Netbot for App.Net Review
:: SIMILARLY GREATPrice: Free
Version Reviewed: 1.4.1
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
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When Twitter announced that they were going to be closing down their API, which effectively suffocated third-party Twitter apps (such as the incredible Tweetbot and the stunning Twitterrific), some people quickly searched for a replacement. This is when App.net was born - and I thoroughly believe that the best mobile experience App.Net has to offer can be had through Netbot.
If the user has previously used Tweetbot before, they will have absolutely no problem adapting to the interface of Netbot. In many ways, it mimics Tweetbot - with very few menus and interfaces being swapped around.
One thing Tapbots are known for is their extreme attention to detail, and Netbot is no exception. Everything in the app, from the refresh sound to the smooth animations that occur when you tap a post are meticulously crafted. This ensures that when using the app users are in for a pleasant and fluid experience - and perhaps most importantly of all, one that feels natural.
Although some might say that the similarity in interfaces between Netbot and Tweetbot is something to be lauded, at times I found the design to get a bit boring. This is down to the fact that I am a self-confessed Tweetbot addict, and so the interface of Netbot felt very dull after using it for a short period of time.
Netbot has several incredibly convenient features. A personal favourite is the ability to hold down on a link to an article and have it saved to a read-it-later service, such as Pocket or Instapaper without even opening the link. Gestures are also brilliantly implemented in the app, allowing users to slide a post to the left in order to see replies to it, and to the right to see the whole conversation.
For App.Net users looking for a pleasant and fluid experience on their iPhone, there simply isn't a better option available to them than Netbot. And although some users of Tweetbot may find the design slightly too similar, the apps features make this a forgivable flaw.