[ad_1]
Twitterrific, one of the most iconic third-party Twitter clients, announced today that it has removed its iOS and Mac apps from the App Store. Iconfactory, the company that created Twitterrific, said in a blog post that under Elon Musk’s control, the social media network “has become Twitter, which is no longer perceived as trustworthy and no longer wants to cooperate.” increase.
This app has a close relationship with Twitter. It was one of the platform’s first mobile and desktop clients and helped shape the term “Tweet.” In fact, Twitterrific was developed in his 2007. That was before Twitter created its own iOS app for him.
Twitterrific’s demise came after Twitter began intentionally blocking third-party clients last Friday without any explanation. Earlier this week, the TwitterDev account posted that the company was suspending these apps for violating “long-standing API rules.” However, it was not specified which rule was violated.
Late Thursday, Twitter updated its Developer Terms to state, “Use or access the Licensed Material to create or attempt to create a service or product that replaces or is similar to the Twitter Application.” If the use of that API is restricted. It doesn’t last long at all. That move essentially kills third-party apps.
But Twitterrific is not alone. Many other apps have started or are preparing to remove their apps from various app stores. Tweetbot co-creator Paul Haddad told TechCrunch in an email that the company has already removed his Mac client from the App Store and the iOS app will soon follow suit.
Despite Twitter’s announcement, some Twitter clients are still working, but it’s only a matter of time before the company pauses them.
Image credit: Twitter/tween app (opens in new window)
Twitter didn’t explain the move, but it could be to control users and force them to use their own client.
Third-party clients have added many features to Twitter as a platform. The Tweetie app that Twitter acquired in 2010 was lagging behind Pull to update timeline functionality what everyone knows. Twitterrific contributes bird logos, character counts, conversations (replies), and more. Sad to see Musk & co. I don’t appreciate developers who give users options to experience the platform in different ways.
Discord with Twitter developers
Twitter has a long history of ignoring developers who contribute to the ecosystem. The company started limiting his Twitter client to third parties in 2012. After two years, we restricted access to Firehose data by terminating our contract with our partner.
One classic example of Twitter ignoring non-native clients is Tweetdeck, which it acquired in 2011. The company shut down his Tweetdeck for Mac last year and is testing a new web version of him with a limited number of users. However, given how Musk has treated the company, there isn’t much hope for a full release.
Over the past few years, social media companies have started rebuilding trust with developers. In 2020, we released a new API with multiple access levels to address many use developer cases. In 2022, we launched Twitter Toolbox, a way to showcase and promote third-party apps. In an interview with TechCrunch, Amir Shevat, who headed Twitter’s developer platform at the time, also said the company was looking to build an app store of some sort.
But everything fell apart after Musk took over the company. The Twitter Toolbox and many other developer projects are no longer in progress.
In a TechCrunch column last month, Shevat (who is no longer with the company) wrote that the new Twitter management had broken developer trust.he also criticized the method The company is currently in contact with the developer.
road ahead
Developers are heartbroken over the move as the app’s Pro and Premium subscriptions contributed to their revenue, but now they’re suddenly gone. Tweetbot maker His Tapbots has built a Mastadon client called Ivory and aims to release it soon. Fenix developer Matteo Villa has also released a test version of his Mastadon app called Wooly.
Twitter’s move could alienate other developers creating tools for the platform. In December, composer apps like Typefully and Chir App told TechCrunch they would cautiously continue to develop for Twitter, while content management tool Bodyguard also said it wanted to scale back Twitter-related development. increase. The latest move to neglect third-party clients may cause other developers to pull out of his Twitter project.
You can reach this reporter on Signal and WhatsApp at +91 816-951-8403 or email at im@ivanmehta.com.
[ad_2]
Source link
