Filed under: Software, Internet Tools, Beta Beat
Beta Beat: Twitter app Lounge
In the history of marketing battles, The Cola Wars have nothing on the Twitter App War that's currently raging online. Twitterrific, TweetDeck and others (popular with commenters: Pwitter and DestroyTwitter) are waging the ground battle, while Twitterrific (mobile), Tweetie and TwitterFon (to name a few) are fighting it out in the air.Today we got our hands on a beta of Lounge, a new client for Mac OS X (and iPhone/iPod touch). It's definitely got a way to go (I saw more beach balls than Memorial Day at Hilton Head), but I see where they're going and I like it.
First off, there's support for multiple accounts, and switching between them is easy. A series of buttons appear horizontally in the left of the window, including "My 2 Cents" (which displays just your tweets), Favorites, Friends, Replies and my favorite, Vanity, which finds all occurrences of your Twitter handle.
Mouse over a user's tweet to see options to re-tweet, copy the URL, open in a browser and more. I really like the option to view user details, which lets you see just that user's tweets, his followers, those being followed and profile and URL.
It is kind of wide (wider than Twitterrific but not TweetDeck, of course) so those with small displays be warned. Also, some may be put off by the pastel-colored icons. Still, it shows promise. Check it out if you're up for it, and provide some feedback to make Lounge better.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joel said 1:18PM on 3-25-2009
May I suggest "Destroy Twitter" if you haven't been checking it out already.
I've tried the "gadgets" that work with your browser or iGoogle page, as well as several apps (like twurl and Tweet Deck), but Destroy Twitter is my favorite by far.
The best part is it's an Adobe Air app, so it works on PC, Mac and Linux without issues. I can use the same app at home and at the office. Woot!
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rTwelve said 1:47PM on 3-25-2009
Adobe AIR? No thanks. Pwitter for the win.
m_king said 1:59PM on 3-25-2009
I have to concur with this. I can’t believe DestroyTwitter didn’t get a mention. Considerably leaner than TweetDeck, it’s its simplicity that really does it for me.
http://www.destroytoday.com/projects/destroytwitter
brrhg said 4:31PM on 3-25-2009
Agree with both of rTwelve's points - AIR is made of misery, and Pwitter is the client I've been most happy with so far. Although I will be checking out lounge, but I suspect it will be too big for me.
Chris said 6:04PM on 3-25-2009
Ditto on DestroyTwitter.
This is like the second or third time that TUAW has reviewed a Twitter app and the first comment is always "have you tried DestroyTwitter?" It's more Mac like than even OS X Native Twitter apps due to it's full keyboard support.
WalrusCP said 1:33PM on 3-25-2009
EventBox FTW!!
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mistical said 1:53PM on 3-25-2009
While EventBox is alright, Lounge has the best potential to be one of the best Twitter apps out there. EventBox is working on too many things for it to be the best Twitter app, kind of like it being bloated. I am not saying it is terrible, for all of what it brings, some people should check it out.
The problem many others and I have with Adobe AIR apps is that they are slow and end up taking up a lot of resources or slow down after a while or are slow already, period. TweetDeck is too bloated for any liking twhirl needs one hell of a work over, not just in design and slowness.
With more Lounge feedback, I have already suggested some to them yesterday, I hope for it to become better. Remember, anyone trying this out and as post says, getting beach balls, need to remember it is just a Beta. :) I am still using it, have yet to go back to Twitterrific.
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MILE said 2:12PM on 3-25-2009
I'm really enjoying 'Lounge' on both the Mac and the iPhone so far...! And even though both versions still lack a few features this sure has the potential to replace 'Tweetie' (on the iPhone) and 'Twitterific' for me -- probably as soon as they release the next updates of 'Lounge'...! :)
I'm still stunned how much better most iPhone Twitter apps are than their desktop counterparts for the Mac though...! As much as I have always liked 'Twitterific', it's development just seems to have been stalling for ages now...
And all those AIR apps just somehow don't "feel" right on the Mac, I dunno how else to put it...but none of them are what I expect a decent mac app to be...
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mistical said 2:17PM on 3-25-2009
I forgot to mention that too in my comment Mile. Adobe AIR apps just do not feel right what so ever on OS X. Same goes with some of those I have talked to, so I think for the most part, there are a lot more out there that feel the same way.
Twitterrific development has been staling for ages, that is for sure. That is why I have wanted a new Twitter app to replace it the past few months. Their recent update did not impress me what-so-ever. So now, I have been disappointed and moving on and Lounge I hope will be that replacement. :)
MikeD said 2:25PM on 3-25-2009
Agree with the Adobe AIR posts.
How does anyone even attempt to use TweetDeck? I just tried it for a minute and it nearly locked up my Macbook...
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Chris said 6:05PM on 3-25-2009
Don't let Tweetdeck ruin your impressions of what an Air app can be. DestroyTwitter does it right!
Mike Rapin said 2:21PM on 3-25-2009
Beachballs aside, I have to say Lounge is beating all other apps out there for the Mac. Twitterrific is fine and pretty, but I'm realizing the features outweigh the look of this app.
Please remember, the app is at version 0.3 so I have HUGE hopes for this app. This is like the Transmission of Twitter clients... give it time.
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Eric Miller said 2:54PM on 3-25-2009
Just thought I'd mention that you can hide the pastel-colored icons, reducing the width of the window.
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pListOFF said 3:32PM on 3-25-2009
I beta tested Lounge Mobile from early, early on and I have to say the developer, Peter Maurer of ManyTricks (y'know, Butler, ServiceScrubber, Leech, Witch, etc), is not only some kind of code magician but he's incredibly responsive to people's thoughts and ideas. A very cool cat!
Lounge Desktop is early in development but it still beats any of the others I've tried (EventBox, Twitterific, TweetDeck, Nambu, etc.)
HonKs to Peter and Geoff Mitchell (the Geese!) ;^)
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Thomas said 3:27PM on 3-25-2009
Bluebird app will kill them all. Themeable client...http://www.bluebirdapp.com/
See the review here http://blog.debeasi.com/2009/03/13bolds-new-twitter-client-bluebird/
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rTwelve said 1:20PM on 3-26-2009
I'm going to keep an eye on this. I'm a huge fan of Bowtie.
londonflier said 5:06PM on 3-25-2009
DestroyTwitter is the best one I tried so far
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Jim said 6:02PM on 3-25-2009
I am using Nambu on my Mac and iPhone. The Mac version is still very much a beta, but that said, I always return to it after trying other Twitter clients. I like both its Sidebar and Multi-column views, and that I can choose between them depending on my needs of the moment.
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moulles said 7:00PM on 3-25-2009
Plus, it's native. Adobe Air gives me the vapors.