The first few lines of MySpace announcements clearly states what its goals are by this announcement. MySpace tells us:

The last few weeks have been fraught with discussion around user privacy on social networks. We want to take this opportunity to discuss our view of user privacy on MySpace and some of the core features that made MySpace unique from its inception.

It was short of saying, “…discussion around user privacy on Facebook.”

Anyway, according to the announcement, MySpace’s new and simpler privacy settings that will give users greater control over their information. The site is will provide setting options that include public, friends only, or public to anyone 18 or over.  In the coming weeks, MySpace will put the default settings for all users to – “friends only.” Of course, you’ll be free to change this option anytime.

And guess what? MySpace had this planned out for quite some time now.  And admittedly, the only reason why they are rolling these new setting options now is because of the recent issues hauled by media to social networks concerning privacy.

The question here is, will these in any way convince Facebook users who are dissatisfied with how Facebook has been handling privacy issues, to use MySpace for social networking instead? What are your thoughts?

What’s Taking Facebook too Long to Release an iPad App?

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It’s been more than a month since iPad was released into the wild. Published reports say that Apple has already sold around 300,000+ iPad units since it first became available. Stocks from Apple Stores are depleting so fast. International release is about to happen on May 28. This means that iPad is slowly getting into the hands of many users. So, in due time and if Apple managed to cope up with the demand, the iPad is on its way to millions of fans, who are most probably Facebook users as well.

Now, why is it taking too long for Facebook to release a native iPad app? In case the Facebook folks are not aware of, the iPad is meant for content consumption, as they say. And if there’s one social networking site where users can consumer content and information from – it’s in Facebook.

But of course, you can always say that iPad users can always visit Facebook.com using the Safari browser on their precious iPad. But that’s not the best way to consume content, especially real-time updating contents from Facebook on an iPad. The iPad content consumption is best experienced through the apps.

Alright, I am blabbering here now. I just want a native Facebook app for iPad. I’m tired of using third-party social lifestreaming apps for iPad that has Facebook as one of the accounts supported. They don’t give justice to the real Facebook experience. I want the official Facebook app for iPad. I’m sure, other iPad users want this as well.

In case you can’t wait no more and don’t want the Safari browser route, here are some third-party lifestreaming apps that let you access your Facebook account and do several native Facebook activities on your iPad:

Five WordPress Plugins for Integrating Facebook to your Blog

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Facebook recently made some waves into the social media scene when it launched the new Facebook social plugins – a set of tools that would enhance your reader experience on your blogs and websites. But prior to this, if you want to integrate various Facebook functionality to your WordPress blogs, you can already do that through various Facebook-relate WordPress plugins.

Here we give you five Facebook WordPress Plugins that will help you integrate some Facebook functionality to your WordPress blogs.

1. Facebok Social Widgets

This WordPress plugin allows your users to have an engaging social experiences within your blog. It is hosted by Facebook so your blog readers can still participate in your blog discussion even if they haven’t signed up for your site.  This plugin allows you to add the following social plugins to your blogs – like button, activity feed, recommendations, like box, facepile and live stream. (Download link) [Read more…] about Five WordPress Plugins for Integrating Facebook to your Blog

Twitter Awareness Among Americans Exploding Exponentially

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Another day, another report. This time it’s from Edison Research/Arbitron Internet and Multimedia Series detailing on Twitter awareness among Americans. Key findings of the Edison report revealed that awareness of Americans on Twitter increased significantly from 5% in 2008 to 87% in 2010.

The study, which was a result of three years of tracking data from a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,753 Americans conducted in February 2010, also showed that Twitter and Facebook both have almost the same awareness (Facebook has 88%) but in terms of usage, Twitter is still behind Facebook. There are now 7% Americans of the 17 million Twitter users who actively use Twitter, while 41% actively maintain a Facebook account. [Read more…] about Twitter Awareness Among Americans Exploding Exponentially

3 Reasons Why Foursquare Should Not Sell Out

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With its userbase already reaching 1 million this week, coming from a 170,000 membership during the last quarter of 2009, there’s no doubt Foursquare is the hottest and fastest growing location-based social networking service right now. With 20 employees running it, it is not so surprising that talks are already popping out regarding possible sell-out.

And if you’re still doubting whether Foursquare is hot right now, what if we tell you who the rumored buyers are. Well, some of the major players who are reportedly eyeing Foursquare include Yahoo, Microsoft and Facebook. Yahoo was rumored to be willing to buy Foursquare for $100 million. Now, the question is not whether Foursquare will sell out, but rather should Foursquare sell out?

I don’t think so. And here are 3 reasons why Foursquare should not sell out.

1. Location-based social networking is hot and still growing

Both three major social media players namely, Google, Twitter and Facebook are gradually exploring the location-based social media sphere. Google is slowly evolving its Buzz service to have the same cool features as Foursquare. Twitter has activated geolocation of tweets and Facebook has been trying out these feature as well. As for Foursquare, it’s the very essence of its existence – location aware social sharing and networking. Foursquare just need to ponder on why the three major players are wanting to have Foursquare feature’s to understand that it’s going to be the next big thing in the social media ecosystem.

2. Along with growth is the commercial revenue potential

Foursquare currently offers free advertising to small shops and restaurants as it generates revenue from selling ads business chains. It recently launched Foursquare for Business where it gives simple self-service tools that would allow business manager to cook up various kinds of special gigs that would attract customers to business establishments. This is a good start at trying to tap on a business model. Once this service goes viral and businesses spread the word out how Foursquare is helping out drive in customers, you can just imagine how big it will be for Foursquare. Location-based social networking and recommendation site has all the potentials to bring in revenue whether be it for ads or other means. And Foursquare is already ahead of the game. [Read more…] about 3 Reasons Why Foursquare Should Not Sell Out