Cynthia Cheng Mintz

Well, UberSocial is back now, complete with ring tone alerts (an updated app was created this morning due to a glitch in the one released last night).  During the Great Uber Outtage of 2011 this past weekend, I tried two alternatives Twitter alternatives on my Blackberry, HootSuite and SocialScope.  Both apps, unlike UberSocial or Twitter for Blackberry, allow you to manage more than one account at the same time as well as different social networking accounts (UberSocial allows you to Tweet to Facebook, but does not yet have access to others. Also, if you have two or more accounts, you must log out of one to access the other.), a good thing for those who want to update without switching from account to account.

HootSuite:  I have been using the web version of HootSuite on and off for the past few months.  I usually Tweet via Tweetdeck when I’m on my regular computer, but once in a while, I’d go to HootSuite.  For the free version, one can add up to five social networking accounts, and can pick and choose between accounts to update or update them all at the same time.  Other social networking sites that can be connected to HootSuite include LinkedIn and Mixi.  HootSuite separates Facebook accounts and Facebook pages.  While this is an excellent choice for those with multiple accounts, there are two things which bug me as a user.  First of all, unlike most  witter applications or on Facebook, the app does not show users followers when “@” is typed.  This is not good if you cannot remember everyone’s username.  Also, there are no alert settings for HootSuite for Blackberry, meaning that one wouldn’t know when they are mentioned or DM’d.  However, messages can be set to go live at certain times.  Not necessarily something that is truly important, since most people want their updates to go live immediately.

SocialScope:  This is an invite-only app (some blogs are saying that SocialScope is on “permanent beta”) and you need to request a password for it to download.  Requests can be made via their website.   Like HootSuite, several accounts can be managed at one time, but unlike HootSuite, usernames pop up once “@” is typed.  No need to memorize.  Alerts can be integrated into one’s inbox (which can be a mess if you don’t fix your settings.  If you follow a lot of accounts the inbox quickly fills up) and unlike HootSuite, users can set ringtones for their accounts.  Integrating your Facebook account also means that any pages you have admin access to will also be part of your personal account – unlike HootSuite, which sees them as separate entities.  Private Facebook messages and notifications can also be accessed, unlike HootSuite. Drawbacks?  You can only connect up to two Twitter accounts, your Facebook account, FourSquare and Flickr.  Also, it seems that you cannot update both your personal Facebook account and your page(s) at the same time as SocialScope sees it as a double posting (whatever).  Finally, you cannot set different ringtones for your various accounts.  All say, Twitter “tabs” will have the same ringtone, for example, regardless of account.

So which one was my favourite out of the two?  SocialScope is winning handsdown.  While it only has two other social networking services, the fact that it alerts you and gives you a list of usernames when you’re mentioning an individual is enough for me.  In fact, SocialScope is staying on my Blackberry for now, despite reactivating UberSocial.

Above images: Screenshots from the respective websites