Tweetie bookmarklets
One of the reasons why I love Tweetie as my Twitter client on both the Mac and iPhone is that both have a bookmarklet that makes sharing websites to Twitter that much easier.
Since the beginning, Atebits have made Tweetie bookmarklet available from the website. Drag that bookmarklet to your browser's bookmarks bar and you're all set. Clicking on it will bring up a new tweet window with the site's address already in it and you can shorten it with the URL shortener service of your choice.
Here's the code for the original bookmarklet:
javascript:window.location='tweetie:'+window.location
However, for certain purposes, this alone is not practical enough. The address provides little to no context so you'll have to enter some text of your own. I've been using a bookmarklet that takes out that extra step for the most part. It was put together by @devongovett not long after Tweetie Mac was released though unfortunately it was on his dropbox and it's been since removed and you can find it at his dropbox. At least one variation of this have popped up elsewhere on the web.
Devon’s bookmarklet will add the page title of the site alongside the address:
javascript:window.location='tweetie:'+document.title+':%20'+window.location
In my search for the origin of the second bookmarklet, I came across a few more that serve different purposes.
TechSutra and PaulStoneDesign came up with versions that lets you post a selection of text from the site along with the address.
This last one though is quite interesting. Some sites have their own url shorteners and for good reason. URL shortener services are not permanent. Just like every other internet services out there, they can come and go. The only certainty that a shortened link will remain alive, that is, linked to the actual address, is if it was provided directly by the site. Alternatively Twitter could come up with their own.
Right now it's not so much of an issue but a number of people have had the foresight to anticipate this and make their own shortener services. To respect those individuals and push this issue forward, here's one Tweetie bookmarklet that picks up the site's own custom short address.
Who knew Tweetie’s bookmarklet can be so popular that people are coming up with their own versions?
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