Twitter is currently rolling out a new feature for iOS that Android users have been enjoying for the last 18 months. Well, better late than never, eh.
“Highlights” is touted as a “fast and simple summary … of the best stuff that is most relevant to you,” and is delivered via push notifications – up to two a day – to your phone.
When you receive a Highlights notification, a single tap takes you directly to the Twitter app, which is where you’ll find your Highlights displayed in a slideshow-style interface. You can work your way through them by swiping from right to left. When you hit the final Highlight in the list, the next swipe takes you directly to your regular timeline.
Twitter’s algorithm builds Highlights by examining the accounts and conversations of people you follow, as well as tweets from people you’ve interacted with in the past. It also looks at “topics and events that are trending in your area or within your network, and people that are popular or trending among people you follow.”
Yes, the feature is a neat way for Twitter to remind you that it still exists, and to prompt you to open the app again, though users, too, should find it useful as a daily summary of (hopefully) interesting content that’s landing on the microblogging service.
Take note, though – this is an opt-in feature. If you fancy taking it for a spin, open the app, tap on the Me tab bottom right, then hit the “gear” icon. Tap Settings, then Notifications, and then Mobile Notifications. Next to Highlights, drag the slider to turn the feature on. “You’ll receive push notifications when your Highlights are available,” Twitter says. “Slide the notification to open your Twitter app and view your Highlights timeline.”
If you’re an Android user yet to try Highlights, you can set it up by first tapping your either your navigation menu icon or your profile icon. Next, tap on Notifications, then Mobile Notifications, and then check the box next to Highlights.
If you don’t have the time to sift through all the dross on your timeline posted by people you started following on a whim – and you haven’t gotten around to unfollowing them yet – then Highlights, similar to Twitter’s While You Were Away feature, could be one way to help you find some of the more interesting content on the service.
Let us know in the comments what you think of Highlights, and whether it’s managing to turn up some decent content.
