Since its launch in 2006, Twitter has occupied a very special place in the hearts of net-savvy people. Twitter has gained world-wide popularity, with over half a billion active users, over 350 million tweets daily and over one million queries every day. Several sophisticated Twitter applications were introduced or updated in 2012. Let’s take a look at what I consider to be the Top 10 Twitter Applications of 2012 and find out how they can help.

Twitterrific

Created by the Iconfactory, Twitterrific is a Mac OS X and iOS client. It is globally available for Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. It has a simple interface and is intuitive to use. Using Twitterrfic, you can easily tweet on-the-go. Although it looks simple, it has some enhanced features, such as easy translation of foreign language tweets, and a list of keyboard shortcuts which make using it much faster. The strongest point of Twitterrific is its configurability. Retweeting a message in Twitterrific is not quite as easy, and is considered to be its major shortcoming.

Echofon

This application is available for everything. Starting from iPads to Windows, you can use it anywhere. Echofon automatically stores tweets which are unread, supports multiple accounts and features a stylish window where you can view entire conversations and full user details. The Mac version of Echofon enables a drag and drop attachment feature which makes it very convenient to use.

Janetter

Janetter was acclaimed to be the best Twitter client, although many feel otherwise. None can deny the fact that it is one of the most flexible of all the Twitter clients, and like Echofon, it works on different platforms. Its rich set of features make it one of the most enticing Twitter clients. It allows multiple accounts, has a multiple column view, 27 different themes, alterable fonts, various colorful displaying formats, keyboard shortcuts and autocomplete. The windows version of Janetter even lets users create their own HTML themes.

Tweetings

This application mainly emphasizes providing the users with unique tweeting features. Tweetings has versions available for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac OS X and Google’s Chrome web browser. It has a special function that is known as Tweetlonger, which allows users to tweet more than the pre-specified 140 characters. Besides Tweetlonger, Tweetings has other exciting facilities to offer its users, such as synchronization of devices, scheduled tweets and filters. Considering all of these attributes, Tweetings is a good Twitter application to use.

Echelon

One of the simplest Twitter clients, Echelon mainly focuses on Tweet viewing. It is strictly read-only and doesn’t allow you to speak your mind. You can view tweets one at a time. Echelon is appropriate for those who would silently like to keep themselves updated with what people are talking about.

Hibari

If you are annoyed or feel offended with any user’s tweets, then Hibari is the perfect Twitter client for you. It is a chat-based application which gives you the ability to mute irritating users and their tweets without blocking them permanently. Another attractive feature of Hibari is that it enables you to view conversation threads without leaving your timeline. Hibari is an efficient Twitter’s client specially made for sensitive people.

Destroy Twitter

Destroy Twitter is an Adobe Air application which provides an extremely powerful interface for Twitter users. It can take the shape of your full screen, with a multi-column view, but if you want, you can simply keep it in one corner of your screen. Destroy Twitter has a set of sophisticated features and great customization options, such as username auto completion, nice notifications and a small memory footprint. It is a multi-platform client and runs on iPad, iPhone, Mac OS X and Windows.

HootSuite

HootSuite, widely known as a “social media dashboard”, enables you to manage multiple social profiles from a single window. It is perfectly made for social gurus, who want to administer most of their social profiles simultaneously. Hootsuite is a very powerful application and enables you to keep track of mentions and auto-update your profiles from RSS feeds. This Twitter client is also efficient for maintaining online businesses.

Sobees Desktop

Another efficient social media dashboard, Sobees Desktop not only supports Twitter but also Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. It has a very interactive interface which you will love to use. It has all the features that make you feel comfortable socializing over the internet. The most beautiful thing about it is that it is free.

Buffer

A browse based application, Buffer allows you to automatically post things which you plan to do in future. You only need to fill your Buffer with all the stuff you plan to post in future, then schedule them and just wipe it from your mind. Alongside automated postings, it also provides several other high-end functions, such as IFTTT, Mr Reader and other social sharing services.

If you think I have missed any app which fits this list, let me know through a comment below.

==== About the Author ====
Debarshi Ghosh Dastidar is from Kolkata, India. He’s a tech enthusiast and a full time blogger when he isn’t studying. You can follow him on Twitter or send him a friend request in Facebook, or do both. He can be found blogging at Iflexion a web development company.