LONDON: The official Twitter app has rolled out a landscape mode for iPhone 6 Plus users. Given past updates of Twitter, it is expected that this new mode is currently under testing before it is released in phases. This feature, which should have been introduced some time ago will maximize the use of the gorgeous screen of iPhone 6 Plus. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be available to every iPhone 6 Plus user.
You can avail this feature on your iPhone 6 Plus by tilting your phone on the side. This new mode is similar to Apple’s default messaging service, iMessage, Mail and Notes. In the new mode UI, the tweets directed at you are on the left hand side of the screen (similar to Inbox in the Mail app) while you can view or reply to a tweet on right hand side. You can also start a new message on the right hand side. While tweets are usually short (character limit 144) and don’t require such large screen space, this new mode will prove to be a nice feature where images or videos are involved as you can see them enlarged in the right hand side.
Twitter is making numerous interface changes lately, including changing shades of buttons, ‘like’ button, changing borders. This new and increased space to view tweets on larger screens may mean that Twitter could experiment with extending the character limit. This is merely speculation at this time.
In June, Twitter enabled shooting videos in landscape mode and users no longer had to contend with square videos. With ever-increasing smartphone screens and the widespread use of “phablets”, landscape mode seems to be the naturally preferred choice of users for apps in general.
With the expected roll out of the “News” section under its Project Lightning which will allow streams based on current events, the landscape mode would certainly help. It appears users will be able to watch videos and view images of events happening around the world while at the same time they may be able to reply to tweets.
