Hands-on: Twitter comes to the Zune HD, Facebook should be next
I used my Zune HD connected to the Verizon MiFi to download the new Twitter app and take it for a spin. The following functionality is supported by the Zune HD Twitter app:
- Post a Tweet/update your status
- View your Twitter timeline
- View @ replies
- Search Twitter
- DM followers
- View favorites
Like all apps on the Zune HD there is a short ad after you tap to launch the application. The first time you run the app you need to enter your Twitter credentials. Only a single Twitter account is supported, but that should be fine for most people. After logging in you are taken to your Twitter timeline. The app looks great (I'll shoot a video later), is snappy, and works just in portrait mode. There seems to be about 25 Tweets loaded by default, but there is a More button at the bottom to continue reading more Tweets. There is a Refresh button on the top of your timeline too.
When you have new Tweets, the number appears in red above the left person icon. You will also find in the Zune Marketplace that there is a new category in the other apps section for Social Networking.
Being that this is a Zune HD, you can actually Tweet out the song you are listening to with a simple tap of the note icon when writing a Tweet.
As a moderate Twitter user who carries around my Zune HD, I can see using this from time to time while couch surfing and while on the train. However, you need a WiFi connection via a local network or something like a MiFi to use Twitter on the go. Is that really something that people need or will do that often? I suppose if they do it all the time on their iPod touch then they will on their Zune HD too.