I admit that I’ve been an avid Twitter user for quite a while now. Up until today I have looked at plenty of Twitter tools – and picked my favorite ones. Today I’d like to introduce you to the App “HootSuite” – a powerful tool when it comes to scheduling and managing your tweets.

Price: $ 1.99
Would I buy again: Yes
Learning Curve: Intermediate
Who is it for: People who use Twitter and/or the HootSuite online service
Version tested: 1.0.1 on iPhone 3G, OS 3.1.3
Comparable Apps: Tweetdeck, Seesmic
Available Languages: English
This App was tested by Kira
appstory.tv rating:

Download in iTunes | App Website

This is how it works:

• On the first screen your Twitter stream overview is displayed grouped in tabs, each with the option to view your preset columns (in my case only sent and pending tweets).
• At the top of the screen you can edit these (delete or add columns and tabs).
• You can compose a new tweet by tapping the icon in the top right corner. When in edit mode, you can choose the Twitter account you want to send this tweet from, upload an image to your tweet, shrink a link or (and this is one of my favorite options by HootSuite) schedule your tweet for a certain date and time.
• Next in the nav menu is the stats tool. This is another one of my favorite functions: All clicks on the links you shorten with HootSuite are tracked! Here you can see which of your tweets was most interesting to your followers.
• Further on you find searches. You can perform a search or browse tweets to currently trending topics.
• Last but not least there are the settings in which you can easily add or delete your Twitter and HootSuite accounts.

Some people assume that HootSuite is a classic Twitter client. It is not. HootSuite is your Twitter back office.

What I like about HootSuite:

• Great features, just like the web service
• I love the options for scheduling tweets and viewing the stats on the go

What I don’t like so much:

• Nothing. I simply love it.

© Kira for appstory.tv, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: client, hootsuite, iPad, iPhone, ipod touch, Kira Song, twitter

There are trillions of newsreader available for the iPhone. NewsRack promises a great reading experience. Is the prize justified?

Price: $4.99 €3,99
Would I buy again: Definitely
Learning Curve: Easy
Who is it for: Newsjunkies
Version tested: 2.3.1 on iPhone 3GS, OS 3.1.2
Comparable Apps: MobileRSS, Free RSS Reader
Available Languages: English, German

This App was tested by Richard
appstory.tv rating:

Download in iTunes | App Website

This is how it works:

• NewsRack syncs with Google Reader
• Organize numerous RSS-feeds in different categories
• Change order, sync-cycle and number of stored articles
• Mark favourites
• Share articles with Twitter, Facebook etc.
• Download articles for offline-reading

What I like about NewsRack:

• browsing big RSS-Headlines in a newsstand-design
• very easy to handle
• variety of options in the settings menu

What I don’t like about NewsRack:

• minor bugs (still!) like retyping your google password
• quite pricy

NewsRack was formally known as NewsStand, had to change its name due to copyright reasons.

© Richard for appstory.tv, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: App, Blogs, iPhone, News, Newsreader, Review, RSS

Being an addicted Twitter user myself I must updates my statuses via desktop and my mobile all the day. Having collected some friends with a few thousand status updates every day I need a twitter client with utmost usability. I think one of the best – or the best – is Tweetie 2.

appstory.tv rating:

Download in iTunes | App Website

Using twitter all the day, Tweetie 2 is my favourite client. High usability cum nice design – it’s a treat.

This is how it works:

• After having installed Tweetie 2 you have to add your twitter account with username and password. Tweetie 2 checKira your credentials and then fetches your timeline, @-replies and Direct Messages which are neatly displayed at the bottom of the screen. A blue dot indicates new status updates for each category.
• At the top of the screen you see the name of your account – which is important for those, tweeting with more than one account. Below you find a search box.
• Moving the timeline, @-replies or DM downwards with your finger, you refresh the statuses. If you refresh your timeline, @-replies and DM will automatically be refreshed as well.
• If you select on tweet by your finger’s touch, you’ll be able to reply to this tweet, retweet it, quote it, forward it via email, post a link to this tweet, translate or favourite it.
• Even faster you are by selecting a tweet with your finger’s swoosh to the right. The tweet transforms itself to an action bar with the same actions mentioned before.
• Writing tweets with Tweetie 2 is fun because it supports Horizontal Screen and tweets with more than 140 characters will automatically shortened with Twitlonger and will be posted. And a click on the number of available characters allows you to shoot a new or use a saved foto and include it in your tweet, as well as choose the right hashtag, @username and your own geotag.
• Using the Search function of Tweetie 2 you can use the twitter search, go to a user directly or search for tweeple nearby.

Best mobile twitter client there is at the moment.

© Michael for appstory.tv, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

The Skype mobile app for the iPhone is great for saving phone costs, especially when travelling in a foreign country. Beware that depending on your phone service provider’s contract, you perhaps may only use the phone function on a WiFi network.

Price: free
Would I buy again: Definitely
Learning Curve: Intermediate
Who is it for: Anyone who uses Skype on their computer, anyone who wants to save phone costs.
Version tested: 1.2.2 on iPhone 3G, OS 3.1.2
Comparable Apps: TruPhone, Beejive, Fring
Available Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, Danish, Finnish, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
This App was tested by Kira
appstory.tv rating:

Download in iTunes | App Website

The Skype iPhone app is a great cost saver. You might know the program for your computer. If not: Skype is a free chat- and Voice over IP software. It lets you make free calls to the people you have added to your skype contacts. So let’s have a look at it.

This is how it works:

• When you call up the app, it will either ask you for your skype login or sign you in automatically
• If you have an account with skype, the app will retrieve your contacts and personal info now
• Next, your online contacts will be displayed
• You can tap a contact and chose to call – this will only work over WiFi – or chat with the person
• Calls might only work on WiFi for you, depending on your phone service provider
• Chatting will work over the phone network
• The skype app saves your chat conversations (tap “chats” at the bottom) and displays them in a cute speech bubble style
• You also have a dialing pad (tap), your dilaing history (tap) and the possibility to edit your skype info
• Once you close the app, you are disconnected from skype, so you won’t be able to be contcted via Skype anymore

If you’ve been using Skype on your computer, you will be a native to the app. If you’re new to Skype, you will gueranteed enjoy its cost saving quality.

© admin for appstory.tv, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: App, Chat, Free Phone Calls, IM, Instant Messaging, iPhone, Kira, Kira Song, Movie, Review, Skype, Video, VoIP