Archive of thenextweb.com
Written on 17th June 2009
18 COMMENTS 
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Serial Internet Entrepreneur
Today I started an experiment on Twitter. I have been a Twitter user for a long time now and have amassed a nice little following with more than 5000 followers. One concern I have had since I have passed more than a few hundred followers has been on how to communicate. Most people consider Twitter a ‘communication’ medium. Communication assumes two way conversations.
That, however, is not how I use Twitter. (more…)
Written on 31st March 2009
5 COMMENTS
David Petherick, Contributing Editor, United Kingdom
Twitter’s blog has news of a small, but quite significant change in the way that ‘replies’ are handled. As a Twitter user, you have an identity referenced by the @ character. For example, I, David Petherick, am @clarocada, Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten is @boris.
If Boris is referenced by another twitter user, the convention has been to place @boris at the beginning of a twitter message to signify that the message is public, but intended to reference Boris. Twitter use to treat these references as ‘replies’ to a tweet from @boris, and would show all references where the @replies were placed at the beginning of a tweet so that Boris could see who was ‘replying’ to him. Twitter client software such as Twhirl, Tweetdeck and DestroyTwitter also use this convention.
However, people have been using @replies in other ways, for example ‘I am at #sxsw with @bryanthatcher @stewarttowsend and @patrick, looking for a party!‘ – and so the terminology, and the inclusiveness of the @replies feature has been changed to encompass all of the tweet, and using the term ‘mention’. In the example here, three individuals are ‘mentioned’: @bryanthatcher @stewarttowsend and @patrick. The new designation for Replies in the Twitter web interface is simply @username.
1: A ‘reply’ is now termed a ‘mention’ (but it’s not called that in the web interface and it’s still at http://twitter.com/replies).
2: A mention should now shows up even if @username is not at the beginning of a tweet.
So. Are we clear now, or do I need to mention something else? Please reply below…
Written on 4th March 2009
10 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Blogger and Entrepreneur Ouriel Ohayon, previously of Techcrunch.fr, and Israeli developer Arik Fraimovichis are about to launch what I can only describe as the most useful Twitter app I am ever likely to use – it’s called Topify.
Yes, I said this just yesterday with a similar app called Twimailer which sent you full profiles of new followers via email , but Topify takes things to a completely different level. Let me explain…
How Does Topify Work?
Once you’re all signed up, Topify hands a unique email address over to you which you insert into the “settings” of your twitter account. Once you’ve done that, you are all set and you will now be able to do the following:
- Receive full profiles of new followers via email. The profile includes bio, location, follower counts, updates count, date they joined Twitter and their last update.
- Reply to Follow To follow back new followers simply hit reply and send! That is it. You’ll get a confirmation via email that you have started following them too. (One small request here would be to be made aware if I am already following the person.)
- Reply to DM’s via Email Quite possibly the sweetest icing on the cake, you can reply via email to Twitter direct messages. Again, you can receive confirmation your message has been sent.
Frankly, I am not only excited but extremely impressed with the work put into the app and the results. The app works smoothly and whilst I don’t often say this – I can’t recommend it highly enough.
One concern I had as I’m sure many others will have too…privacy. I addressed the concern over whether private DM’s would be viewable by the Topify team. Ohayon replied stating
“we would have to change the way we conceived the service. security and privacy are top priorities for us”
I believe him however frankly whether this service existed or not, I would never recommend sharing any private or intimate details via Twitter DM anyway.
The service is currently in private beta but should be opening within the next few days – so sign up here to get involved.
Written on 14th February 2009
29 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
I discovered something today which genuinely changes my whole Twitter experience. In fact, it changes it dramatically.
One of the biggest gripes I’ve always had with Twitter is having to view everyone else @replies to other people , the majority of these replies making absolutely no sense as you haven’t been tuned into the conversation.
Well today, after a simple tweet:
“I would love a Twitter view for all Tweets not starting with @”
Steve Reynolds, now my idol, replied:
@Zee turn off @replies in prefs?? none of my home feed tweets include @replies
I have used Twitter for over two years, I follow over 2000 people and am followed by over 3000. My point is, I’m no newbie, yet I definitely did not know about this feature and if I didn’t know, there’s bound to be many other people who didn’t too.
So how do you disable all @replies?
Make sure you are logged in to Twitter and click here. Simply change your @replies setting to “no @ replies” in the drop down menu.
Even Better News
Changing this options disabled @replies not only on Twitter.com but any 3rd party application you may be using too. Hallelujah.
Written on 11th September 2008
6 COMMENTS
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Ok, so I have the urge to keep track of when people mention my username on Twitter. Call it vanity, call it the need to stay in touch with other human beings. Ever since Twitter decided to stop sending SMS updates outside North-America and India, I depend on the replies function to see updates about me. At least, that would be the ideal case. After all, the replies function is designed to notice Twitter users whenever an other user refers to you. But in reality, the replies feature sucks. Really bad.
I think it only shows me 60 percent of the times my name is mentioned. You think I’m exaggerating? Compare the screenshot below with the search results on Twitter Search. If you take a good look, you’ll notice some messages from Twitter users @edial, @polledemaagt and @jaapstronks didn’t make it to the replies tab. For what reason? Only Biz and Evan know…
Eureka! The solution!
So here’s a thought. Just a simple one. Why not grab the RSS of the search results and show it on the replies page? I mean, the search feature (Summize’s product) works just fine, so why not use that as the replies feature?
Maybe there are some developing issues I’m missing here. If so, please tell me. Because now I’m tortured by the thought that an annoying problem can be easily solved, but nobody does it.
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