Twitter planning major app changes, focus on mobile


Matt Buchanan on the upcoming Twitter revamp:

What's coming next is a more graphically intense Twitter that is marked by fundamental transformation of its core experience on mobile phones. Within the company, the decision has been to prioritize mobile over any other medium, including the Web, and it will see the most change the most rapidly. Internally, the way the company thinks about apps has shifted: for a time, its philosophy was that its apps should feel as similar as possible across every platform. A couple of years ago, Twitter employees--including Jack Dorsey--frequently invoked "consistency." In other words, Twitter wanted its iPhone app to look and work like its Android app. But now the company has come around to the idea that its apps should be custom designed for each and every platform, in order to take as much advantage as possible of what each one has to offer.

Reportedly Twitter will take a lead from Apple's iOS 7. A small update is expected near the new iOS release with a major update to follow. Changes reportedly will alter the interface from tabs like Home, Connect, and Discover to swiping from stream to stream. With a Twitter IPO on the horizon, a monetization strategy is likely involved.