Twitter is changing the way we get breaking news, as many smartphone owners prefer using the social network on the mobile device. There are a lot of Twitter apps for every mobile platform, and the Android Market is full of them. I regularly try new Twitter apps in the search for the perfect tweeter, and these are my picks for the top Twitter apps for the Android platform. These all work equally well on my smartphone and the Galaxy Tab with the larger screen.
Plume. This app began life as Touiteur, but was changed to Plume when Twitter complained about the original name. Plume handles all Twitter functions very well, and concentrates on making tweeting as easy as possible. A number of home screen widgets are included. There is a free ad-supported version, and a paid version ($3.33). This is my favorite Twitter app.
TweetDeck. This app has one of the most attractive interfaces that is designed for the Android touchscreen. Multiple columns show just the information desired, while indicating at a glance if new information exists in each column. It has integrated Facebook support for tracking those updates. Free, including home screen widgets.
TweetCaster. This app is a full featured Twitter app that also has Facebook integration. The interface is designed for easy access to all of the standard Twitter functions; there are a number of widgets included with TweetCaster. There is a unique way to hide annoying tweets without the need for unfollowing the tweeter. Free.
Twitter. This official app from the Twitter folks is a significant improvement over the app as originally released. The timeline is presented in a straightforward manner, with advanced search capability for finding the people and tweets that you want. Free.
Twidroyd Pro. This app has a feature that no other Twitter app includes, the Live Preview display. When the Android device is turned to the landscape orientation, the timeline remains on the left of the screen with a preview of the selected tweet occupying most of the display on the right. This is particularly useful on tablets with larger displays. The Live Preview automatically shows linked web pages without opening the browser. Free and paid versions ($3.99).
Twicca. This app is designed to display as much of the Twitter timeline on the screen as possible. It allows customizing the display to fit user preference, and is lightning fast in operation. It is easy to use while having sophisticated features for the advanced Twitter user. Free.
Seesmic. This mobile version of the desktop Twitter app can handle multiple Twitter accounts. It has an attractive interface and is a good complement to the desktop version for those who prefer Seesmic. Free.
