How to use Twitter on the Motorola Milestone

The Motorola Milestone is the latest Android-based smartphones available in the Indian market today.

Most of the new generation smartphone devices come embedded with raft of applications to help users avail range of latest social networking platforms, including the ubiquitous Twitter.

We list below the simple processes to help you learn how to search for and install an application for use with Twitter and later, it will define how to configure one of the oft-used apps, Twidroid.

• Click the Market icon on the home screen
• Click the Search icon, denoted by a magnifying glass, in the top right corner
• Enter "Twitter" (without the quotes) in the search field
• You are now presented with a list of Twitter applications, along with ratings and prices.
• Select the application of your choice and click the Install button towards the bottom of the screen
• The phone will inform you of the application's access rights and you must either select OK or CANCEL
• Once you are in agreement and OK is pressed, the background download process begins

The selected application will be downloaded and installed in the background, and you are returned to your search results where you can select more applications. If your search is complete, simply tap the Home icon to return to the main screen.

Twidroid is the client chosen for the purposes of this guide and is available in the Android Market in both a free standard version and a paid professional version. The professional version offers a few additional features that may not be necessary for a general every day users.

The following are the additional features in the professional version:

1. Full Twitter-Lists integration
2. Multi account support
3. Two desktop widgets
4. Native bit.ly support
5. List of your followers and friends
6. Colour themes
7. Different application icon
8. Shake phone to refresh

Once the application is downloaded, it becomes available via the home screen. Simply tap on the Twidroid icon and you are presented with the Start Setup button which, once pressed, begins the simple process of preparing the application for use.

1. Accept the End User License Agreement.
2. Enter your Twitter ID, password and click Login
3. You are now given the option to follow @Twidroid on Twitter; your choice
4. TwiMilestone now will update your tweets and synchronise your account

Various functions are available in Twidroid by simply tapping on the menu icon: Settings, Profile, Faves, Exit Application, Accounts, and a More button. Settings simply allows you to make changes to the way the application behaves on your device in regard to notifications, the display, etc.

Profile shows you your profile on Twitter. Faves lists the Tweets you have marked as favourites. Accounts allows you to see which accounts you have configured (standard version only allows one account, professional allows multiple accounts).

More will give you the option to view and/or manage lists, but this feature is only available in the pro version.

The bottom row of the application, denoted by icons, gives you the following options:

1. Home -- View your Twitter feed
2. Compose new Tweet -- Compose and post a new tweet
3. Mentions or @ -- Tweets that mention your Twitter handle
4. Search -- Search your feed for whatever you wish
5. Refresh -- Force a refresh of the feed, mentions, and direct messages