Displaying articles with tag im

A Strange Definition

Posted by joe, Thu Oct 04 12:45:00 UTC 2007

azcentral.com provides an internet marketing glossary, including this bizarre explanation of Twitter:

Twitter - A new form of social media used for posting "away" notices on instant messaging. For example, I could notify everyone in my network if I am heading out to dinner and want company or just need some time alone.

Well, yeah, you could use it for that. But they totally miss the mark.

I've sent an email to the author through her site, which claims she's "responsive like a Porsche 911 Carrera", so hopefully I'll get some sort of insight.

Update: Amanda Vega informs me (with impressive speed) that her much longer explanation was heavily edited. I have updated this post accordingly. Thanks, Amanda!

3 comments | Filed Under: Media Coverage Twitter.com | Tags: imIM

An Easier Way to Follow People on Twitter

Posted by joe, Thu Sep 27 20:47:00 UTC 2007

Today, Twitter also announced a way to follow and find out about other people on Twitter.

This is really nice, for people who have a crippled browser (e.g. JavaScript is disabled) or are using their phone or IM. To follow someone, simple send an update like follow josephgrossberg.

One problem I found: their documented command for un-following someone doesn't work. Follow me, and you'll get this message.

You'll receive a message every time josephgrossberg updates. To disable, send OFF JOSEPHGROSSBERG. For more commands send HELP.

But if you send that, the account in question is still in your "following" list and it appears as a normal update.

One other feature they mention (this does not work in Twitterrific): send whois josephgrossberg, on Twitter.com and you'll get my mini-bio.

0 comments | Filed Under: API News Tips & Tricks | Tags: im

Tracking Tweets

Posted by joe, Thu Sep 27 20:20:00 UTC 2007

Today, Twitter announced an interesting new feature: you can now track any text that appears in a Twitter update.

Using this, you can track three interesting things:

  • Topics: Want to know every time someone posts about your company? You can track something like "Parakey" or "WhyGoSolo" — or even a multi-word company like track Revolution Health. One downside: tracking something like "sushi" or "Iraq" is bound to result in too much traffic to read.
  • Direct messages: You can also track any time your username (or someone else's) appears: track @josephgrossberg
  • Links: This one is a little more flawed, but you can track when anyone posts with a particular tinyurl in it. For example, I did track http://tinyurl.com/yv9mp9 for this site. The problem is, if they use urltea or another service, or they link to a page within your site, you won't get notified.

Like all Twitter features, this one is available on your phone or IM

The interface is very simple:

  • track [whatever] and untrack [whatever] to start or stop tracking something.
  • If you want to stop tracking everything, send track off.
  • To see what you're currently following, send track or stats.

Alas, this last part doesn't work with Twitterrific yet; you need to be on Twitter.com to see the message.

1 comment | Filed Under: API News Tips & Tricks Twitter.com | Tags: im