Twitter News

In order to better communicate with our subscribers, NFB-NEWSLINE is now on Twitter. Our posts, or “Tweets,” which come out on a weekly basis generally, advise subscribers of new publications added and new features or system enhancements, such as the ability with NFB-NEWSLINE Online to view publications on our Web site or download them to your digital talking-book player. Occasionally we also post Tweets that bring attention to interesting articles that we feel subscribers might enjoy. If you would like to follow us, please visit our Twitter page. For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a social networking site that consists of “microblogs,” time- or topic-sensitive posts that are 140 characters or less. You may read our tweets on the Web or use one of many available Twitter clients, most of which are free to use.

A podcast, called “Twitter from a Blindness Perspective,” is available at www.blindcooltech.com and may be of help in learning more about the service.

Below is a sampling of clients available:

McTwit is a free, open-source desktop client for Twitter.com. The program is designed with productivity of keyboard users in mind. Additionally, if the JAWS, System Access, or Window-Eyes screen reader is active, some information is conveyed efficiently through direct speech messages. This client is available at www.mctwit.com. A more complete introduction to this client may be found at their site.

TwInbox: Formerly known as outTwit, this add-in to Microsoft Outlook 2003 or 2007 provides a method of integrating Twitter into your e-mail system. Tweets can be displayed in your Inbox or a designated folder. Outlook commands for Reply and Reply to All can be used to reply to messages as private, direct, messages or replies can be sent to the "timeline." Tweets can be manipulated and stored just like any other Outlook item. The advantage of this client, for those users who routinely have their e-mail open all day, is that it brings the Twitter experience into an application with which you are already familiar. TwInbox is available from Techhit. Further information on this client is available at their website.

Twittelator PRO is a low-cost application for the iPhone that allows you to utilize most Twitter functions, including the managing of multiple accounts. Twittelator Pro also offers a search feature, the ability to post shortened URLs, and the ability to differentiate direct messages from ordinary tweets. Visit the Twittelator site for more information and downloading instructions.

Qwitter: This client, mainly designed for use by the blind, provides a number of interesting features that make it appealing to power users. The program runs in the background and checks for new tweets at specified intervals, and keyboard commands are then used to review the new messages. Qwitter provides access to its interface from anywhere in the operating system, making it unnecessary to leave your current task to access new tweets. Qwitter presents different tweets in "buffers," which provide a way for you to access your timeline (showing all the messages from people you follow), replies (showing all messages with your @username in them), direct messages (messages sent privately to you), and sent (displaying messages you have sent). Additionally, Qwitter provides the ability to define search buffers, which will search the Twitter public timeline for a designated string and present them to you. The Qwitter client supports speech output directly to your screen access program, or uses a SAPI voice if no speech software is running. This program is available directly from them. You can become more familiar with this client by accessing their podcast on the subject.

Tweets60 is a free Twitter client for Nokia S60 smartphones, and is compatible with the Talks screen reader. Tweets60 is the first free native Twitter application for Nokia S60, providing a simple and accessible way to manage your Twitter account on the go, providing access to most standard Twitter functionality on the move. Once installed Tweets60 is accessed through the application tab on your menu and will automatically connect to your Twitter account, showing you new tweets, direct messages, and your latest updates. You can then change your status, read the tweets of people you follow, re-tweet, and manage who you follow. You can even leave Tweets60 running in the background and it will automatically update. You may download the tweets60 client from their website.

Jawter is a tool that essentially turns your screen reader into a Twitter client and allows you to use Twitter with a minimum of fuss. You simply install it, set it up, and read your Twitter updates with hot keys that work anywhere in windows, wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing. Your tweets can be navigated from within the screen reader, then there’s no need to go launching separate programs just to see what your friends are saying. This client is now available for download. Also, Blind Cool Tech has a podcast you can listen to in order to learn more about Jawter.

Twitterrific is a free application created for Mac users that lets you both read and publish posts or "tweets" to the Twitter community Web site. The application's user interface is clean, concise, and designed to take up a minimum of real estate on your Mac's desktop. You may access this download directly from their website.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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