What is Twitter? Twitter is basically a free web-based "micro-blogging" service that allows users to send out short messages - up to 140 characters - and to subscribe to, or "follow," other Twitter users' updates. Think of it as Facebook status updates without all that other Facebook stuff.
Thanks to innovations such as search.twitter.com, @replies and the use of hashtags - keywords preceded with a # sign - Twitter has evolved into a popular comment stream and a quick way to share and find links, news, photos and even videos.
Read Antonia Zerbisias's article about Twitter for a bit of a primer - or sign up for a free account yourself.
More:
• A better way to "retweet" (Twitip.com)
• Video: Current TV's take on Twitter
Twitter tools
(thestar.com is not responsible for the operation or content of these sites, some of which are in beta release.)
Search.twitter.com: Search keywords or hashtags, and see an updated top-10 tweeted terms - with RSS feeds for the results. Search for tweets about the Star
BackTweets - Searches Twitter for web addresses, including original addresses shortened by tinyurl and other similar services, with RSS feeds for results. BackTweet thestar.com
Hashtags.org - Searchable, sortable directory of Twitter hashtags, with usage statistics. See how people are using #leafs
Twictionary: A Twitter glossary
HootSuite - Manage more than one Twitter account, tweet webpages quickly or set up automated tweets based on RSS.
TweetDeck - Filter and sort your Twitter feeds with this beta-version desktop utility.
Twitterfeed - Automated tweets from RSS and Atom feeds.
