Twitterrific Outlines Changes to Push Notifications and Live Streaming Ahead of Twitter API Updates

[MacRumors]

Twitterrific today updated its Twitter clients for iOS and Mac devices to implement some changes to the way the service works ahead of upcoming API changes that will go live on August 16, 2018.

Starting on that date, Twitterrific says that its iOS app will no longer be able to receive and display native notifications. Users will not be notified when someone likes their tweet, quotes a tweet, replies to their tweet, sends a direct message, retweets, or follows them.

As a result, Twitterrific's Today center widget and Apple Watch app, which rely on these features, are being retired.

Users will continue to receive push notifications until August 16, but after that date, the feature will vanish. Twitterrific is removing the Push Notification in-app purchase for new users.

Twitter's upcoming changes also remove live streaming for third-party apps on both iOS and Mac, which will impact how Twitterrific works. Once the API is dismantled, tweets and direct messages will be delayed by a minute or two.

As of today's update, Twitterrific says the apps will still attempt to live stream tweets, but will revert to refreshing every two minutes if it is unable to connect to a live stream. Live streaming will also continue to be available until August 2018.

In most use cases you probably won't notice the difference, except in cases like live events or with popular searches that update frequently. On the plus side, this change means that Lists can finally auto-refresh themselves like other timelines - something that had been sorely missing for a long time.

For users who want to continue to get push notifications, Twitterrific recommends installing the official Twitter client for notifications while continuing to use Twitterrific for everything else.

Twitter shared full details on its upcoming API changes back in May. Twitter is offering premium and enterprise API access to developers, but prices are prohibitively high. There is no replacement for the current live streaming API, which Twitter says is only used by 1 percent of monthly active apps.

Article Link: Twitterrific Outlines Changes to Push Notifications and Live Streaming Ahead of Twitter API Updates

 

[whyamihere]

Twitter has crapped all over the developers that made their platform popular for a while now. Here's the final twist of the knife.

 

[DaveOP]

I suspect this will heavily decrease my engagement with Twitter. I use it mostly for news and close friends now, and it sounds like the notifications being removed will kill the latter.

 

[Dave-Z]

I keep reading that Twitter is struggling to grow their user base and having difficulty solidifying who/what they want to be; yet they shoot themselves in the foot by intentionally alienating themselves from the very people who helped them get this far.

 

[GizmoDVD]

They killed their MAC App so now what...I'm supposed to use a webpage to get live streaming?

 

[MhzDoesMatter]

Twitter has had 3 party clients a lot longer than I thought it would. Outside apps definitely built the platform but there's no way a modern social network can let 3rd parties control and monetize access to the service. What seems unbecoming to me is dragging this out and making it seem like they're not explicitly trying to end 3rd party support.

Here's to Twitteriffic, Tweetbot, Echofon, Tweetie, Tweetdeck and the other clients I used back in the day.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Twitter has had 3 party clients a lot longer than I thought it would. Outside apps definitely built the platform but there's no way a modern social network can let 3rd parties control and monetize access to the service. What seems unbecoming to me is dragging this out and making it seem like they're not explicitly trying to end 3rd party support.

Here's to Twitteriffic, Tweetbot, Echofon, Tweetie, Tweetdeck and the other clients I used back in the day.

So why kill off the Mac App?

 

[Master Atrus]

This seems like the death of every third party app. If you have to have the main twitter client installed for notifications, then wouldn’t most people use that? Seems like a crazy business decision for Twitter unless they have some significant changes planned they think the third-party apps can’t keep up with.


Wait ... just read someone else’s post. As revenue is why. In Tweetbot I don’t ever see (or at least notice) the Twitter ads. Therefore I’m ruining their ability to monitize me. That’s the root of ruining third party apps without killing them. They still “need” the heavy Twitter users (who use third party apps) but they need money too.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Wait, you had to pay more to receive push notifications from Tiwtteriffic? What robbery. Every other app offered that feature standard.
[doublepost=1530824740][/doublepost]

This seems like the death of every third party app. If you have to have the main twitter client installed for notifications, then wouldn’t most people use that? Seems like a crazy business decision for Twitter unless they have some significant changes planned they think the third-party apps can’t keep up with.

3rd party apps don't display ads. With about 1/3 of users using 3rd party apps, thats a LOT of lost revenue.

 

[sykeward]

Wait, you had to pay more to receive push notifications from Tiwtteriffic? What robbery. Every other app offered that feature standard.

No, Twitterrific would have had to pay higher fees to Twitter for access to the API that allows Twitterrific to display push notifications.

Technically Twitter still offers developers the functionality, but they repriced it so high that it's impossible for any 3rd party developer to afford. From what I read, the least expensive licensing option Twitter offers developers now is $2899/month for up to 250 users, or $11.59 per user per month.

 

[hobsgrg]

No, Twitterrific would have had to pay higher fees to Twitter for access to the API that allows Twitterrific to display push notifications.

Technically Twitter still offers developers the functionality, but they repriced it so high that it's impossible for any 3rd party developer to afford. From what I read, the least expensive licensing option Twitter offers developers now is $2899/month for up to 250 users, or $11.59 per user per month.

It's priced for corporate users who use a 3rd party client to run and analyse company Twitter account(s) who use Twitter for marketing or support and can afford those sort of prices if it gives them tools and information they need. Unfortunately there is no pricing for just running alternative client for regular users.

 

[rcooked]

No, Twitterrific would have had to pay higher fees to Twitter for access to the API that allows Twitterrific to display push notifications.

Technically Twitter still offers developers the functionality, but they repriced it so high that it's impossible for any 3rd party developer to afford. From what I read, the least expensive licensing option Twitter offers developers now is $2899/month for up to 250 users, or $11.59 per user per month.

Whoa. That’s not cheap at all...

 

[stephen1108]

No, Twitterrific would have had to pay higher fees to Twitter for access to the API that allows Twitterrific to display push notifications.

Technically Twitter still offers developers the functionality, but they repriced it so high that it's impossible for any 3rd party developer to afford. From what I read, the least expensive licensing option Twitter offers developers now is $2899/month for up to 250 users, or $11.59 per user per month.

What’s disgusting is Twitter KNOWS their developers can’t afford this pricing model, as it would make everything unbelievably expensive for the end-user.

What they should have done was come up with a way for ads to be displayed in the apps, since that’s the only real reason I can see why they’re doing this.

I use Twitter everyday, but a lot of that has to do with how awesome the Tweetbot app is. I also don’t like the official Twitter app, but I guess they’re forcing me to not have a choice anymore. Smh.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

What’s disgusting is Twitter KNOWS their developers can’t afford this pricing model, as it would make everything unbelievably expensive for the end-user.

What they should have done was come up with a way for ads to be displayed in the apps, since that’s the only real reason I can see why they’re doing this.

I use Twitter everyday, but a lot of that has to do with how awesome the Tweetbot app is. I also don’t like the official Twitter app, but I guess they’re forcing me to not have a choice anymore. Smh.

The pricing is aimed at those that really need it, being apps that allow companies to analyze their social media campaign performance. You'll see Sprinklr, Adobe, HootSuite, and others take advantage of it for sure and that's who it's intended for.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Won’t be too much longer, then Twitter will be as dead as other social networks.
Twitter was never able to make the native app as pleasant to use as the third-party devs.
I would like to echo former comments; Twitter only got this far BECAUSE of third-parties. The very first apps for Twitter were only third-party ones.
Time to get on Gab!

 

[S.B.G]

Twitter sure is ruining a good thing here. As was pointed out, if it weren't for awesome third-party apps like this and Tweetbot, Twitter probably wouldn't be who they are today.

I probably wouldn't be a Twitter user today if it weren't for Tweetbot. The official app is terrible and so is the website.

 

[stoopkidblues]

So I wonder if this is the end of tapbots as a whole. They pretty much retired every other app other than Tweetbot (which I love!) Echoing everyone’s sentiments, Twitter wouldn’t be near the exposure if it weren’t for these 3rd-party developers in the beginning (early 2009 and onward).

I’m optimistic Paul hasn’t said much about the changes as of yet but now that Twitterific has gone under I’m sure it’s only a matter of time sadly.

I’d even be okay with Tweetbot showing me a few ads if that meant they can stay in business but Twitter should’ve just said it with their chest rather than beating around the bush with these unreasonable prices they *know* developers can’t keep up with.

 

[Sethal]

Twitter has crapped all over the developers that made their platform popular for a while now. Here's the final twist of the knife.

I agree. I switched to Reddit about a year ago and haven’t looked back. I couldn’t tell you the last time I even logged into my Twitter.the next time will probably be to delete it though.

 

[Mascots]

The pricing is aimed at those that really need it, being apps that allow companies to analyze their social media campaign performance. You'll see Sprinklr, Adobe, HootSuite, and others take advantage of it for sure and that's who it's intended for.

It's hard for me to believe that they're hedging their bets that the data on the platform will remain valuable but here we are!

At the very least I think this may discourage many people who actually contribute from putting that good gravy into the it from doing so - whether this is to push ads to those users through first party apps or monitoze their hooks into the platform - I don't think the overall platform as it is today is that powerful to keep many of em hooked.

Twitter seems like it has little clue what it wants to be - Facebook crawled up their skin by aggressively pushing into their domain and they did not handle it well. Here is to hoping this move is in their favor, though.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

It's hard for me to believe that they're hedging their bets that the data on the platform will remain valuable but here we are!

At the very least I think this may discourage many people who actually contribute from putting that good gravy into the it from doing so - whether this is to push ads to those users through first party apps or monitoze their hooks into the platform - I don't think the overall platform as it is today is that powerful to keep many of em hooked.

Twitter seems like it has little clue what it wants to be - Facebook crawled up their skin by aggressively pushing into their domain and they did not handle it well. Here is to hoping this move is in their favor, though.

Twitter is the only social media platform that allows 3rd party apps. Maybe they've realized it was a bad move and are trying to push people back to their own platform in order to gain more control. Who knows. At this point I'll just roll with it. No amount of complaining about it on MacRumors is going change things.

 

[fivetoedbear]

Twitter is the only social media platform that allows 3rd party apps.

Mastodon has an open, published API. It's pretty new, but I have plans to check it out. Who knows, maybe it'll catch on.

 

[nutmac]

Twitter has every rights to demote third party Twitter apps. But the correct approach is to improve first party apps first. They decided to do the opposite, adding features most users don't value much, if at all, not catching up to third party apps, and discontinue macOS app.

 

[hobsgrg]

So I wonder if this is the end of tapbots as a whole. They pretty much retired every other app other than Tweetbot (which I love!) Echoing everyone’s sentiments, Twitter wouldn’t be near the exposure if it weren’t for these 3rd-party developers in the beginning (early 2009 and onward).

I’m optimistic Paul hasn’t said much about the changes as of yet but now that Twitterific has gone under I’m sure it’s only a matter of time sadly.

I’d even be okay with Tweetbot showing me a few ads if that meant they can stay in business but Twitter should’ve just said it with their chest rather than beating around the bush with these unreasonable prices they *know* developers can’t keep up with.

Third party clients are specifically prohibited from showing adverts

 

[netwalker]

Don't have a problem with a two minute refresh rate vs. life streaming. Twitterific and similar tools should focus on usability and additional features. Shouldn't be too difficult to stay alive as long as they provide a better user experience compared to the official Twitter client or Twitter website.

For example I am missing the possibility to manage lists (add/remove members, create list,...) in Twitterific.
Tweetbot currently seems to be taking the lead in adding useful features.

 

[Belmont31R]

I’d be ok with these changes if Twitter didn’t ruin their own app by sabotaging the main feed. I cannot stand some stupid algo determining what I see and when. On top of that they insert all kinds of useless crap like ‘in case you missed it’, ‘people you may know’, and the ads get worse and worse. FB, Instagram, and just about every other feed based social service just cannot resist the urge to mess with the feed over time and ruin it. I have used Tweetbot for years due to this, and only use the official app for some of the features not available to 3rd party clients. Twitter could easily have different sections for those features while leaving the main feed BS free and chronological.