Twitter makes room for more characters in tweets

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter on Thursday began rolling out changes to let people pack more into tweets, subtracting from the character count names of those being replied to in posts.

The latest software modification at the one-to-many messaging service comes about a year after Twitter set out to relax a 140-character limit set due to mobile phone text messaging constraints in place when Twitter launched in 2006.

Twitter first announced plans to relax the limit a year ago, as part of an effort to bring in more members and make the platform easier to use.

"Remember how we told you we were working on ways to let you to express more with 140 characters?" Twitter product manager Sasank Reddy said in an online post.

"Now, when you reply to someone or a group, those @usernames won’t count toward your tweet's 140 characters."

Providing more room in tweets is seen as a way to encourage more use and sharing of pictures, videos and links.

The move is part of a push by Twitter to increase its user base and engagement, which have sputtered to the chagrin of investors.

"Our work isn't finished," Reddy said.

"We'll continue to think about how we can improve conversations and make Twitter easier to use."

Twitter faces competition from Facebook and Instagram, and a trend of people opting to share content in video or picture formats instead of text.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Twitter may expand character limit: reports

One of Twitter's core features could soon be a thing of the past.

Multiple reports said the social media giant is working on a feature allowing users to send tweets that are 10,000 characters long.

Currently, Twitter users are limited to 140 characters similar to the SMS cap of 160 characters.

Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey neither confirmed nor denied the news. He described the service's 140-character limit as a beautiful constraint that inspires creativity and brevity.

But Dorsey also believes that certain Twitter practices such as posting screenshots of texts and unleashing a series of posts or "tweetstorms" could be improved or strengthened further.

While expanding Twitter's character limit has been reported in last September, this is the first time Dorsey spoke about the issue at length.

- ANC, News Now, January 06, 2016

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Twitter spices timelines with unasked-for tweets

SAN FRANCISCO - Twitter said Friday it would start reconfiguring users' timelines with "relevant" messages from people they haven't bothered to follow at the service.

Based on a positive response from its tests, the popular one-to-many messaging service is inching toward the Facebook model of using software to "curate" what users see based on their interests or activities, Twitter said in a blog post.

"In many cases, the best Tweets come from people you already know, or know of," the San Francisco-based company said.

"But, there are times when you might miss out on Tweets we think you'd enjoy."

Twitter said the plan, which has drawn resistance from some users, remained a "timeline experiment" and might not make it to 100 percent of users.

It said, however, that for now, users would not be able to opt out of the feature.

The company said testing showed that many people enjoy seeing tweets from accounts they don't follow, provided the messages are deemed worthwhile based on "signals" such as popularity, level of interaction, and how much interest is shown by account's one does follow.

A support page at Twitter on Friday explained that when it identifies a tweet, an account to follow, or other content that is popular or relevant, may be added to timelines.

"This means you will sometimes see Tweets from accounts you don't follow," the Twitter support page explained.

"We believe that each successful experiment, big or small, can make your Twitter experience simpler and more relevant to you."

The notion of curating Twitter timelines that have long been loved for the real-time blast of information provided is seen as anathema by some fans of the service.

A stream of messages fired off at Twitter urged the company to back away from what was lambasted as a terrible idea.

Facebook continually refines its algorithm for determining which posts should be given priority in timelines presented at the leading social network.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How your tweets impact TV shows ratings

MANILA -- The higher the number of tweets about a show, the higher its ratings.

This is according to a new study released recently by Kantar Media, where it found that 11 percent (or one out of 10) of the shows and programs surveyed during a 12-month period gained viewers as a direct result of high Twitter activity.

Although the gain is a slight 2 percent, the latest study on UK viewers is one of the "first in-depth" look on how posts on the microblogging site can be an effective tool to complement overall ratings.

In 2013, rival Nielsen touched on the relationship between Twitter and live-broadcasts, revealing that "48 percent of the episodes sampled had statistically significant changes in Live TV Ratings among 29 percent of the episodes."

Kantar Media's latest report examined 110 million TV-related tweets from over 13 million unique users, covering the months between June 2013 and May 2014.

The data, however, relates to live broadcasts and does not include video-on-demand, nor live sports, news and special events.

According to Global CEO of Kantar Media Andy Brown, Twitter not only has the power to boost TV viewing during broadcast but that smaller channels and shows can complement their ratings by becoming more "Twitter-friendly."

"People have always talked about TV with friends and family, and Twitter extends these conversations outside the living room," he said.

Brown added that Twitter-friendly shows that encourage tweets during the broadcast or have a younger audience can help create an image that a program is doing better than its actual ratings.

In UK, the data showed a noticeable skew towards entertainment, talent shows, and some dramas, including "Sherlock," "Downton Abbey" and "Doctor Who," where there is a cult or younger following.

The country's "The X-Factor," which has a huge social media presence of 5.2 million followers, delivered 9.4 million posts on Twitter over the period surveyed, winning the title for highest number of tweets for a series.

"The Brits" -- UK's equivalent of the Grammy Awards -- was the top single broadcast show with more than 4 million posts.

While Kantar Media did not go into detail into how the millions of tweets resulted into more viewers, Joel Lunenfeld, the global vice president of sales strategy at Twitter, asserts that the new data provides enough a look for program makers and advertisers alike to take notice.

"It provides a fascinating set of insights that will help the industry better understand and harness the power of social TV," he said.

Is it happening in the Philippines?

A similar trend can be seen in the Philippines, where several primetime shows and afternoon dramas employ a daily hashtag for viewers and Twitter users to air their thoughts while the the shows are being aired.

Programs such as the finale of "The Voice Kids Philippines" and the recent September 28 episode of "Maalala Mo Kaya, both having trended worldwide on Twitter, topped their respective daily ratings charts.

The primetime series "Got to Believe," starring teen stars Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, also frequented the worldwide trending topic list of the social media site.

The series was typically in the top five most watched shows in the country, according to data from Kantar Media.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Vice Ganda twits Napoles

MANILA - Ace comedian Vice Ganda mocked businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of a P10-billion pork barrel scam, after the latter's appearance at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the scam.

In his official Twitter account, Ganda made one-liner jokes against Napoles for not telling the truth.

Ganda on Thursday joined several celebrities who openly lambasted Napoles, while praising Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and other lawmakers for trying to get the truth from the businesswoman.

Below are the tweets of Ganda against Napoles.

"Hey StarCinema totoo bang pumirma na si Napoles sa inyo ng kontrata para iremake ang My Amnesia Girl? Hala nanakawan pa si ToniG ng role!"

"Napoles Wedding- Priest: Janet do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Elevator Girl: hi Sir/Ma'am anung floor po tayo? Napoles: Di ko po alam!"

"Simsimi: Maganda ka ba? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Bimbi: Whats siksik Napoles? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"AngelLocsin: What's the #2 anti dandruff shampoo in the world? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Korina: Handa na ba kayo? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Baha Men: Who let the dogs out? Janet: di ko po alam!"

"ViceGanda: Saan gawa ang tocino mo? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Napoles during communion- Priest: Body of Christ. Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Ylvis: What does the fox say? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Billy: Wazzzzup Madlang People? Janet: Di ko po alam?"

"LuisManzano: Is it a deal or no deal? Janet: Di ko po alam!"

"Senate: Last question! Naka ilang "Di ko po alam!" ka na? Janet: Di ko po alam!

"Globe has released their DiKoPoAlam Unli Promo today. Janet was the first to avail. Now promo is no longer available."

"ViceGanda: I want Napoles on GGV! Ma'amCharo: No! Mas bagay sya sa Maalaala Mo Kaya!"

"Hoy Janet tutal wala ka naman palang maalala wag na wag kong makikitang nagpopost ka ng entry ng #ThrowBackThursday sa instagram ha!"

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Solenn explains side on 'Boy Pick-Up' issue, Angelina Jolie tweets

MANILA, Philippines – Young temptress Solenn Heussaff denies reports that she has snagged Sam Pinto’s Neneng B role in the "Boy Pick-Up" movie.

“Si Sam Pinto is still the original Neneng B and will still be Neneng B in the movie. Ako ‘yung isang baker,” Solenn explained on “24 Oras,” Feb. 28.

The half-Filipina, half-French actress found the need to explain her side when reports that she’s tapped to play Neneng B’s character surfaced recently. The role in “Bubble Gang” segment has since become Sam’s most popular alter ego.

“I’m still doing Neneng B. I’m still playing Neneng B in the movie,” Sam explained in the same episode.

Sam is “excited” to play Neneng B in the movie version of Boy Pick-Up as “we all didn’t expect it to be that big, this big. So parang I love doing Boy Pick-Up.”

The spin off, according to Sam, will revolve on “Boy Pick-up’s life outside the pick-up world.”

Apparently, Sam is aware about talks that Solenn will reprise her comic role in the movie version.

“I actually texted her. ‘Ano ‘tong tsismis na ‘to?’”

Aside from the Neneng B issue, Solenn also found herself on the hot seat after she commented about Angelina Jolie’s looks during the recent Oscar Awards.

“Angelina jolie is looking old and too skinny #SayangAngBeauty #academyawards,” Solenn tweeted at 11:26 AM, Feb. 27.

This was followed by another tweet which said, “She's still my favorite forever. But I wish she would eat more :( hard having so many kids I guess!”

The messages didn’t sit well with fans of the Hollywood actress who took to Twitter to criticize her comment on Brad Pitt’s partner.

Dawngaviola-vallena tweeted on Feb. 27, “Beginning to hate @solennheussaff! So Angelina Jolie looks old huh?!”

AbbyDelute seemingly took a swipe at Solenn with this message, “I am not negating on your opinion though, but no offense she still can give young CELEBS a run for their money! Hot as hell!”

To which Solenn agrees.

“Yes she's still hot. But she's looked better :( still love her,” she said.

“Nilinaw ni Solenn na opinion niya lang iyon at hindi niya sinisiraan ang Hollywood actress. Sa katunayan, idolo niya si Angelina lalo pa noong bumida ito sa ‘Tomb Raider’ movies,” the “24 Oras” report said.

“[I was kind of surprised] na medyo payat siya. The concerned girl, I mean, siyempre naman hindi ako perfect, hindi ako ganoon din. It’s just reaction lang, point of view ng isang tao lang, opinion lang. So if you don’t agree with me, you don’t agree with me.”

To probably appease fans of Angelina, Solenn posted a series of tweets saying she’s learned a lesson out of the experience.

“Guys chill!! Some people take things too personally. Opinions aren't for twitter. one thing I learned today! Wow haha chillax.”

At past 12 noon on Feb. 27, she posted, “OMG haha Sad to say but when u have an opinion, just shut up and save it for yourself. Or twitterworld is gowing to war haha! Intertaining.”

And to finally put the matter to rest, she posted, “Ok tapos na on the angie subject. Let me now focus on my spelling problem. LOL and gona go enjoy Unofficially yours! Ciao caio tweeterpekers.”

article source: mb.com.ph