Micro-blogging site Twitter is rolling out a major redesign revamping key features and updating its apps for mobile devices running iOS and Android.
A unified "Home" area allows users to view Tweets including latest news, commentary and information from the people he or she chose to follow.
"It’s now easier and faster to see the information that matters most to you. Immediately access your favorite features from the left-hand side. Photos, videos and conversations are embedded directly in Tweets so you can see the whole story at a glance. And now everything in Home will appear consistently across computers, iPhones, and Android mobile phones," it said.
The revamped Twitter also features a new tab menu that will be the same across all devices.
It added a simpler design allows one to easily view Twitter stats, get suggestions on who to follow and see trending topics.
Also, tweets can now expand to show more information such as replies, retweets and embedded photos and videos.
A new Connect section allows one to see who has followed or mentioned him or her; or retweeted or favorited one of his or her Tweets.
It also allows a user to connect with @usernames instantly and act on interactions.
One can now also see all the Tweets in which he or she is mentioned in one place, "so you can keep the conversation going."
The Discover feature lets one tap into a stream of useful and entertaining information.
"When you use Discover, you’ll see results reflecting your interests—based on your current location, what you follow and what’s happening in the world. As you use Twitter more, Discover gets even better at serving up more content just for you. Whatever you’re curious about, Discover will help you find out more," Twitter said.
A "Made for you" feature shows stories and trends content trending in a user's world based on recent popularity as well as connections, location and language.
Profile section
Twitter features a new profile section that puts a users and his or her interests front and center.
"Others can Tweet directly to you and view your lists, favorites, followers, photos and more. The Me tab is also where you can stay current on your direct message conversations," it said.
A "Me" tab lets one introduce himself or herself to the world.
Branding pages
Twitter also launched of its own version of branding pages, appearing to challenge Facebook's current preeminence as a social location for advertisers.
"Advertisers can have large customized headers adorned with their logos. Brands have the option to park any tweet at the beginning of their timeline," tech site CNET said.
It added advertisers can also separate out and highlight their brand's "@ replies" and mentions - potentially a big deal for companies who'd like to be in constant conversation with their customers, but who don't want that back-and-forth to dilute their own message.
Another article on Mashable said Twitter also expanded the number of brand pages on the platform.
Launch partners for the pages include American Express, Best Buy, Bing, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Dell, Disney, General Electric, Hewlitt-Packard, Intel, JetBlue, Kia, McDonald’s, Nike, PepsiCo, Staples, Verizon Wireless, NYSE Euronext, Heineken, Subway and Paramount Pictures, specifically for the release of Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.
It cited a report in Advertising Age where "bBrands can also choose to keep a particular tweet at the top of their time line, and that top tweet also auto-expands to reveal an embedded photo or video from Flickr, YouTube or other sources, without requiring the user to take action.”
The new design also lets brands separate their @ replies and mentions, according to the report.
"Twitter’s embrace of brand pages, which had been rumored since April, comes about a month after Google introduced brand pages for Google+," it noted. — LBG, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
