Twitter VS. Pownce

Just a week ago, I had no idea what "microblogging was," and had never visited any microblogging sites like Twitter, Pownce, Spoink, Plurk, etc. I joined both Twitter and Pownce and have been experimenting with them for about a week now. And while they're both essentially microblogging programs, I've noticed some major differences between the two.

While Twitter is the most popular of these sites, I found it to be a bit limiting in what I can actually do, compared to Pownce...basically you can post messages (of about 60 characters or less) and you can also paste links in the text box to post as well. It took me a while to figure out the Twitter site. The Pownce site was much easier for me to figure out, even though there are more features. With Pownce you can post messages, links, files, and events. I like that I can post pictures on Pownce. I don't think that's possible on Twitter. Pownce also has a page called Pownce B, which is a profile page (which users are automatically "fans" of and can access from their own pages) containing useful tips on how to use the various features of Pownce. That is quite helpful.

As far as finding people on both sites, each has a way of allowing you to search for friends, with Twitter allowing you to search your e-mail contacts right from their site, or invite people to join by sending them an e-mail. Pownce allows you to link all of your other pages to your profile. For example, I linked my Facebook page, my MySpace, delicious, and my blog to my Pownce page. There is also a search option, where you can just search by a person's name, and, like Twitter, you can find your e-mail contacts as well.

One important thing to take into account, especially if you are considering using either of these sites for educational purposes in the classroom, is security. Twitter has a "protecting updates" option, where only people approved by you can follow and see your updates. You also have the option of making all of your posts public. Pownce allows you to send messages which are visible to the public, visible only to your friends, or you can also send private messages to individuals.

All in all, I think both programs are useful and may have a place in the classroom. But, based on my limited experience with both Twitter and Pownce so far, I think Pownce is definitely more useful to me...personally and professionally. Mostly, I like the ability to post more than just messages, but files and pictures, and events as well. Also, Pownce profiles look more professional to me, and have nicer looking backgrounds...