The best desktop Twitter app

Twitter’s official desktop app TweetDeck has finally come out of beta, and joins the website and mobile apps as part of the redesign of the service.

TweetDeck allows you to follow any number of Twitter and Facebook accounts you run in one columned application. The biggest change with this version of TweetDeck is it no longer installs through Adobe AIR, making getting started that little bit faster.

The appearance of TweetDeck is largely unchanged. It’s clean and easy to understand, and still probably the best app for using multiple accounts. The default setting features a Home feed of updates from all your accounts together. Then there is the @Me feed, which shows all interactions with you on Twitter or Facebook. Finally there is an Inbox for Direct Messages in Twitter. You can add to any of these from a selection of things like Lists or Tweets, and remove any of them too.

TweetDeck is absolutely essential if you use more than one Twitter account. It’s easy to use, and very clearly designed, with the added security of Twitter’s official support. Making a real installer so Adobe AIR isn’t required is a great improvement on earlier versions too.

Browse easily:· Now your columns are arranged in one continuous horizontal row, allowing you to navigate smoothly left and right with the scrollbar.· You can scroll several columns at a time by clicking the arrows either side of the “Columns” button on the top toolbar. You can also click the “Columns” button to reveal the full list of all the columns in your TweetDeck and access any column immediately.Manage your columns:· With the addition of the new Columns button it’s now easier to arrange your columns. With the column drop-down open, simply hover over the “drag” icon to the right of the column name you wish to move, click and drag the column to its new position, then drop.Act on what’s happening:· A menu icon on every Tweet gives you instant access to more Tweet actions, like “Create link”, and user-related actions, like “Block”. This makes it possible report a user for spam, add an account to a list, delete your own Tweet, and much more, all without having to leave your main column view.

Changes

• Browse easily:· Now your columns are arranged in one continuous horizontal row, allowing you to navigate smoothly left and right with the scrollbar.· You can scroll several columns at a time by clicking the arrows either side of the “Columns” button on the top toolbar. You can also click the “Columns” button to reveal the full list of all the columns in your TweetDeck and access any column immediately.Manage your columns:· With the addition of the new Columns button it’s now easier to arrange your columns. With the column drop-down open, simply hover over the “drag” icon to the right of the column name you wish to move, click and drag the column to its new position, then drop.Act on what’s happening:· A menu icon on every Tweet gives you instant access to more Tweet actions, like “Create link”, and user-related actions, like “Block”. This makes it possible report a user for spam, add an account to a list, delete your own Tweet, and much more, all without having to leave your main column view.