Twitter is free software that makes it possible to send short text messages to anyone and everyone who chooses to pay attention, either by “following” you (signing up to receive your text messages, or “tweets”) or by listening in for topics that interest them (a user can scan all incoming tweets for keywords of interest, like “Tarot” or “Atlanta” or “Korean Spa”).
Ostensibly, your tweets answer the question, “What are you doing?” but, increasingly, Twitter is being used for micro-poetry, jotting quick notes, getting answers from locals, or making general observations about life. I’ve been Twittering for a few months now, and it was lonesome business back when very few friends had signed up. Now, though, with fifteen or so actual friends and acquaintances tweeting on a daily basis, I’m enjoying being a part of the community.
Twinkle is brand-new software for the iPhone 2.0 that adds yet another dimension to Twitter, enabling location-aware messaging to Twitter’s bag of tricks. In seconds, I can tell Twinkle to bring me any tweets from anyone with a 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25-mile radius, making it possible to listen for questions about my neighborhood (I helped someone choose a restaurant last night) or find fellow Twitterers who live in or near my building.
I’ve also caught folks playing a new Twinkle-enabled game: “Guess where I am” — snapping a photo, uploading it to Twitter through Twinkle’s simple-as-pie interface, and allowing other Twitter users to play digital hide-and-seek. It’s the “Marco! Polo!” of the 21st century.
If you’ve got an iPhone 2.0, and you’ve been curious about Twitter, get Twinkle and join the fun. It’s free.
Oh, that “Guess Where I Am?” game is a great idea – I’m so gonna start doing that!
Of course, I tend to be home in front of my computer all day…. 😛 (I know I’m not alone!)