Talkbeat can now be used over email, as well as using the app. Connect to someone by sending them an email CC'd to
[email protected], and Talkbeat will turn the email thread into a Talkbeat conversation, with messages also available in the app.
The Talkbeat App is still the best way to use Talkbeat - the app lets you easily choose pre-written updates to share with people, and makes it much easier to manage conversations with lots of people. However the ability to get started over email reduces the awkwardness of requiring someone to install a whole new app just to stay in touch with you.
One major consequence of this change is that messages are now bundled together into emails. Write several messages to the other user, and then send them all as a bundled email by clicking the "send" button.