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So it's been a week with Twitter and I think I am finally ready to give a final verdict. While a week may not be that long and it is difficult to give a rating or a ultimate decision to the service, I do feel like I got enough time to form a fairly solid opinion.

There are several things I really like about the service. First, I really enjoy the way that the service connects to both my cell phone and Facebook with ease. I always loved the Facebook status feature, but I always felt it was underused or not really cared about by users. If you're on Twitter, then you are obviously a big fan of this micro-blogging concept. The fact that I also have all my Twitter updates sync up with my Facebook status just makes the whole service more worthwhile. I also like the simplicity of just sending a text message to Twitter's 5 digit SMS number. I can also send replies to specific users through text just by placing @ infront of the users name in the message. It is easy and doesn't cost a thing over what your text messages usually cost.

When it comes to the downfalls of the service, reliability has been the big one for Twitter in the past and I have seen several small problems over the last week. While rare, I have seen several error messages citing that the service is overloaded and to try again later. I also feel as if Twitter could be better integrated into even more websites. I wish I could enter my Facebook information and see which friends have Twitter accounts. I wish the RSS feeds worked with my Google reader account. I wish I could receive and sent tweets through AIM. The service still has a ton of possibilities which need to be explored in order to bring in the traffic of other social networks.

Do I recommend Twitter? Well, that depends on who you are. If you have unlimited text messaging and are active on services like Facebook or Pownce. Personally, I don't see Twitter as much of a service on it's own and if you've been on the internet for a while, you most likely are already well involved in a social network. However, if you look at Twitter as a tool to enrich your experiences on Facebook, Pownce, etc, then it is definitely a great experience and well worth your time.

Overall, I give Twitter a 4 out of 5.

Have any questions, comments, or do you feel I am dead wrong about Twitter? Feel free to leave a comment.
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So, it's been a couple days since I kicked off my week with Twitter. I figure that now would be a good time to talk a little about the pros and cons of the micro-blogging site.

The Positives
It's real easy to use - Twitter is simple to set up and the developers make it real simple to integrate Twitter into a cell phone, iPhone, Firefox, desktop, Facebook, Pownce, etc. Not only is it easy, but the service becomes better when you use it more.

Great way to meet new people - In my couple days, I have already found several people to twit with who I didn't know before my experience with Twitter. I find myself interested in their daily activity and their funny tweets. Not only that, but I find myself responding to them quite often as well.

You can use it as much, or little as you like - The service is flexible. Are you a post machine? Go ahead. Don't like committing yourself too much? No biggie either.

It's a great way to stay connected - I follow Barack Obama, ProBlogger, and Mashable on the site. It is great to see small blurbs about what some of my favorite people anywhere.

The Negatives
Finding friends - I really wish it integrated with Facebook somehow so that I could find all my FB friends who are using the service. It really isn't that simple to find friends through the service and I feel like I am missing out on tweets from close friends.

Spammers - While this isn't a big problem right now, I see it as being an issue in the future. I have had a couple accounts begin following me which appear to be spam. I also see posts from more popular Twitters often complaining about spam. We'll see how Twitter responds to this problem as it becomes more popular in the future.

Better template options - It took me some time, but I finally think I have a sweet page template. However, I wish that the site had some more documention or tips on making a great looking page. I have had to get most of my information through Google, most of which has been contradicting at times.


We'll see what else comes up with the service in the next few days. Expect a final review here soon.
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I tend to have a little problem with trying out new web start-ups. I just really find enjoyment in checking out new sites that try to offer a new service. While I like to try out lots of new sites, I tend to only stay loyal to the big ones like Facebook, meebo, and Digg.

In the last week, I have wanted to start a new blog post series while also jumping feet first into Twitter. I figured why not write about my time with the service as I try it out and thus what hopes to be a new blog post series is born. In this "A Week with..." series, I will focus on a different start-up for a week while trying to get three posts in during the week period. The first will typically be day one or so, where I give an inital impression of the service. The second post will be at day 3 or 4 where I give a half-way update and focus on the pros and cons of my time with the service so far. The last post will be a short review and retrospect on my time with the start-up.

So without any further ado, let's jump into my first look at Twitter.

For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a micro-blogging/social network where users post short "tweets" with what they are doing or thinking. I have had a couple friends ask me about the service over the last couple of days and the best way I have found to describe the service is as what would happen if Facebook statuses had a baby with text messages and that love child was as addictive as all hell.

In my early experiences, I have found Twitter to not be a killer app within itself. If you were to use Twitter on it's own, you would notice little difference between the service and Facebook's status feature. You may be asking yourself then, "Why would I use Twitter if all my friends have Facebook and I can just use that?" Twitter has found itself success because it takes the status concept and puts it on steroids.
Twitter gives you a multitude of ways to update your Twitter while also integrating it into other sites as well. It's really a power app for people who want to stay connected. The more and more I explain the concept, I find it more difficult to explain it's utility. Let's just use myself as an example and make this a case study.

I am a tech-connected guy with a fairly large circle of friends. I am a text message fiend and love keeping updated with people. Facebook is my primary means of staying connected with friends from college, high school, and the large number of really cool people I have met through Four48 and other internet projects. I use it as my primary source of personal information and social network for people who want to get connected to me. I tend to hate AIM because it is a hard platform to use on the go and when you don't have a lot of time, because it tends to lead into long conversations which I usually don't have time for during the day. Wall posts on Facebook are awesome because it gives me a chance to send short blurbs to keep in close contact with friends on what time we are going to the gym or where we are going to dinner, because all I have to do is post it and they can get back and reply whenever possible. I feel as if a majority of my college friends fit into a similar mindset.

Twitter lets me update my status to others while also letting me check in on the status of others easily, while also integrating itself into many other social apps which are important to me as well. Simply, it lets you connect with a broader range of friends quickly and more simply then what I have found to previously be possible.

Twitter easily sets up with my cell phone through text messaging. All I do is sent a quick text to the number 40404 and my status is updated instantaneously. I can also choose which of my Twitter friends I want to receive mobile updates on. Whenever Megan Lee or darwinblues updates their Twitter, it is sent to my phone. Whenever some of my favorite people in tech like Kevin Rose updates his twitter, I could find out about it on my phone. Websites have Twitter accounts. Presidential candidates have Twitter accounts. If you want updates on it, you can get it easily whenever and wherever.

Twitter also integrates well with devices like the iPhone or iPod Touch through applications like Twitterific. I have installed it on my Touch and have enjoyed what I use so far. The interface is simple and it gives me lots of information on people in my network at my fingertips. I use my Touch all the time at school or when away from the computer and this is just another great way to stay connected with friends.

However, what I have found to maybe be the biggest feature thus far is Twitter's integration with Facebook through it's Facebook app. Whenever I update my Twitter, my status is simultaneously updated on Facebook to match. Now I can easily update my friends on Twitter and Facebook at the same time. If you are the kind of guy who wants to stay as connected as I do, this should be pretty much on the same level as manna from heaven.

So far, this looks to be like a service I plan on keeping up with in the upcoming months. It's flexibility is key and I can't wait to learn more about it. I'll be back in a couple days to give my second part in this series as well as some pros and cons of Twitter as I see them.

What do you think about this service? Are you a huge twitter user? If so, please feel free to follow me at www.twitter.com/CameronBanga. Have another web start-up that you feel like I should check out in a future installment? Send me a quick e-mail about it at Cameron@CameronBanga.com.
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Bored? Listen to my podcast series.
Take a listen to great interviews with Steve Wozniak and more.
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Took this last week at the Apple Store on Michigan Ave in Chicago. I'm sure you can only imagine the looks on the faces of the 6 or so people who congregated behind Dillon as he took this shot. I'm not sure if they thought I was a real celebrity or just some big douchebag. They would have been correct if they thought the latter.
________
Bored? Listen to my podcast series.
Take a listen to great interviews with Steve Wozniak and more.
Subscribe on iTunes.

If you donated over $10 to our Zelda marathon for Child's Play last weekend, then you qualified to receive a "Thank You" postcard from our team. I sent out some e-mails and quite a few of you responded asking to receive your card.

I got 38 of them addressed and sent today, for those who have already sent me their address. On my table, they looked like this.


I hope that those of you are receiving one enjoy it. If possible, take a picture of yourself with it when it arrives through the mail and I will be sure to post your picture on the site somewhere.

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Thanks again to all of those who tuned into our 70 hour Zelda marathon last weekend. Myself and the rest of our team really appreciate your support in help in raising over $2000 for Child's Play.

To thank you all, I invite you to enjoy your own McNugget McFlurry.