11 Great Twitter Tools

Microblogging as you like it

Call it the Great Twitter Paradox: The wildly popular, supersimple microblogging service barely has any features at all -- yet it's remarkably rich, thanks to an array of third-party applications and services that make it more convenient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Here are 11 handy tools for Twitter novices and diehards alike, including some of my personal favorites and several that got hearty recommendations when I asked my 4,900 Twitter pals for nominations. Want more? The Twitter Fan Wiki lists hundreds of Twitter enhancers, from Twanslate (language translation via Twitter) to Tweetwhatyoueat (a Twitter-based food diary).

And if you're looking for additional PC World coverage of Twitter, check out "8 Ways Twitter Will Change Your Life," "Twitter Hack: How It Happened and What's Being Done" and "Connect to Customers With Twitter."