If you don’t know what Twitter is, it’s a micro blogging site where you are prompted to answer the question, “What are you doing?” in 140 characters or less. Like:
whoa – a bird just pooed on my keyboard whilst sitting in a cafe
Mario Klingemann 06:02 PM June 05, 2007
Updates can be made via text message, the website, or one of the many Twitter desktop and iPhone apps. I currently like Twirl, Twitterific and TweetDeck, but mostly just use the website and text messages.
Twitter used to have IM functionality with Google Talk. It has since been shut off due to the popularity of the site and the hardware demands. Twitter is known for being down often, but hopefuly these issues will be resolved soon. Twitter, PLEASE fix notification for @replies ASAP!
I’ve been using my Twitter account daily since December 2006 with over 2000 tweets. I average two posts per day, some days a lot more and some days not so much. I find it fun and informative as a tool that is so simple, yet opens up to so much opportunity for other uses. I check my friends status updates often, but not to the point that I must read everything that gets posted. That’s what I love about Twitter, it’s like an ongoing conversation (or lots of them) that I can casually check into when I feel like it. Contribute a comment or make a status update, just check in and see what’s going on.
I follow APNews, nprpolitics and Woot to be notified of breaking news and crappy gadget sales. In addition to Following someone on Twitter, you have the option to turn on “Device Updates” for a person you follow. Then you will receive updates via SMS whenever that person posts. This can get annoying if you follow someone like Robert Scoble.
Wired Magazine asked a few of Twitter’s top talents “How to Twitter” in 140 characters or less, here are a couple of my favs:
“Every single Twitter post you write should be something that could get you laid, ruin a marriage, or bring a tear to a fat little kid’s eye.” — Joshua Allen
“Don’t try to impress — just be yourself. But go a little beyond your comfort zone; share something you’re hesitant about sharing.” — Evan Williams
There’s a countless amount or great people worth following on Twitter (Gawker actually posted a list of their top 12), here are a few that keep me entertained:
- http://twitter.com/gruber John Gruber, the mac blog king delivers daily rants and news to what’s going in his tech world and things that make you go hmm.
- http://twitter.com/dooce Dooce, the famous Mommy blogger and fellow Utahn continues to write witty posts even in 140 char format.
- http://twitter.com/Brilliantcrank Greg Storey, maker of Airbag Industries Twitters gems like: “Does Santa know that all his female elves are masquerading as gymnasts in China? I bet he’s going to be pissed.”
- http://twitter.com/kbestor Kurt Bestor is as good at writing witty status as he is writing Mormon loved music.
If you feel like following my Twitter posts, I am paulm. I’ll try to keep the potty humor to a minimum.
