Web 2.0 Conversation: MyTwitFace: TweetDeck Adds Major Facebook and MySpace Features

TweetDeck (
) is fast becoming the de facto accessory for social media fanatics. The Twitter desktop application is certainly seeing formidable competition, mainly from the likes of Seesmic (
), or web-based alternatives, but their ultimate mission is to become more than just a Twitter (
) app and be a browser for the real-time web.

A new version of TweetDeck (v0.30), which just launched this morning, aims to push the application in that direction. With Twitter still front and center, the new release also embraces a boatload of additional Facebook (
) functionality and adds in MySpace (
) integration. It’s almost everything Conan envisioned for the year 3000.

The consummate Twitter follower will also love that today marks the simultaneous launch of the TweetDeck Directory which features predefined columns for one-click following en masse and instant column addition to your TweetDeck.

Facebook Frenzy

When you open up the spiffy new version of TweetDeck, the biggest improvement you’ll notice is the enhanced Facebook features. Instead of just status updates flying by, you’ll be able to create columns for the full news feed, single out a column for just status updates, photos, videos, or wall posts, and create custom columns for any of the above for specific groupings of your Facebook friends.

Essentially, if you can do it on Facebook, you can now do it via TweetDeck. You can update Facebook Pages, view or add comments and likes, see who’s tagged in photos, watch photo slide shows, and mouse over user avatars for a myriad of additional options like updating the user’s wall, sending the user a message, or translating an update.

Not Your Average Twitter Directory

Another biggie is the new TweetDeck Directory. It’s essentially like other directory apps, expect that TweetDeck has gone ahead and categorized Twitterers into column-friendly lists. Topics and genres span pop culture, entertainment, and sports to include Twitterers who are well known in categories like: Tech News, Hip Hop, Journalists, Comedians, and Football.

Once you see a list you like, you can click to scan the included Twitters, and then select “Add Column” to add it instantly your TweetDeck. In doing so, you’ll also start following the pre-selected Twitterers.

MySpace and More …

Got a MySpace account you still keep an eye on? No need to admit that to us (we have them too), but you can use the new version of TweetDeck to keep an active eye on what your friends on the other social network are doing. You can create a column for your MySpace friends’ activity, your comments, and your friends’ status and mood. Plus, you can use TweetDeck to update your MySpace status/mood.

There’s also a ton of minor and major improvements to the application. Check out the list below for even more feature enhancements:

* Drag and Drop photo sharing – Simply drag a photo to TweetDeck in order to post it on Twitter, Facebook or MySpace.
* TweetPhoto (
) has replaced TwitPic (
) as the default photo sharing service.
* Improved interface – We’ve simplified the UI to group features by service and also simplified the update window so you can simply paste or drag and drop a link into the main space and it’ll automatically be shortened and added to your tweet.
* Minimise to tray – Adding the ability to keep TweetDeck running but minimise it to tray. This is one of our most requested bug fixes.
* Click on a hashtag to create a new search column and see what people are talking about immediately.
* Add your bit.ly account details to use your own account when using bit.ly as a shortener in TweetDeck.
* Quick Profile – Simply enter a Twitter name to view profiles in TweetDeck.
* Better follower management – your follower list will be kept up to date over time (including removing people you no longer follow).
* Open to non Twitter users – Users no longer require a Twitter account to use TweetDeck opening up TweetDeck to all Facebook and MySpace users.