Last week, Twitter launched its client app for Windows 8. Along with a host of familiar features, the Windows 8 Twitter app brings many new and noteworthy features. The Twitter development team certainly took its time getting on board the Windows 8 Store, but does that mean users now have a fully functional and easy to use platform that they can enjoy using? We took the app for a spin and here’s what we discovered.
Setting up Twitter App Windows 8
As with all Windows 8 apps, you’ll need to head over to the Windows Store ( You’ll find it in the Social Section) to launch it. You will be asked to authorize the app with your Twitter credentials. And then select an option to allow or deny permissions for the app to run in the background. Select Allow if you want to see notifications pop up as and when stuff happens on your social network. Once that’s done you’re ready to start using the app.
Twitter App for Windows 8 : Interface
The Windows 8 Twitter App interface is easy on the eye and appears to be less noisy than its web based version. The central section of the screen is taken up by the Twitter timeline. On the left pane, you’ll find 4 options Home, Connect, Discover, and Me. In the right corner, there’s the Compose and Search icons.
If you wish to favorite, tweet, or retweet a message, simply select the message. It will pop out ever so slightly from the timeline. Then choose an option. The interface looks good and the options to engage are all easily accessible from the Home page.
New Features in Windows 8 Twitter app
Photo Grid
One of the coolest features of the Twitter app for Windows 8 is the Photo grid. Basically, it’s how the app lets you view photos in a users profile. Just go over to the profile of a user you are following and scroll horizontally, or slide across the screen if you’re using a touch device and you can check out all the photos in a grid. Tap a photo and you can view it in full screen.
Twitter Charms
Although the Windows 8 Charms hasn’t managed to charm most Windows users, it seems to have charmed the developers who have introduced the Search and Share functionality in Charms. Just hit the Share Charm (Win+ H shortcut key) from just about anywhere in Windows 8 to tweet links, images and other messages. Similarly, hit the Search Charm (Win+ Q shortcut key) to find hashtags or user accounts to follow.
Snap View
If you’ve been using Windows 8 for some time now, you are familiar with the option to snap windows side by side, so that you can view two screens at the same time. The Twitter app for Windows 8 has been designed with this ability as well. So, if you want to keep checking out your timeline while doing something else just toggle the keyboard shortcut Win+. to snap between two apps. That’s a pretty cool feature you’ll love using as well.
Everything Else Twitter
There’s a ton of other stuff that you can do on Twitter. Set notifications for mentions, retweets, favorited items, direct messages and on getting new followers, clearing the Search history, and well, eventually logging out of Twitter. The Settings->Options section will have all those options lined up for you to tweak according to your requirements.
Twitter App for Windows 8 – Keep it or Dump it?
Having spent a few hours with the app, I can happily say working with the Twitter app in Windows 8 is a breeze. The app is well designed, easy to navigate and customize, and a delight to work with. The Twitter team can pat themselves on their back for delivering a fabulous product that gives users a good experience. Not many of the Windows 8 apps are a pleasure to work with, but Twitter for Windows 8 definitely gets a thumbs up.
Final Verdict: Keep It!
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