Twitter timeline moves closer to Facebook with visual previews

Changes to the micro-blogging service are intended to offer a richer experience to users

Twitter continues to update its service ahead of its IPO, with the latest changes adding previews for images and Vines in the mobile app and desktop client.

Mobile users now also have the option to reply, retweet or favourite others tweets straight from the timeline instead of having to select the content first. The changes can be turned off on iOS or Android devices, but not on the web app.

“So many of the great moments you share on Twitter are made even better with photos or with videos from Vine,” said the company in a blog post. “These rich Tweets can bring your followers closer to what’s happening, and make them feel like they are right there with you.”

The changes are in line with previous updates intended to make Twitter easier for casual users to understand. Back in August the micro-blogging service introduced ‘Conversations’, a feature that helps individuals follow exchanges between people they follow.

Although these updates to Twitter appear individually inconsequential, collectively they show that the company is determined to move into social space currently occupied by Facebook – providing streams of updates from friends as well as updates from sites and public figures.