TweetDeck | A Sales Guy

IPhone Experiment Results

My IPhone experiment is over. I’m writing this update from my Mac. That pretty much tells the story.

My MacBook shit the bed a week ago, just before I left on a week long trip. I couldn’t get it fixed before I left, so I had to use my IPhone for everything.

For context, I didn’t have to use my phone for VPN purposes, or to tap into any corporate ERP applications, other than Exchange.

What I did use the phone for was all my social interactions, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, blogging, (posting and commenting), email, and surfing the web.

The results of the experiment are pretty simple. The IPhone is a GREAT mobile device; literally. It’s a great augment for a desktop or laptop. It’s not a replacement. It did everything I needed it to. It just took 2 to 3 times longer to do it. There was an app for everything. I blogged using WordPress‘s app. I took notes and saved info using Evernote. The Facebook, LinkedIn, and TweetDeck apps were great. Besides loading times, they were as easy, if not easier than the desktop apps. I used IPhone’s Safari browser for the web. It was SLOW! It was definitely a deterrent to browsing. Also, I desperately want to see plug-in’s for mobile safari or a browser alternative.

I used a couple of other social services, like BizSugar who don’t have an IPhone app. Using them without a mobile app was painful. Note to internet services, build a mobile application quickly, very quickly.

At the end of the day I was able to do what I do on my laptop. It slowed me down. It took me out of my rhythm. I had to change my processes. But, I was able to do everything I needed.

I missed my laptop. That is for sure. The plus, I am now better with the IPhone keypad AND like a good Swiss army knife, if I ever lose my laptop again, I know I can survive with my IPhone.

Afterthought-

What does this mean for the I-Pad? Will it close the gap?

March 9, 2010 | Filed under: Random,What I Think! | View Comments |

TweetDeck on My Iphone

I use TweetDeck on my laptop, so for consistency sake, I thought I’d try it on the I-Phone. I currently use Twitterfone, and like it but figured it was worth a try. I bought Tweetie awhile back, but thought it was a waste of money as it offered very little extra than the free Twitterfone. After a little less than a week of using TweetDeck, I can say it’s become my default Twitter mobile application. Mostly because it’s familiar. It looks and feels like what I am used to on my laptop.

Besides being familiar, I like all the columns being on a single page. I like the live search capabilities and the ability to add columns to follow certain companies, people, words, etc. This feature, more than any other, brings tons of utility to the application. I like the UI as well. It’s crisp, clean, and easy to use. I also like the fact that it has a built in URL shortener. Now that the I-Phone has cut and paste, a URL shortener is huge. I’m using cut and paste in I-Phone almost every day. It makes sharing much more dynamic.

What I’m not digging is it’s inconsistency. When I open it, it’s a crap shoot if all of my mentions, DM’s and favorites will actually appear. There also seems to be a lag from Twitter and my laptop to the phone app. I have no clue why. I haven’t been able to figure out how to delete individual tweets. I use favorites as a place to store tweets to read for later. I want to be able to delete them from the phone, once I’ve read them.

In spite of it not being perfect and the fact that I’ve used Twitterfone for the last year, I’m finding enough value to switch. It’s easy, quick, and familiar; yes, familiar. Familiar is important to me and I suspect others. I’ll be curious to see how TweetDeck on the I-Phone does.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

June 28, 2009 | Filed under: What I Think! | View Comments |