12 New Ways To Tweet Using Mac Twitter Tools

The technology craze of the late 20th century was the internet, adoption by the masses primarily fueled by two main killer applications—email and browsing.

Already, the 21st century has brought us two more killer apps. YouTube (not really an applications), and Twitter, the social networking service for the rest of us. Here’s my look at 12 ways to tweet using various and sundry Twitter tools for Mac users.

What Is Twitter, Really?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, do not have a computer with internet access, and pay no attention to trends and fads, you’ve heard of Twitter.

What is Twitter? Besides a world wide phenomenon, the specific definition probably carries more weight with the following:

Twitter is a free social networking service.

Or, Twitter is a free micro-blogging service.

Posts are known as tweets, text-based posts of up to 140 characters. Tweeting is kind of like text messaging from your Mac to everyone on the internet (though you can restrict who receives your tweets).

Twitter Tweeting Tools

Mac users who want to know what all the tweeting noise is surrounding Twitter will be happy to know there are more Twitter tools than there are email clients or browsers combined.

For example, take this List of Twitter Services and Applications. Please.

There’s browser plugins that let you tweet without leaving to open a Twitter application. There’s Twitter tools for Windows, Linux, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Nintendo, the iPhone, Symbian OS, BlackBerry, and pretty much everything else in between.

Twitter and tweets and tools are everywhere. Grab one and take it for a spin and tweet until the cows come home.

#12 - Twitter Automator Action Pack: First up is a set of Automator tools for Leopard and Snow Leopard users called Tiwtter Automator Action Pack. It’s really more like a building block set of features using Automator. It tweets. It gets tweets. It sends direct tweets. It gets direct tweets. And so on. Worse

#11 - Pocket: The cutest Twitter tool icon award goes to Pocket. Twitter tools don’t get much simpler. It sticks under your Mac’s Menu Bar and, well, it posts, reposts, has a changeable theme, and can alert you to new tweets. Otherwise, Pocket is thin.

#10 - NatsuLion: Match your iPhone and Mac with NatsuLion, a simple Twitter client that’s not so simple, not so full of features, not so fun.

#9 - Twittery: You’ll notice twit of some form or another in every Mac Twitter tool. Twittery is the barest of bones, the thinnest of thin, the lightest of light, and I mention it because everything is better from this one on up.

#8 - Twee!: As if Twitter wasn’t easy enough, along comes Twee! for the Twitter user who doesn’t tweet too much. Then again, that’s all that Twee! really does.

#7 - TwitterPod: The claim to fame with this Twitter tool is message store. TwitterPod Twitter threads can be stored and displayed in a simple window. Post tweets, search, and, uh, well, not much more.

#6 - Twucket: No noise. Most Twitter tools make noise when a tweet arrives. Twucket is bare bones minimalist. No noise. No bouncing icons. Just tweets in a tiny app.

#5 - Twit Menulet: It’s not as if the Menu Bar on your Mac isn’t crowded already. Twit Menulet is the simple Twitter tool that fits in your Menu Bar. It handles multiple accounts and threaded tweets.

#4 - Twidget: Sure, you love Dashboard Widgets, so why not use a Dashboard Twitter tool? How about Twidget? It’s Twitter plus Dashboard to equal Twidget. Public or friends timeline, auto refresh, and moderate threading.

#3 - Syrinx: One of the best free Twitter tools, Syrinx bookmarks, manages threads, and provides more than basic features. Can’t beat the price.

#2 - Twitterrific: IconFactory’s wonderful Twitter tool, Twitterrific has a special spot in my heart as the first tweeting tool I fell in love with. It’s a Menu Bar app so it’s always a click away. Mac and iPhone version.

#1 - Tweetie: Still the best Mac or iPhone Twitter client, Tweetie is drop dead easy to use, elegant, fast, intuitive, and loaded with features for search, composing, and managing threads. Mac and iPhone versions available.

Twitter Combo Apps

Also popular but not reviewed are Twitter combo apps, those Twitter tools do email, or connect to Facebook or Flickr, or are extensions for Firefox, but otherwise do more than just tweet.

I’ll cover those in another session. Meanwhile, what’s your Twitter application choice? Share your experience and passion with other Mac360 readers in the Comments section and check out the list of Twitter apps that did not make my list.