Well, Twitter has done it again. While many skeptics doubt the life-span of such a useful tool, another use case in practical application surfaces in the DJ world. Richie Hawtin, an English-Canadian electronic musician and international DJ, has launched a Twitter application that integrates with a DJ tool by the name of Traktor.

Traktor is a tool that helps to create mixes for DJs while they are doing their thing at some of the largest clubs. The exciting thing about this application is that it enables the DJs to broadcast their sessions in real time while they are playing a set. This is a really exciting functionality for those of us who enjoy music and are always seeking ways to find out what track has just been played.

Simply follow the DJ’s Twitter stream to find out either what they are currently playing, or go back to it later to check out what was in the mix for last evening. There are other tools that allow a user to share what they are listening to with their friends on Twitter but, this is one of the first integrations of such an application with a DJ tool.

This is just another exciting example of how Twitter is making it much easier for you and I to get the information that we are seeking. I know that I am excited to see what else comes out of the powerful tool Twitter.

We all have music that motivates us. Charlene Kingston of Crow Information Design wrote a great post on how everyone needs an Anthem/ Theme Song. I thought that I would share some of the songs that help to motivate me at the gym.

Song 2 – Blur

High Roller – The Crystal Method

Right Here, Right Now – Fatboy Slim

Ocean Avenue – Yellow Card

The Power – Snap

Downfall – TRUST Company

Never Gonna Stop – Rob Zombie

Lift Me Up – Moby

Die Another Day – Madonna

Numb/ Encore – Jay-Z/ Linkin Park

Good Vibrations – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

Sabotage – The Beastie Boys

Remember the Name – Fort Minor

Down – Blink 182

Block Rockin’ Beats – The Chemical Brothers

Runnin’ – Pharcyde

Movies – Alien Ant Farm

The Energy – AudioVent

Flash – BK & Nick Sentience

Nucleus – Jam on It

Although the keyboard shortcuts are there, I would have liked to have seen one that allows you to scroll all the way to the top of the list. There is a setting that allows you to do that by default but, it would be a nice addition if you wanted to reference another tweet. I guess the thought there is that you are already using the pointer. One nice thing about the auto scrolling to the top is that, if you have focus on a tweet when it updates, you will not lose your spot. If you change views, however, you may.

From a user interface perspective, again, I think that they did an outstanding job. However, there is one little thing that I am not too terribly fond of. I don’t mind the visual notifications on the application when it is open but, the visual in the task bar could use some customization. What I mean is that it lights up when there is a tweet, regardless of is it is an @ reply or a direct message. I know I am getting tweets, the interwebs is always on and some programmer somewhere is working a late night. My solution proposition, light up when there is an @ reply and maybe have a dot in the middle when there is a direct message.

Another cool feature is that it does support multiple accounts, which definitely comes in handy. As far as the visual notification in the task bar for that particular use case, I think that it would be fine to show the same visual notification as what was proposed earlier. If I see that I have an @ reply or a direct message, I will open the application and should be able to go from there. Also, the twitpics and other images open full-sized which I thought was nifty, especially after squinting at the little boxes in TweetDeck.

The Twitter API frequency adjustments are not there like TweetDeck but after today, I am not sure that I really need them. That is just my personal preference. I feel that it does a pretty good job updating as it. But, if you are in a hurry, there is a keyboard shortcut for refreshing the lists.

In summary, I love the application. I paid the 14.95 after deciding that I liked it so much and since I was able to get a grasp on the shortcuts so quick. atebits did a fantastic job with usability and I thought that I would take advantage of the introductory offer rather than wait for improvements. I am still a fan of TweetDeck but am glad that I installed it on the Mac.

If any readers have any specific questions on any of the items that I may have left out, feel free to comment and I will get back to you.

For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a micro-blogging tool that is a pretty slick idea that has been sweeping the internet and its social circles for quite sometime. Although I do not consider myself to be a power user, there are so many fun applications such as twit.pix.ly the Twitter avatar battle. This fun app is a spin-off of pix.ly a flickr photo contest application built by obuweb superstar and Phoenix internet entrprenuer Joshua Strebel. (cool guy) An interesting article on the business application of Twitter can be found at Creative Ops.

What do the Suns have to do with this? (Get to the point Paul.)

In the social circle meet up better known as “Tweet-ups” have been formed and are sweeping Phoenix among other places. A group of “Twitteratzzi” better known as PFN can be found sharing the 5th largest city’s fun and downtown nightlife online. The Phoenix Suns, thanks to the help of the Suns Director of Digital Media, @PhoenixSunsGirl, as shes known on twitter and @SunsGroupie, the Direcor of Group Sales, have created a Suns Tweet-up for their fans. For those of you that don’t already know, Shaq is on Twitter as well.

The following are some of the exciting benefits of joining us for the Tweet-up:

• At 5 pm, we’re all going to get access to the building early, before the general public, to watch players warm up from front row seats.
• Upon entry each of us is going to receive an exclusive Suns Twitter t-shirt we can wear throughout the game and a Suns player jersey bag.
• During the game we will all have seats in the same section – Twitterville – to get to know one another.
• After the game, we will all go down to the official Suns Practice Court to mingle and possibly even meet a surprise Suns personality.

More information can be found at the official website of the Phoenix Suns.

Suns Tweetup

I am totally excited about the game and I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces and some new. Come join us as we cheer on the Suns as they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Finally, if you are not already, feel free to follow me on Twitter @phxwebguy.

Cheers Phoenix and Go Suns!