App review: Twikini

Twitter is a phenomenon that is hard to ignore and Twikini is an app that gives Windows Mobile users access to the microblogging platform wherever they are.

The app’s small footprint – the download is a mere 150KB – makes it an appealing proposition even on devices with limited storage. Twikini can currently only be downloaded as a .CAB file, making it easy to install over the air directly onto your device.

Once inside the program, the familiar signs of Twitter make themselves known. The Twikini interface is effectively a mirror image of the posts found on its desktop counterpart, in all of its minimalist glory.

By default, the last 20 tweets are on display, and there is no link to older tweets on screen. Users need to head to the Options menus and modify the Download options. Here there is the option to download the last 50, 100 and 200, but the more you choose, the slower the download – keeping the app running in the background will avoid any backlog of unread tweets, but will also use up more of your battery power.

Also residing here are the ‘Show at startup’ options. If the default – Tweets – is not your ideal choice, try @Replies, Direct Messages, Favorites or Public timeline. To speed up access, Twikini stores all images in its cache for three days, but you can also clear the cache (again found in Options).

Back to the more serious business of tweeting and twittering and Twikini is ridiculously easy to use. Tap a tweet and users get instant access to the full tweet. Tap @Reply and send back a message. A neat addition here is the option to add co-ordinates or an ‘I’m Here’ link via GPS (if available).

Retweeting is no more than two taps away, all the hard work is done for you. Finally, we must mention the multiple account support which is handy for those who have, say, work and personal accounts, though you will need to log in and switch to look at other accounts.

Avid users of Twitter will love the fact that Twikini gives them access to all the must-have features of the microblogging platform. It’s well designed: true to the Twitter style, functional and easy to use.

In fact, we liked it so much we’re going to switch to Twikini on a full-time basis and forget about the browser-based version of Twitter altogether.

Web: www.trinketsoftware.com/Twikini
Price: $4.95

Verdict: 8/10

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