Official Twitter for Android app goes live, will go open source

Twitter had committed to rolling its own client for Android not long ago -- and like clockwork, here it is. Looks like the OS integration goes pretty deep, too, with support for Éclair's Quick Contact bar and tweeting straight from the Gallery app; you've also got a timeline widget for your home screen, and you can even see your friends' latest tweets from your contact list and the Google Talk app. It sounds like Twitter worked pretty closely with Google to make this happen, contributing the code to Android's trunk for open sourcing in the near future -- and developers will even have access to a set of standard Twitter APIs for their own applications. The only downside appears to be that you need Android 2.1 to use it, but that's just an excuse to run out and upgrade to a sweet new phone, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:22PM]

Its so Fantastic, I love it already.

[r34p3r Posted Apr 30th 2010 7:27PM]

@SParklingCYaNide

Can't wait to get my Sprint Evo later this year! Android 2.1 definitely opens a lot of new possibilities for the OS.

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Apr 30th 2010 8:31PM]

@r34p3r I agree I love using 2.1 but I'm a little jealous of you getting the EVO, I dont have the balls to switch carriers. hehehee ; D

[IchigoKyger Posted Apr 30th 2010 9:43PM]

@SParklingCYaNide How does it compete with TwitDroid? Installing it on my Droid now! =D

[Androidsux Posted May 1st 2010 2:13AM]

@SParklingCYaNide

Holy crap is the nexus one ugly. Im a professional industrial designer, and the assymetrical buttons, ugly 2 tone gray, and overall shape are just laughable.

[Androidsux Posted May 1st 2010 2:26AM]

@SParklingCYaNide

You dont have to capitalize every letter in Evo, it makes you look like a complete moron. It isnt an ancronym and it doesnt matter how engadget refers to it as.

[sweetelectro Posted May 1st 2010 2:47AM]

@Androidsux You smell like a troll

[avinash240 Posted May 1st 2010 2:53AM]

@Androidsux That's not a Nexus One. That's a Desire, but hey why let facts stop you from trolling.

[d3bing Posted May 1st 2010 7:34AM]

@Androidsux

I LOVE (with capital letters) the design of my HTC Desire. Sure you are a professional?

[HipHopIsLyfe37 Posted May 1st 2010 4:58PM]

@r34p3r Right there with you on this one! I'm upgrading to the Evo 4G and I cannot wait. Android 2.1, 4.3" screen, Snapdragon processor, 8 megapixel camera. It is going to be awesome!!!

[the real deal Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:22PM]

FIRST!

[the real deal Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:23PM]

@the real deal

FIRST FAIL AGAIN!

[constablepete Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:25PM]

@the real deal It's tough being number two

[southern78 Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:27PM]

@the real deal No need to worry friend your still rated as the number 1 douche as far as I am concerned...march on with your head held high.

[tkedch Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:27PM]

@the real deal
It's harder to be the last.

[Stevenk Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:41PM]

@the real deal hahaha!!!!

[Techno1q Posted Apr 30th 2010 7:19PM]

@the real deal

What a beginner, don't you know that you'll be down-ranked if you mention the word "First". Oh no- I guess I'll be down-ranked now.

[Androidsux Posted May 1st 2010 2:14AM]

@Stevenk

nexus one is ugly junk. Im a professional industrial designer, and the ugly two tone gray, assymetrical plastic buttons, and the overall shape are all hilariously bad.

[nak Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:25PM]

I thought Google was unbundling apps from Android? Google Maps has a lot more appeal than this, but this gets bundled and Maps removed?

[normanb20 Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:33PM]

@nak
What did this get bundled with?
Just go download it... no bundling necessary

[Valicore Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:37PM]

@nak The unbundling, I thought, was so that it was easier to upgrade Apps from the Market, since once stable the OS updates with be more rare. That is to say, Google is unbundling its own apps, but others that make the decision to tie into the Android framework are welcome to.

[alphabuild Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:52PM]

@nak this is a 3rd party app. it is not part of gapps. you are confused.

[nak Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:56PM]

@alphabuild "contributing the code to Android's trunk" sounds like it'll be bundled to me.

[therealriley Posted Apr 30th 2010 7:49PM]

@nak Yes, it's getting open sourced into the AOSP trunk but that does not mean it's intergrated to Android it will always still be an Android Dalvik app available on the market installed from an APK file.

[corneliusm Posted May 1st 2010 10:03AM]

@nak

There's a difference between bundling a proprietary closed-source app and an open-sourced one. If something is being committed to the trunk, that indicates that it will be a part of the AOSP. Maps, Gmail, etc are Google apps, and not part of the AOSP as they are not open source.

/android app dev
//posted from my nexus one

[Dr K Nkrumah Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:28PM]

Sucks for all those who can't upgrade to 2.1.

[AlexDorman Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:47PM]

@Dr K Nkrumah We've got Twicca though :)

[MowDownJoe Posted Apr 30th 2010 7:40PM]

@Dr K Nkrumah
The official client does native retweets only.
I'm sticking with Touiteur.

[masons Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:28PM]

Liking the deep integration and open source future of this app. Shows what developers can do with an app on an open source OS and gives other developers a chance to play with the apps source to come up with even more awesomeness, all at the same time. Good stuff.

[Alexx Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:28PM]

Sweet! Just installed it on my Desire

[ColinScatt Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:29PM]

Just installed on my Droid w/ DroidMod, based off of 2.0.1...Def check the market.

[coolbho3000 Posted Apr 30th 2010 8:24PM]

@ColinScatt You might want to upgrade to a 2.1 ROM, DroidMod 2.0.1 is getting a little rusty.

[Atoms11 Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:29PM]

Its really sweet!

[pranayagarwal Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:30PM]

See, this is what software development should be like. Kudos for the open source. Are you listening, big Steve?

[Good Times Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:36PM]

@pranayagarwal For being so open source they sure are rstricting who can use it. It's Twitter for Christs sake, how hard coult it be to run on a g1 or some non 2.1

[OldNewOne Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:41PM]

@pranayagarwal True that. Open source FTW!

By the way, I'm searching for the source code for the Google Maps app for Android. Anyone know where I can find it? It doesn't seem to be in the Android repository. The Gmail app source would be nice too.

Thanks!

[rutger1413 Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:52PM]

@OldNewOne Those are googles closed source proprietary programs. If you remember when cyanogenmod got in trouble, it was because he included these programs with his roms.

[supernine Posted Apr 30th 2010 7:21PM]

@Good Times
They are not restricting... your comment is invalid.. the older os (framework) just does not support the app.. what you really want to complain is about delayed updates on the platform (frag.)

[RidleyGriff Posted Apr 30th 2010 11:28PM]

@rutger1413 So Google claims to be an open system, yet closes off proprietary apps to lock up a competitive advantage.

I know I'm asking for negative ratings with this, but isn't that the opposite of an open system?

[Son Goku Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:32PM]

Now with this Twitter app Android is one step closer to reaching its perfect form.....

[Lubing The Tube Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:45PM]

@Son Goku
I see what you did there...

[aseaofflames Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:33PM]

I like Touteur better, but ill keep this for the contact syncing.

[HelghanSuperSniper Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:34PM]

is it better than Twidroid? Twidroid is my app of choice and the widget options are awesome. This official app is going to have to be stellar for me to switch.

[XTer Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:38PM]

@HelghanSuperSniper

Yes I think it is. Since I paid for Twidroid I feel kind of bad for not using it.

[HelghanSuperSniper Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:56PM]

@XTer thanks for the reply. On the strength of that, I'll download it and give it a go.

[webran61 Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:35PM]

Get that easily-scratchable electronic device away from all those scratch-prone objects!!!

[bingster Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:36PM]

Breaking news... really Engadget?.

[Dank Dillweed Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:49PM]

@bingster

No doubt. Am I the only person left who sees absolutely no value to Facebook and Twitter?

Flame on!

[AlienSix Posted Apr 30th 2010 6:50PM]

@bingster Twitter just came out with an official app, yes its "breaking"

[barry99705 Posted Apr 30th 2010 10:40PM]

@Dank Dillweed I use twitter as a pseudo im client with select friends. Facebook is okay, I guess. Better than foursquare, I could give a shit you're at BurgerKing.