Web Preview

While the web version of Seesmic is currently limited in comparison to the desktop app, it is very usable and very cool. This preview release has all the basics with a few of the extras similar to the new features in the desktop app 0.4 upgrade. I am sure if they update the site with as much frequency as the desktop, it will have more features than you can shake a stick at in no time.

Features

When you hover over the profile picture, you are given three options: unfollow, message, or profile.

Click on the picture and it opens a pop up style window showing the profile info and a large picture.

The columns can be dragged and rearranged into any order for ease of viewing.

When you see a person @mentioned in a tweet who you are not currently following, simply click on their name to display a large profile pop up. In the pop up you can see all the basic info such as: their bio, how many people following them and how many people they follow. In another tab you can see some of their most recent updates.

The search bar does just what you would expect it to do. Type in a search term and finds tweets with those words in them. The results are displayed in a new column. These searches can also be saved for later if the column needs to be closed. The saved searches can also be accessed when you go to Twitter’s site.

You have a choice between a single column feed or multiple windows. A feature that I found appealing, is when you change the view to single column mode, the profile pictures are removed profile pics. This makes it a bit easier so scan through the updates by creating a more list like feed, similar to an RSS feed reader. Depending on the view chosen, the columns also auto size to fill the area.

Desktop Update

In the 0.4 updated desktop application, several new features were added. The two I am happiest about are the collapsible sidebar and the previously mentioned single column mode. The reason being, there isn’t always a need to see multiple accounts and every little update. In some cases I am going through tweets from a search. I am not going to reply to a DM for a little bit, so there isn’t a need for the added distraction.

A short list of the feature upgrades are:

* The option to set how many updates are in your timeline
* Single column and multiple column view
* A collapsible sidebar
* A fixed width column setting with user adjustable width.
* Miscellaneous fixes for better performance.

I am very excited to see what becomes of web based Seesmic, the preview shows a lot of promise. There are features I (and I’m sure many others) have grown accustomed to in the desktop app. Features much like being able to log into multiple accounts, accessing Facebook updates, user lists and quick access to favorite tweets. But, if nothing else, having the web and desktop versions be able to sync would be fantastic.

What would you like to see in the future updates of Seesmic web?

The Seesmic desktop app is a free cross platform Adobe Air based application. This very usable Adobe Air based desktop application was designed by the same folks that made Twhirl. If you have used the Twhirl app before, you should definitely give the Seesmic app a try. It is a happy medium between having too many features which can make it hard to use, and too little features which would make it not very helpful.

In a nutshell, the Seesmic desktop application allows you to save searches, post to multiple accounts, make user lists and see one or many streams of updates through multiple columns. I know this may sound a little too simple, but that is kind of the point. Other desktop or web based apps out there might have more features or a shinier packaging, but do you really need the extras? The main reason why people dread social media is the time that it takes to keep up with it; having a simple set up with pretty much everything you need and nothing you don’t is a good thing, isn’t it?

Here are some of the features:

While looking at the column of tweets and Facebook updates, if you see something that interests you, you can open another column. This is done by selecting a person, doing a search for a keyword or looking at a userlist, then clicking on the detach column button at the top. You can open several of these columns side by side, usually two or three in addition to the main column will probably fill the screen left to right.

If you have an account for a specific URL shrinking site, Bit.ly for example, Seesmic lets you log in and use your own account. Some of the URL shrinking sites give you stats on the links you post.

Notifications come via a Growl-like pop up  window at the bottom of the screen. In the settings menu, you have the option for the duration the window stays on the screen and whether or not it makes a sound each time it pops up.

Much like on the Twitter site, you have a search option. Unlike the Twitter site, you can save searches. This gives you a list of of past searches right in the side bar. Having selections in plain view makes it easy to compare keyword searches to a new topic or hashtag.

Adding media to a post is drag and drop simple. Much like the URL shrinking sites, you can choose what image sharing service to use.

Like most things these days, there is an iPhone app in the works. There wasn’t any information on the Seesmic site about what you would be able to do from your iPhone, but I would venture a guess to say it will have pretty much the same functionality as the desktop application.

The folks at Seesmic are also working on a web based version. I like the way they decided to do the desktop version before the web version. It makes more sense based on the intended use to have a desktop application. Being able to log in while your at a different computer and manage your accounts is a good back up option.

How do you keep track of your Facebook and Twitter updates?