HootSuite Keeps Getting Better And Better
Thursday, June 24th, 2010 at
12:15 pm
Tons of new features in the latest build of HootSuite, which was released earlier today, including:
- A completely redesigned interface (which I have to say looks fantastic and gives you a lot more screen space to work with)
- A choice of three new themes (I’ve gone for Blue Steel)
- Google Analytics integration
- GeoSearch
- Drag & Drop Upload – in Chrome, Firefox and Safari, simply drag a file from the desktop to the message box and it automatically uploads and provides a shortened link
- Enhanced Facebook integration
- Twitter-style retweets (ON by default – I switched it off, but it’s nice to have the option, although I’d prefer it if this was offered each time you clicked the RT button)
- Language support
- HTML5 ensures your social streams display even faster
It all looks brilliant, and I’ve only just started playing around with the features. I particularly like the improvements they’ve made to the profile pop-ups, and everything feels really slick and modern.
What’s still missing is Bit.ly support. Maybe next time HootSuite, eh?
UPDATE: A few people have asked me how you get back the old-style retweets. Click on the Owl icon at the top-left of HootSuite, and select Settings > Preferences and uncheck the ‘use Twitter web retweets’ box.
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Shéa I do not agree entirely with your review. From version to version, Hootsuite is getting fatter and fatter. I started using it because it has a feature that I need (and would be willing to pay for): scheduling.
Now, in the latest version they managed to redesign the scheduling process in a way it takes a mouse click longer – which is annoying. And on top, they introduced the Facebook preview picture, the creation of which I cannot turn off in the settings. That'a annoying, too.
Hootsuite is getting more and more a kind of Swiss Army knife – which is handy in case of emergence but not necessarily as a daily tool. All I want is a slick tool that excels in one discipline…
PS: And bit.ly still is missing. And never trust the failure message from Hootsuite that something could not be posted; I started checking all prior to rescheduling them…
Rescheduling is another click, yes, but while the process is different I didn't actually notice the extra step – which is unusual for me! But I find it still easy enough so no issue there.
I don't use Twitter apps for anything apart from Twitter, so the Facebook element doesn't impact me.
I have to say I'm finding the new build absolutely brilliant. Twitter itself being utterly rubbish the past couple of weeks – and today – is the reason why we're seeing delays. I also think that's the reason why we've seen more 'cannot be posted' errors than usual, but that started before this new build.
Otherwise, I'm finding HootSuite to be a speedy pleasure! All that said, I've made the point before that the ideal Twitter app would be plugin-based (like WordPress) and I'd still like to see the option to remove unnecessary functionality if the user deemed it necessary.
I don't agree that its getting better and better. I also object to finding that my settings have been changed and I have to change them back. What about giving people a choice and they can change IF they want to? Who cares what colour the theme is – its functionality that's important and I can't see much improvement apart from more space.
It's quite a bit quicker thanks to the HTML5 implementation. What browser are you using? Try Google Chrome to get the full experience. The errors and delays we're seeing are all on Twitter's end. That said, this is day one of a brand new build so there are bound to be a few nooks and crannies that need smoothing out.
HootSuite is very slow in Chrome also. And it has nothing to do with the Twitter API, because it's slow when scheduling tweets (that's ll I use HootSuite for), which won't go to Twitter until days later.
And making native vs, old RT a setting is simply a joke! How about integrating both of them in the interface? Other clients don't seem to have any trouble with that.
No disagreement on the either/or for RTs. Otherwise, I'm finding Chrome very fast.
We are sorting out the little browser-specific bugs to make an ideal experience. I agree it looks great in Chrome. Thanks for your kind words.
We aim to keep the interface uncluttered though we will consider bringing the RT option more forward for individual messages down the road.
While i hear your desire for minimalist tool, we are finding a balance between adding features which agencies, governments and enterprises desire to manage social media campaigns from one place, with building a fast, uncluttered tool.
Also, we have our own URL shorteners and are adding custom URL shortening with statistics rather than adding Bit.ly.
If you have suggestions or feature requests, please submit to http://feedback.hootsuite.com where others can vote on them and our team can review the ideas.
I use sharefeed http://www.sharefeed.com for scheduling. It's a nice little service that only does that, but it's very simple and efficient.