Twitter’s invite-only beta application, aptly dubbed ‘twtter‘ and available since March, is getting a larger but still-limited rollout alongside two new features that should make it more enjoyable to use. Announced via a stream on the social network from the official Twitter Support handle, the biggest change is likely the addition of swipe gestures. Namely, it’s now possible to essentially click or tap the “like” button by swiping right-to-left when in conversation view.
The change is intended to make reading a tweet and ensuing conversation easier since it eliminates the need for a standard, icon-based UI from replies in a thread while maintaining the ability to ‘like’ posts. Swiping, as shown in posts shared by a number of Twitter users via the site, causes a familiar heart icon to swing in with the gesture to let the user know the reply has been ‘liked’.
Aside from the listed changes, users are pointing out at least one feature that’s broken in this update, which Twitter says it is working to fix as quickly as possible. Feedback can no longer be provided via the in-app interface following the update. That means users will need to rely on the Twitter Support account on the site itself to leave feedback instead of having easy access to a designated twttr bug reporting tool.
Still no true ‘dark mode’ on Android?
Less widespread Twitter features such as its redesigned camera app and profile view are also in place in the prototype app, as is a true — almost-black — dark mode.
The primary Twitter application has had a similar feature since several releases back but, as hinted by the above description, that’s a blue-ish gray tone that’s nowhere near what most would consider a “dark” theme. Apple smartphones already have access to that but the timeline on other platforms can still be defined with the all-too-common and bothersome single-word descriptor “soon.”
Users signing up for the prototype can choose whether or not they’re most often accessing Twitter through either Android or iOS on mobile or tablet or if they’re using the service via the web. So, at least for now, the beta application is going to be the only place that Android users will be able to access a true dark mode unless they’re on an Apple product.
Get in on the prototype …if you’re lucky
Luckily, the twtter prototype application is effectively open to anybody who wants to apply and Twitter is currently accepting new users as noted above. That doesn’t mean that everybody will get the chance to use it but those who are interested only need to fill out a short form asking for their username, language, platform, and region. Once the application is submitted, those users accepted into the beta will receive an email informing them about how to access the app.
Twitter hasn’t provided details regarding exactly how many users that will be though, so it seems users will mostly need to rely on being lucky. That means that anybody interested should probably sign up as soon as is feasible.
Big @twttr update! Dark mode and a ‘swipe to like’ gesture. pic.twitter.com/7e2Sq2riW5
— John Yarbrough (@jyarbrough) April 11, 2019