Twitter is becoming Facebook!

And Facebook is becoming Twitter. Dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria!

Ahem.

Just thought this new tweet message was interesting. Don't know if I like it or not.

Small Settings Update

We've updated the Timeline to better reflect how folks are using Twitter. Based on usage patterns and feedback, we've learned most people don't read every tweet. However, receiving each and every tweet from the people you follow makes it hard not to read everything. Today's update removes this undesirable and confusing option.

The Importance of Discovery

Spotting new information in tweets is an interesting way to check out what's going on with your friends. Despite this update, you'll still see the most important information from your friends; you just won't see it all. For example, you'll continue to see tweets that Twitter has deemed relevant or accurate. We'll be introducing better ways to manage your Twitter experience as we release more features in this space.

This post is a parody of this announcement from Twitter. For more information: #fixreplies

Why Twitter's new link structure doesn't work for me

On March 31, Twitter once again changed its look and feel for a select group of users. I posted a screenshot here. Here's Twitter's explanation behind the change. Now, whenever you search or click, the content you're going for is pulled right into the white content area. It feels simpler, and in some cases faster, though I have noticed some lag on @mentions (formerly @replies) and DMs.

Slow loading times aside, the idea makes sense. It gives the information available on Twitter a more immediate feel and focus. However...it's just not working for me.

I'm something of a curmudgeon. I have certain browsing habits, and I don't like having to adapt them. I tend to keep certain websites open in certain tabs in a certain order. It annoys me if those websites aren't the first sites in each tab's history. In other words, the tab I generally keep open begins on the page I want; there's no "back" available. That way, if I do happen to browse forward, I can hit the back drop-down and select the very first page to get back to my standard view.

In Twitter's case, I like for http://twitter.com/home to be one page forward from my blog, so I can hit back to get to my blog quickly when nothing's really happening on Twitter. And after clicking on my DMs or mentions, I click the back button on my mouse to get to Twitter home.

Unfortunately, that no longer works! When I hit back, the browser URL changes, but the page's content stays on whatever I clicked last. I end up having to hit refresh to get the home screen back while keeping Twitter home as my second history item.

This causes me no small amount of consternation.

I'm accustomed to CMSes and other web apps working like this. If I had one tab that was just for Twitter, I suppose I could get used to clicking "Home" instead of hitting back. If I really make the effort, I could adjust to this.

But I don't want to! I'm set in my ways. I like how I've been using Twitter since 2007. And who's to say they won't just change it again later, forcing me to adjust again?

Damn kids...get off my lawn.

Because they just can't stop messing with it

Twitter has done it again! Now the search is in the sidebar instead of up top, and trending topics are listed beneath it.

Click the image for the full wide screenshot.

Twitter search on homepage

It would appear that many of my Twitter followers do not see the Twitter search box in the top right-hand corner of their home pages. Thus, they do not believe that I do.

Well, nay-sayers, here's what I see! (Click the image to see the whole page.)

As you can see, the Profile and Settings links have been moved down next to my username, making room for the search box.

I've already used search more thanks to this change!