Back in 2022, when I was still using iOS, I wasn’t completely happy with the Fediverse apps that were available. I was mostly using Akkoma, and the interface I liked the most was actually its web UI, even on mobile. So I started playing with Xcode and put together the foundations of an app tailored to my needs.
A lot has changed since then and today we have great alternatives like IceCubes, Mona, Ivory, etc. Each one has strengths and weaknesses though, so I picked up my old project again and kept pushing it forward.
So I’m happy to announce that my app will finally see the light: I’ve been using it for the past few days and, in my spare time, I’m fixing bugs and adding missing features. I’m building it around my own needs, so it doesn’t have to “appeal to everyone”. I wouldn’t call it opinionated, but it’s definitely targeted.
The app will have one key trait: #snac2 support will be a first-class feature, not an incidental one. Many apps, especially on iOS, support snac as a side effect, but the experience is often not optimal. In this case, the choice is deliberate and it strictly follows the Mastodon API support implemented by snac. So snac will work properly (within the limits of the platform, of course).
Among the features already implemented: the app is minimal and lightweight (under 10 MB, including debug code), easy on RAM, and privacy-first (for example it strips EXIF data from media before posting, so the server will never see it). On snac it also cleans up the "Boosted by Aoderelay" messages that appear when using a relay, removes the character limit, and supports posting in Markdown.
I also added support for Apple Intelligence to generate alt text, both for the media I post and for media posted by others that is missing alt text.
Everything is processed locally through Apple APIs and only on supported devices. The results aren't amazing, Apple Intelligence is extremely limited, but in my opinion it's the only privacy-friendly and ethical way to approach it. And of course, you can disable it.
On Mastodon it supports all the main features: lists, quote posts, granular notifications (you can choose what you want for each category), notification grouping, multi-account support, and it works.
It's still missing a few things (block, etc.) and has some bugs, which I’m spotting as I keep using it.
As soon as it's stable enough, I'll invite a few people to test it. I still haven't fully decided how I'll distribute it: an Apple Developer account has a yearly cost, and I hope to reuse it for other projects too. So this app might be paid, with a trial period, but if possible (I still need to check what’s feasible) I'd like it to be free if you connect to one of the BSD Cafe instances, illumos Cafe, or any snac instance, including your own.
I don't know how long it will take before it's ready... but I can already tell you what it will be called.
It already has a name, and it's... MastoBlaster.
This name was chosen for personal reasons, and also because of its similarity to Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder, which even today feels relevant and fitting for the Fediverse.
Pink sunset background with blue grey and pink circles on the left and some yellow stars. On the circles is the text Birthday/Blk Fri Sale in pink and blue. On the bottom right is a purple rectangle with the text "Most of the store up to 25% off. Use code BDAYBF2025. Ends Monday 12/1/2025 Midnight PST." The text Ends at Midnight is written in white and surrounded by a pink rectangle over the middle of the image.
Pink sunset background with blue grey and pink circles on the left and some yellow stars. On the circles is the text Birthday/Blk Fri Sale in pink and blue.
👋 Reignsound Presents™ is a curated media brand under the Reignsound™ umbrella, showcasing creative projects, content, and stories that inspire, entertain and move culture.
Text: "All Items (US Only) Holiday Delivery Guarantee Ends December 4, 2025." It's on a blue background with a circle at the top with a painting of a ginger cat's face in it. Above are some pine needles and sparkles. At the bottom are 3 snowflakes.
Photo of 3 stacks of unfolded greeting cards with images of Joy's paintings of cats and capybaras. The top left stack has greeting card versions of Capybaras in a Bath and Capybara and the Storm in a stack. The right stack has greeting card versions of Golden Eyes and Green Eyes in a stack. The bottom stack has greeting card versions of Black Cat in a Pumpkin and Shrimp Cat in a stack.
I’m in the process of rewriting our sites that use Site.js¹, which has been deprecated for some time now, in Kitten².
In any of your sites use Site.js, I’d highly recommend doing the same thing. This is also a heads up for anyone who uses Site.js to install and run their own Owncast server³.
Site.js will be retired and the web site will start forwarding to Kitten’s at the end of April, 2025.
In May, automatic TLS certificate renewals for existing sites will start to fail.
(Kitten is the spritual successor to Site.js. Or think of Site.js as my first attempt at a Small Web server. I learned a lot while making it and a lot of the components I built for Site.js – like Auto Encrypt⁴, etc. – live on in Kitten.)
I just left the #Whatsapp group I shared with my neighbors, overcoming the #FOMO and - after a previous #announcement 2 weeks ago with a lot of background information - left a final goodbye with a strong #nudge to get informed on the rationale of my 'silly utile' behavior. BUT as us #fedizens know..
💰 one dime + 💰 one dime = 💎 2 cent!
The text is in the alternative text, should it be inspirational for your own rallying cry today.
Screenshot of a Signal message starting with an image showing the Signal log and the slogan "Text me on Signal". Followed is the text:
Dear neighbors, as announced I will leave this useful chat group despite the FOMO, the 'fear of missing out'. Today is #GlobalSwitchDay, the first of hopefully many more awareness campaigns to come. I leave you saddened, but also relieved to be able to live more according the principles I advocate in my line of work on humane harmonious technologies - the opposite of 'digital transformation hype' - that focuses on serving people's daily needs to the benefit of the whole of society. Leaving Big Tech molochs and their crazed billionaire owners is crucial in order to escape dystopic futures. Hope to see more of you on Signal.
I will leave you with this great talk of Aral Balkan, a long-time co-fighter for digital human rights, given in Creative Ville 2019
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Go4uPdysU
FreeCAD Version 1.0 Released
After more than twenty years of intense and sustained development, the FreeCAD community is proud to announce the release of version 1.0. FreeCAD 1.0 is now available for download on all platforms.
Share your PieFed CSS
PieFed allows you to specity CSS in your settings so you can make it look however you like. What CSS do you use to improve your experience? ...