New Twitter King? Top Android App: TweetCaster

What we have here is a new contender in the Android Twitter app discussion. Many of you have asked the seemingly simple question, “what is the best Twitter app for Android” and have found there is an extensive list to choose from (previously we gave our Top 5 Free Twitter Apps, which will now need updating). Read on for more!

Size: 814KB

Category: Communication

Price: Free (Pro: $4.99)

Version: 1.0

Overall Score: 4.7/5

User Interface: 5/5

Ease of Use: 5/5

Customizability: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Indispensability: 4.5/5

Here’s the breakdown of the pros/cons of TweetCaster.

Pros:

User-interface: Clean layout, icons, options, and functionality
Multiple accounts: A very desirable attribute of Twitter apps
Trends, searches, lists, etc.
Nearby tweets: See what’s going on around you
Tweet options: Shrink URLs, geotag, add picture, etc.
Speed: Quick responses throughout the app
Jump to Top: Feed also leaves off where you last checked
Real-time updates: Always on top of things!
Conversation threads

Cons:

Bubble text boxes: Bulky, and make less room for other tweets on each page
Heavy on resources: This has been seen with Twidroid too
No ‘reply all’: Seesmic has this implemented beautifully
No widget
No link for #hashtags

Discussion:

TweetCaster brings a new look and feel to the realm of Twitter Android apps. First off, the UI is very attractive. Like previous Twitter apps, you have 5 tabs to choose from; tweets, @replies, direct messages, favorites, and lists. This offers you quick access to your most important content.

Your basic Twitter feed includes tweets in a bubble-like text box, which, depending on your preference, may be a good or bad thing. Tweets by you have your picture on the opposite side of the page (right) and will be green in color. Similarly, if someone includes you in an @ mention, the tweet will be pink in color. These color settings allow you to quickly scan and search your Twitter feed.

When you write a message, clicking the ‘eye’ will split the screen so you can still see your Twitter feed. This is useful if you’re referencing something that someone else said. Also, hitting the menu button as you write gives you the option to shrink URLs, geotag, or add a picture. All of these easy-access features really streamline your Twitter experience.

If you click the ‘arrow’ next to your account name at the top, you can add additional accounts, view trending topics, perform a search, or check for a feed of nearby tweets. This page offers you some really great functions that other Twitter apps have fell short in. Multiple accounts is a must-have for any new Twitter app as it is one of the most requested features. Also, you can save a specific search to be reused later. This is extremely convenient if you’re like me and constantly search the same terms (I like to search for #androidapps to see what’s being discussed). Lastly, the ‘nearby’ feature lets you use your current location (or a zip code) to see what’s being tweeted about around you.

TweetCaster also makes it easy to manage your following/followers list as well as gives you the ability to ‘quick follow’ another user. Add this to the list of things TweetCaster does very well.

Overall, TweetCaster is a strong threat for the title of top rated Android Twitter app. Twidroid andSeesmic still offer features that TweetCaster does not, and they have the advantage of already being adopted by many early users, but this app gives off a new vibe. It has room to grow but it’s a great start for such a new app. Give it a try and see what you think. Let us know what features you like and which ones you’d like to see added.