zard's Oddcast

I use twitter. A lot.

I normally use TweetDeck, unless there are circumstances that prevent me from doing so (shitty Uni network, or being on my dumb phone). It’s powerful, but can be annoying at times, especially as it depends on the Adobe AIR framework. So I’m taking some time out today to look for a new client.

Here’s some basic criteria:

• OS X native – not AIR based
• Auto-complete/suggestion of user names
• Integration with the OS X dictionary
• Growl integration a benefit
• If it’s not free, it’s got to be really good
• Lists and searches need to be there

Quite a simple list. So, who are the contenders?

Syrinx

Is a good looking client, in so far as it fits in perfectly with the rest of OS X. The fact that you can display retweets in their own tab is a nice function. Sadly, it lacks everything on the list, except Growl and being native. No lists, no (obvious) retweet function, a gimped search function. Sorry Syrinx, you started strong, but fell so very early on.

Tototl

This app loses marks, in my book, because it throws all of your inbound tweets into the same column. It lacks dictionary integration and auto-complete/suggest, and there’s no list option. Oh, and you can’t cmd+tab to it. MAJOR flaw.

NatsuLion

This is another nice looking app that seems to fall short in the functions list – no dictionary, no auto-complete/suggest, no list function. *sigh* And loading tweets at the bottom? Counter-intuitive, to me at least.

Lounge

Oh Lounge, you get so close. Your search function is awesome, you suggest usernames as I type, but you don’t support lists, the new retweet function or spell checking. I will be keeping my eye on you.

TwitterPod

I’d heard good things about TwitterPod and so, I’d hoped that it would able to do what I wanted. Sadly not. A lot of the commands are buried away in the menubar, and it suffers from the same problems that almost all of the above clients have.

Twitterrific

Twitterrific is an ad supported app, (or ad free for $14.99), and yet it lacks so many of the items on my list, I wonder why anybody would pay for it. At least it spellchecks, I suppose.

Echofon

This has been my fall back client, for when TweetDeck fails on me. It’s pretty good – supports lists and the new retweet, but doesn’t spell check or auto suggest.

I know there are more OS X native apps out there, some that are python based, some that run as a dashboard widget. If you have a suggestion email me or @me. (Note: I’m currently awaiting an invite t the closed beta of Nambu.)