As I was working with the code for our new LGF Connect feature that lets you post to Twitter with Ajax, I realized there was no reason to limit its usage to people with LGF accounts. Instead, I could do the standard Twitter authorization dance (basically the same code you see at any site that needs to access your Twitter account for any reason), and then save Twitter’s access credentials in “session variables,” that last until you quit your browser. So that’s the code I just finished deploying.

This new feature lets you use our Ajax Twitter interface for the length of your current browser session, even if you’re not registered or logged in at LGF. LGF Connect is a much more elegant way to retweet posts, or write your own tweets, than the dull, boring popup window you see everywhere else.

Here’s how it works.

The first time you click one of our little blue retweet buttons, you’ll see an alert box, asking the question:

Do you want to use LGF Connect to post to Twitter? (If you’re already logged in to an LGF account, your access credentials will be saved; otherwise your Twitter access only lasts for the current browser session.)

If you click the Cancel button, you’ll continue using the dull, boring popup window for the current session; you won’t see the alert box prompt again until you quit your browser and relaunch. (Trying to keep the annoyance factor down.)

If you click OK, you’ll see the standard Twitter authorization popup window, where you can grant access to LGF Connect. When you do that, the popup window will close and from then on you’ll be using the magical, mystical LGF Connect Ajax interface:

(Note that if you have previously granted LGF Connect access, the authorization popup window will simply appear and then close itself without giving you any prompt, but your access will be enabled after that.)

If you’re not registered and logged in at LGF, your Twitter access credentials are not saved anywhere permanently; they exist only in PHP’s session variables, and expire when you close your browser.

But if you are registered and logged in at LGF when you click OK, your Twitter access credentials will be saved in your user profile, so you’ll never have to do this again, unless you ‘Revoke Access’ in Twitter’s settings page.

Give it a try — and remember that this is strictly an opt-in process. You have all the control; you can revoke LGF Connect’s access to your account at any time in your Twitter settings. (Click the ‘Applications’ tab, then click ‘Revoke Access’ for LGF Connect.)

And if you’re just dying to try this right away, here’s a quick link to Authorize LGF Connect to access your Twitter account.