Net users are hurried; they read summaries; they scan. Tweets nailed a 'headline/one-sentence' need; the hard limit was a part of the winningness.
Maybe, though, there's a series of gradual expansions of the attention you're willing to dedicate a thought, thread, person, or topic. There's the Tweet; there's a bit more context; there's a paragraph or two; there's a running conversation; there's an essay; there's a book.
The Tweet is still the gateway -- and you still need to be short and sweet there. But Twitter, Inc. wants -- and perhaps needs for a sustainable business model -- to play a role in your next few escalations-of-attention, in the direction that the Tweet sent you. NewTwitter (and t.co) are parts of their strategy to stay involved.
NewTwitter seems a little rough to me, so far -- so much new UI, so many sizes/intensities/colors of text, some new 'modes'. But, if they manage to give you just the context/followup info you want, in a manner less wasteful of screen and gestures then other options, it could be a win for them. And if you don't want all that second-pane stuff -- it's easy enough to ignore, or use a minimalist interface instead. The reader still needs to demonstrate interest with a click to see followup info, so Tweet-authors can't change their style too much. It's just that click-showing-interest may be easier for the user -- not requiring a full-page load or new web tab.
Maybe, though, there's a series of gradual expansions of the attention you're willing to dedicate a thought, thread, person, or topic. There's the Tweet; there's a bit more context; there's a paragraph or two; there's a running conversation; there's an essay; there's a book.
The Tweet is still the gateway -- and you still need to be short and sweet there. But Twitter, Inc. wants -- and perhaps needs for a sustainable business model -- to play a role in your next few escalations-of-attention, in the direction that the Tweet sent you. NewTwitter (and t.co) are parts of their strategy to stay involved.
NewTwitter seems a little rough to me, so far -- so much new UI, so many sizes/intensities/colors of text, some new 'modes'. But, if they manage to give you just the context/followup info you want, in a manner less wasteful of screen and gestures then other options, it could be a win for them. And if you don't want all that second-pane stuff -- it's easy enough to ignore, or use a minimalist interface instead. The reader still needs to demonstrate interest with a click to see followup info, so Tweet-authors can't change their style too much. It's just that click-showing-interest may be easier for the user -- not requiring a full-page load or new web tab.