We go hands on with Twitter for BlackBerry 10 to clear up the Direct Messaging confusion

Can't figure out how to send Direct Messages from the new BlackBerry 10 Twitter app? Here, let us show you how.

By James Richardson on 18 Feb 2013 01:59 pm

One thing I noticed pretty early on once the BlackBerry Z10 was launched was some peoples frustration with the new native Twitter application. Not so much with how the app performs but with how to send direct messages. Because of the integrated accounts we now have within the BlackBerry Hub, Twitter is there too, so DM's are done from here and not from the Twitter app itself. That may seem odd at first but one you actually use a BlackBerry 10 smartphone you will see that it makes perfect sense.

The Twitter app itself is not dissimilar from the versions on iOS and Android. Some of the tabs are positioned at the bottom of the screen with BlackBerry 10 to allow for one handed use which is a bonus, but apart from the difference in direct messaging they are fairly unified which will please new BlackBerry users.

BB vs Android

When it comes to viewing your timeline the app performs beautifully smoothly and scrolling up and down the tweets is quite a joy. Updating the timeline is achieved by pulling down to refresh much like on the other platforms. If you want to jump to the newest tweet from anywhere in the timeline it is just a case of tapping the 'Home' tab at the bottom left of the screen.

As you will see from the video, BlackBerry 10 gives us two options when it comes to interacting with Twitter contacts. First up - you can tap the tweet where it will open up in a new page and give you onscreen icons to retweet, reply etc. But by far the quickest and most natural way to respond (once you have become familiar with the BB10 way) is to do a long hold on the tweet and options will pop up on the right of the screen. From here you can just scroll down to the action you wish. For example: if you want to retweet you just scroll to the retweet tab and release - sorted.

The other tabs along the base of the display are all standard stuff. You have a 'Connect' tab where you can view your mentions and reply to them with either of the two ways as mentioned above. Then we have the 'Discover' tab where you can view trends and find new people to follow on Twitter. And last but not least is the 'Me' tab where you can check out your conversations on Twitter as well as view a list of your followers and the people you follow.

On to the interesting part - Direct Messages. You won't find them in the app itself so once you have read this you can stop being puzzled and confused. All DM's are housed within the BlackBerry Hub. Creating a new DM is done just the same as you would start a new email or sms. Just go yo the hub, press 'compose' and select Twitter. The message will then open and you can start typing in the name of the recipient. Enter the text you wish, press send and off it goes - simple.

As you receive direct messages you will be notified in the Hub just the same as any other account that it integrated. Conversations will be shown in a threaded form as you can see below and it works really well. After using DM's in this format for a few weeks it feels perfectly natural and I much prefer it this way instead of controlling them from within the app.

DM's

Topics: Twitter BlackBerry 10 Help Twitter For BlackBerry 10 Help, How-To & Tips

James Richardson 564 (articles) 91 (forum posts)

38 comments

crwblyth Feb 18, 2013 at 2:04 pm

Doesn't make up for the app being... bad.

Prince Radebe Feb 18, 2013 at 2:05 pm

@James , Will facebook inboxes work the same? *Patient South African Z10 lover *

James Richardson Feb 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Yes, Facebook messages are through the hub. I now message this way more than I did before.

mughni Feb 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm

How do u copy tweets from the app or share with other social apps? Coz the copy opton doesnt works for me and when i try to share it only take the OP name to the other app.

mikebrennan33 Feb 18, 2013 at 2:14 pm

Does anyone know how to access Lists you have created? Also, trying to figure out how to clear search history. Any ideas?

sris Feb 18, 2013 at 2:17 pm

I am still disappointed by the fact that BlackBerry dint include Lists in this app.

ddlax22 Feb 18, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Blackberry did not develop the app unlike older versions of twitter for legacy blackberry smartphones. This one is developed by twitter.

goku_vegeta Feb 18, 2013 at 5:28 pm

BlackBerry has always developed the social networking and the three major instant messaging clients. This is no different on BlackBerry 10, Twitter is developed (has always been) by BlackBerry themselves.

ddlax22 Feb 19, 2013 at 7:10 pm

this is incorrect. Blackberry had previously developed the major instant messaging clients (aside from Aim which was built by aol themselves, and submitted as Research in motion) and social networking clients. now if you go to blackberry world, you will see: Twitter, By Twitter Inc. and no longer will it say RIM(blackberry)

Rootbrian Feb 21, 2013 at 4:00 am

Twitter made the app, NOT blackberry.

Rootbrian Feb 21, 2013 at 3:59 am

TWITTER MADE THE APP!

ddlax22 Feb 18, 2013 at 2:25 pm

Question, can we compose new tweets directly from the hub? Not just DM's. That would be awesome.

bmercer94 Feb 18, 2013 at 3:29 pm

Yes, swipe left-to-right, select twitter, "tweet". looking at the option now.

ddlax22 Feb 19, 2013 at 7:05 pm

good stuff. i was hoping for that. ill be using this alot when i get my z10

shupor Feb 18, 2013 at 2:27 pm

I do like that it's integrated into the Hub but somewhat disappointed that you cannot send a DM from the app. What happens to BB10 twitter users who do not have twitter notifications integrated into the Hub?

leafs123 Feb 18, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Twitter really half-assed the app on BB10. It's not on par with iOS or Android. The mobile web is actually better. Looks and works like on other platforms.

tavisdunn Feb 18, 2013 at 2:35 pm

Ah yeah man, this is pretty cumbersome. I'm sure with the complaints the twitter app will be updated to "fix" this...

LudusSolers Feb 18, 2013 at 3:59 pm

While integrating DMs with the Hub is a good feature, the rest of the app's functionality is lacking to say the least.

Why is it that searching on a topic or subject, automatically adds it to the saved search list?
Why is it next to impossible to delete saved searches in the app?
Why have we lost the ability to view non-DM tweet conversations within the timeline?
Why have we lost the ability to choose our region for trending topics? In;line profile edits? Managing multiple profiles? Viewing profile photos? Lists?

The catalogue of missing or poorly implemented features goes on and on. I love my Z10 and BB10 but the (half)baked in Twitter client actually stopped me from using Twitter on my phone until I sideloaded UberSocial.

It really is a shockingly bad application and is a dreadful letdown for what is an amazing phone.

bbkeystone Feb 19, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Very irritating not to be able to view conversations.

I'm a neophyte Twitter user myself so don't use much else, but you'd think that they would look at the app for the BB7 and say "What can we add", not "What can we take away...".

Rootbrian Feb 21, 2013 at 4:03 am

So don't blame blackberry.

Rootbrian Feb 21, 2013 at 4:02 am

Blame twitter for not doing a good job, not blackberry.

Iamanonymous62 Feb 18, 2013 at 2:58 pm

James wrote: ".....One thing I noticed pretty early on once the BlackBerry Z10 was launched was some peoples frustration with the new native Twitter application. Not so much with how the app performs but with how to send direct messages"

No James, apparently it is with how the app performs!

ekafara Feb 18, 2013 at 3:01 pm

The whole app is bad, when clicking on a tweet to see the conversation i either get the tweet on either side of the one i want pop up, the profile of the user(of the tweet i want or the one above or below) or it opens something up in my browser.

Scott Elk Feb 18, 2013 at 3:09 pm

I know on my old bold device I was able get notifications everytime I received a new tweet which although it was a lot of notifications I liked it. Now with BB 10 it seems that I can only get notifications if I get DM tweets or mentions in tweets which is essentially never as I'm not that important. Anyone know if there is a way to change this.

kw9700 Feb 18, 2013 at 3:33 pm

Hey James,
Nice video, just trying to see if you have a screen protector on your phone there. Are you using one? And if so, what kind?
Thanks!

elmit22 Feb 18, 2013 at 3:49 pm

Crackberry makes this phone a joy to use, every day i come on to this site and learn more and more about this Brilliant OS. Well done Crackberry and well done Blackberry

Dave Raines Feb 18, 2013 at 4:11 pm

I'm sure you all know about the Reply feature not working properly in the BB10 Twitter App.
If a user replies to a public tweet using the reply feature in the Twitter client for BlackBerry 10, the reply is rendered as a separate post rather than a continuation to the original tweet. The reply is not in encapsulated with the original tweet.

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB33711

Kuttysark Feb 18, 2013 at 4:50 pm

2 major issues with T4BB on Zed10

1. No Lists yet
2. No Mentions with interactions. I thought this was one of the best features added to T4BB on BBOS 7.1, made it extremely easy to follow back those who followed you, in a timely manner.

Outrunner Feb 18, 2013 at 5:17 pm

This entire article is great, but does not address the Direct Message bug - when you try to send or reply to a DM, you get a blank bubble with a Dec 31 time stamp.

parvezjj Feb 18, 2013 at 6:21 pm

Lists needs to come back. Connect tab doesn't show new people who follow you anymore - just people who reply to you. Not even retweets and favourites. Needs to be fixed up asap

Ac200386 Feb 18, 2013 at 6:37 pm

So you make me get out of the twitter app to compose a direct message? how is that flow?

Crisdean Feb 18, 2013 at 7:28 pm

Well thanks it kinda sucks. If trying to post dm via twitter it see,s to send an empty response! Twitter better get their app together. also opening a link outsode the application must be a joke. They need a fix for that.

hemodad Feb 18, 2013 at 7:49 pm

Does anyone know how to fix this? I've tried un installing the app and re installing it but didn't work.

Spdyrel Feb 18, 2013 at 10:58 pm

What about the "Quick Search" thing (or whatever it's called)? Wouldn't you be able to just type in something like "Tweet: I'm at Blah Blah with Blah Blah..."? I might be completely wrong but can't wait for this phone. Still unsure if the Q10 or Z10 is right for me but with the US release date still unannounced (other than T-Mobile) maybe they will both be released side by side? Just wishful thinking on my end.

texazzpete Feb 19, 2013 at 2:41 am

Such a shame you guys can't call a spade a spade and call this app for what it is...a dire POS.

I couldn't even find the option to quote a tweet instead of just plain retweeting.

Rootbrian Feb 21, 2013 at 4:05 am

Blame twitter for not doing a good job. They made the application and likely RUSHED it.

colmsmyth Feb 19, 2013 at 3:18 am

This is stupid...the app should have it, also if you go into the hub to do it, most users will initially think they are sending a public tweet rather than a message...its just not clear

JdDeol 4 weeks ago

my discover tab does not work

Recent News

New In the Forums

New Accessories

In The Store

Essential Reading

We go hands on with Twitter for BlackBerry 10 to clear up the Direct Messaging confusion

Mobile Nations

Follow CrackBerry

Site Links

Recent News

Related Stories

New In the Forums

New Accessories

In The Store

Essential Reading

You are here

We go hands on with Twitter for BlackBerry 10 to clear up the Direct Messaging confusion

Mobile Nations

Follow CrackBerry

Site Links