Twitter to update smartphone app to make links quicker to open

Twitter plans to release an update for its Apple and Android apps Wednesday that will make it easier for users to open links from the apps’ Timeline.

The update would fix an annoying feature of the app that required users to go through two separate pages to open up a link. Currently, when users tap on a link, the tweet containing that link expands and displays a new page. Users then have to tap the link a second time before they are taken to the link’s web page.

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It might seem trivial, but heavy Twitter mobile app users will no doubt appreciate the faster process.

Twitter also said the update will add a search tab to the iPhone version of its app, similar to the one already available on the Android app. The tab will have a magnifying glass icon.

Additionally, the San Francisco-based social network said its “Discover” tab will now display results in a single stream. Currently, tweets, activity, trends and suggestions of who to follow are separated by sections. The update brings a similar change to the app’s search function.

Finally, the update will change the app’s “Connect” tab so that users always see their new followers, retweets and mentions all on one page. If users wish to only see their mentions, they’ll have to go into their settings, find “Connect tab” and choose “Mentions only.”

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