Sanders Media

Today, I wanted to go over some of the various Twitter clients. Whether you use Windows, Mac or Linux, there is one for you.

1. Nambu: This is my personal favorite. However, it is Mac only. It sports a very clean interface, and almost has the look of Apple’s Mail application. It’s very easy to use, and it’s free.
2. TweetDeck: A few of my Windows friends like this one a lot. It is available in Windows, Mac OS X and Linux versions. It sports some handy features including spam protection and Facebook updates. It’s also free.
3. Twitterrific: This client has two versions: free and paid. The free version is fully functional, but is ad supported. It is Mac only. The iPhone version is one of the App Store’s top Twitter related downloads.
4. Twhirl: This is another popular Twitter client. It is available for Mac OS X and Windows. It has some great features including English spell check and image posting.
5. TwitterFox: This is more of a plugin than a client, but it bears mentioning. It is platform agnostic because it is a plugin for the Firefox web browser. It displays a small icon near your status bar that tells you when there are new tweets to your account.

If you’re a Mac user, I would definitely give Nambu a try. Windows and Linux users should look into TweetDeck. Because of TweetDeck’s Facebook inclusion, I may eventually switch over. Since many of us are on multiple social networking services, this becomes increasingly useful.

That sure seems to be the case now. The web has long been an integral part of our lives. In the last couple of years, however, the web has moved beyond our computers. With that in mind, I want to talk about a new term being thrown around: Web 3.0.

Web 3.0 seems to build on 2.0’s use of “cloud services”. Since Apple released the iPhone, there have been a plethora of mobile apps that are location aware. So, rather than just accessing information from the cloud, we are seeing applications that pull information that is relevant to where a person is in the physical world. 3.0 is not just about pooling information, but about pooling relevant information.

With smartphones being the big growth market among mobile phones, a lot of software development is going into mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Google Android, iPhone OS, etc.). This is where we are really seeing the emergence of Web 3.0. Take Yelp.com, for instance. Yelp has long been a source of user reviews and recommendations via its website. Now, with Yelp’s mobile app, you can find restaurants, hotels and entertainment right in your immediate vicinity. This is incredibly useful in a city that’s unfamiliar.

This next evolution of the web seems to be about giving the ‘net a brain. With so much information available, we need it parsed for us. These early attempts at Web 3.0 look promising.

It’s a slow day, so I thought I’d talk about my current favorite things going on in the tech world. Here’s my Top 5.

1. iPhone: The so-called “Jesus Phone” is still a wonder. I’ve had both editions, and it’s still new and fresh. None of the copycats have come close to equaling it’s ease of use, sleek look and great features. I am really excited about the iPhone OS 3.0 due out soon.
2. Xbox 360: Despite it’s hardware issues, Microsoft (against all odds) has created a terrific gaming ecosystem. The online Xbox Live community is vibrant, and the game library is immense. The addition of Netflix streaming to Xbox Live has made it a can’t-live-without device in my home.
3. Gmail: I was once a Hotmail user who paid $20 a year to get a miserly 2GB of storage. Now, with Gmail, I get over 7GB for free. While there are some services that provide unlimited for free, I haven’t found any that match Gmail’s features. The creation of labels instead of folders is a great organization tool. I am also able to use Gmail as a web-based email client. It checks all of my email accounts, and brings the email to one place.
4. iTunes: This is still the best music organization tool for your music. iTunes enabled me to bring my music together better than any service I’ve come across. The recent move to DRM-free music, the App Store and the availability of movies and TV shows has made the iTunes store the best place to buy digital media.
5. Skype: This service has been around for awhile, but it’s still one of my favorites. I love being able to keep up with family in North Carolina and Colorado. In both places, there are new little ones that I’m able to watch grow up.

I’m sure I’ll think of 20 more things I love as soon as I post this, but it’s a good start.

I’ve discovered that my most indispensable gadget is my mobile phone. I’m sure many of you find the same to be true in your lives. I’ve had two people in my life recently buy new phones, and they seem to have reached different levels of satisfaction. Here are a few questions to consider before you buy a new mobile phone.

1. Is the phone easy to use? This would seem to be a no-brainer, but even I’ve succumbed in the past to a sexy looking gadget, only to find it works terribly. As smartphones grow in popularity, the operating systems running these phones become more important. From personal experience, I can confidently advise you to steer clear of Windows Mobile. I’ve found Apple’s iPhone and the Blackberry OS  to be the most easy to use.
2. How much phone do I need/want? It’s easy to be seduced by the features of some phones. However, you must decide what you’d actually use or like. For instance, even if a phone has a 5.0 megapixel camera, it won’t necessarily take great pictures.
3. Which carriers work best in my area? Ignore the advertising. Commercials have no way of knowing what service will work best for you? Talk to friends and neighbors. Check online. You’ll find a plethora of anecdotal evidence regarding the best service in your area.
4. How is the phone ergonomically? You want the phone to be comfortable. If you’re like me, and carry your phone in your pocket, then you’ll want the phone to be slim. Is it comfortable to hold? It’s no good to have a phone that you can’t wait to “not use”.
5. Is the body of the phone solid? If it feels like a toy phone, then you know you don’t want that phone. One thing I loved about the original iPhone was it’s metal body. That phone wasn’t going to break easily.

Sometimes it’s best to do some research. My best experiences with mobile phones have been those I’ve investigated. Ask yourself these questions, and you’ll likely get a phone you love.