14 DAY TRIAL // Twitter is introducing a new type of timeline which lets users customize the tweets they receive in a number of ways. The idea is to make it possible to create custom collections of tweets to share with people.
These timelines are all public and get a unique URL. Users can add tweets to the timelines by hand or use a new API available to programmatically create the collections.
"Custom timelines are an entirely new type of timeline –– one that you create. You name it, and choose the Tweets you want to add to it, either by hand or programmatically using the API," Twitter explained.
"This means that when the conversation around an event or topic takes off on Twitter, you have the opportunity to create a timeline that surfaces what you believe to be the most noteworthy, relevant Tweets," it added.
You will also be able to embed these custom timelines on any website you wish. The tool should come in handy in a number of occasions.
For now, it's only possible to create the custom timelines in TweetDeck, but once access to the API is made available to everyone, that should change. For now, the API is in private beta.
In Tweetdeck, you'll be able to create a new column and set it to Custom Timeline. You'll then be able to create a new one, or choose from your existing ones. Then, it's as easy as dragging and dropping the tweets you want to the new column.
Twitter provided a few examples of existing custom timelines, from the likes of Carson Daly, Twitter #music, or the Guardian.
Twitter explains that it hasn't placed any kind of restrictions on the type of tweets that can be included in the custom timelines, specifically so that users have the opportunity to do whatever they want.
"Share the best Tweets from a topic you care about or an event that's happening right now. Host a Twitter Q&A and give people a place to follow along. Collect the best Tweets about a TV show, and enable viewers to tune-in to your view of the conversation in real-time. Develop agents that organize tweets you and your friends are most likely to enjoy," Twitter listed some examples.
