I’ve updated both the Linux and Windows versions now to 0.3.6.

Apart from some running repairs to get rid of a couple of bugs, I’ve also decreased the size of the interface a bit, especially the top bit and improved the login feature.

As before, the Linux version should run on any Linux distro with at least GTK+ 2.0 while the Windows version can run on Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 if you’re running one of the betas.

You can grab both versions now from the Download page.

Unless you’re a serious user and you’ve got a whole lot to say, chances are you haven’t run into Twitter’s hourly limit. Oh, yes, Twitter has a limit alright.

You can make up to 100 calls to its servers per 60-minute period - but that’s not just Tweets. If you look up someone’s bio, check the global tweet list, they all count towards your 100 calls.

That’s why Twextter has a counter on the top-right to keep a track of how many calls you have left in the hour. This isn’t a number we’re keeping track of - it’s the number Twitter decides you have left so when it gets to zero, it’s time to go and have a “cuppa”. The good thing is that it’s a rolling count so you’ll start getting available tweets pretty soon after than hour winds up.

So enjoy your tweeting - but just remember not to enjoy it too much all in one go.

Or else, you might just have to go and find something else to do!

We’ve made some useability changes to the way you get information about tweets and users that appear in the tweet lists.

If you click on a user, you’ll get their basic “name, location and bio” status. Click on a tweet and it will appear in the long tweet window. Click the Long Tweet Window and if that tweet has a web address link in it, Twextter will automatically launch it in your browser.

The Long Tweet Window will automatically close down after a time period set by an option in the Settings tab. You can set it for anywhere between two and 30 seconds. Clicking on the close area in the long tweet window will shut it down immediately if you prefer.

Happy Twextting!

The “new & improved” Linux version with leaner interface is now on the download page.

Same as the Windows version but for Linux instead. Make sure you follow the download instructions for the Linux version to get it working correctly.

This version includes a simpler login procedure, more keyboard shortcuts and better UTP-8 code handling.

Thanks to those who’ve provided feedback on Twextter - you know who you are.

We’ve had a good long look at the user interface for Twextter and we’ve made some major modifications to the user interface today, making it even easier to use.

There’s a new login box on the main page (rather than having a separate login window) that disappears to reveal the stats box when you successfully login. There were one or two users having trouble getting the login window to appear so we’ve changed it to be temporarily part of the main window. As soon as you login, it disappears and you’re done with it.

All the other features remain as before however, we’ve added a few creature comforts to make it easier to work with for netbooks.

For starters, there’s a lot less mouse work required. Login details can be down without the mouse (enter your username, tab to the password entry, type in your password and hit the enter key). As soon as you’re done, the Tweet Post box gets “right of way” and you’re ready to go. Just type in your Tweet and press the Enter key. Easy.

With this version we’ve also moved to version 0.2 - we think it’s faster and more responsive than before so some little speed up mods we’ve made may just help it be faster again.

This version is available now on the download page for Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 Beta. The Linux version will be available shortly.

Are you using Twextter? Have ideas on what would make it a better Twitter client for you to use?

Well, don’t be quiet about it - let us know.

Twextter will always been a netbook client first, which means that whatever we add will be designed so that Twextter still looks good on a small 1024×600-pixel screen - but that won’t stop us from adding new features in so if you’ve got an idea for something you’d like to see.

We’re considering some new ideas to shrink the interface more but if you like it how it is, let us know.

So if you have a suggestion or feedback (be nice…), email it to - ideas <at> twextter . darrenyates . com . au.

Thanks to those who pointed out the download link for the Linux version was broken.

All should now be fixed.

Enjoy.

One of the advanced features starting to get a following in Twitter is the idea of hashtags. These allow Twitter users to join “groups” despite the fact that Twitter isn’t really designed to handle it.

You can get more information on hashtags from http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Hashtags and from WildApricot’s Tech Blog.

Hashtags make it easier to follow big events.

Twextter allows you to search Twitter’s archive for hashtagged updates. And you don’t even have to have a Twitter account. Simply click on the Search tab, type in the username or hashtag you wish to search and either hit the Enter key or press Search. Twextter will come back with the latest 20 tweets for that topic or person and you can page through older tweets.

One of the things Twextter can do is launch a weblink that’s inside a friend’s tweet.

All you do is click on the tweet with the weblink inside it and when it appears in the Long Message Window popup, click on that popup and your web browser will start up and head to that web page.

At the moment, Twexxter will only launch the first weblink inside any tweet. If there are enough calls from Twextter users, will consider looking at supporting more.

This feature is support on both Windows and Linux versions.

You can download the latest version 0.1.27 from the download page.

The Linux version of Twextter 0.1.27 is now up.

This incorporates the new features in Build 0.1.27 - the new Twitter search with page support and hashtag search plug the new full-screen mode that allows users to take full advantage of their computer’s screen.

We’ve made a couple of cosmetic changes as well - increasing button sizes so text isn’t truncated and the tweet lists themselves now have default spacing. This may mean some scrolling for small netbooks. We’ll look at incorporating a spacing control in the settings if this gets out of hand.

With this release, we think we’re getting close to a 0.2 beta stage - we’re still thinking about extra features but hopefully, you’ll agree that Twextter has come a long way in the two weeks that it’s been in development! (Yep, we don’t like to muck around!)