ricmac

ricmac, 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago) to threads

Poll: If #Threads goes ahead with its plan to add #ActivityPub, will you follow one or more Threads users in your Mastodon account?

ricmac, 1 month ago to fediverse

Post from @rabble on why he's chosen to use #Nostr and not #ActivityPub and the #Fediverse. He makes some compelling points. Personally I am not too worried about the server admin parts of his argument (I have enough control, even if I don't control the server), but I agree that this isn't ideal:

"You can’t use a single fediverse identity with your profile and followers in Peertube, Mobilizon, WriteFreely, and Pixelfed. You need a totally separate account in each one."
https://njump.me/nevent1qqsfqlx6wpl5267tmnmmjk7v9tzunjvhzav9unc2tjn6k0w82vghprsppamhxue69uhkummnw3ezumt0d5qjxamnwvaz7tmswfhhs7fdv4u8qetjd9kk2mn59ehkuun9dejx2u3wvdhk6qg5waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxgctdw4eju6t0qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnddaehgu3wwp6kyqgkwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3ezucnpdejqzxrhwden5te0wfjkccte9ehx7umhdpjhyefwvdhk6q3qwmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqxczx4f

ricmac, 10 months ago to threads

In this post I explain why #Threads chose #ActivityPub as its open standard to support (instead of, say, Bluesky's protocol or Tim Berners-Lee's Solid). Also I look at some of the challenges Meta will face as it tries to join the fediverse. https://thenewstack.io/threads-adopting-activitypub-makes-sense-but-wont-be-easy/

ricmac, 1 month ago to fediverse

While content is federated currently, #identity isn’t. And while that doesn’t diminish the decentralized nature of the #fediverse, having a single identity — that a user fully controls — would make it easier to sign up for multiple apps. My analysis of recent discussions here featuring @evanprodromou, @rabble, @deadsuperhero, @timbray, @osma & others. https://thenewstack.io/one-login-towards-a-single-fediverse-identity-on-activitypub/

ricmac, 1 month ago to fediverse

Giving @Flipboard another spin, since it’s a big supporter of the #Fediverse. It’s also a survivor…I remember covering it on ReadWriteWeb when it launched (or maybe that was a post by @jon?). Either way, here’s my #InternetHistory mag, if you’re a Flipboard user: https://flipboard.com/@ricmac/internet-history-e041t55qz

ricmac, 7 months ago to random

I've been trying out Phanpy (@phanpy) as a desktop browser app for Mastodon, and it is awesome. Some really nice UX touches, e.g. showing external boosts in your lists -- nice way to discover more people to follow. So I have to take back a bit my comment about Mastodon having bad UX -- clearly the third-party devs are stepping up to the plate! (and yes, reminds me of old Twitter...but this time we know Mastodon is a truly open network).

ricmac, 7 months ago to random

The big social media questions:

1. When will Threads federate?
2. When will Bluesky open up?
3. When will Mastodon get a decent UX?
4. When will the AI tech crowd abandon X?
5. When will the US government ban TikTok?

Which will happen first?

ricmac, 5 months ago to random

Are there any RSS Readers that are trying to integrate ActivityPub too? Pondering the glut of email newsletters in our inboxes these days, and wondering if we are due for an RSS Reader renaissance, except with a fediverse twist this time…

ricmac, 8 months ago to random

Ok I have tried to get the new 1.0 version of the ActivityPub plugin for WordPress working, but unfortunately it still has the same bug as 10 months ago when I last tried this (ref https://wordpress.org/support/topic/webfinger-endpoint-unavailable/). @pfefferle not sure if you have any further suggestions, but it seems like WP sites hosted on Hostinger still cannot use this plugin on Mastodon :(

ricmac, 6 months ago to random

Web-First in 24

Some initial notes about my personal goals for the new year. Work in progress, and curious if others are thinking similar thoughts about their social media / online life goals etc.

Principles:
• Always bet on the web
• Web protocols > platforms (slogan: “Down with walled gardens!”)
• Web openness > Whatever Mark Zuckerberg defines as “interoperability” (slogan: “Down with robber barons!”)
• Bring back Sidebar Culture (all the fun stuff a blog sidebar had in 2004)

TBC

ricmac, 3 months ago (edited 3 months ago) to random

It's time to take back the internet from those corporate landlords! For more info, please check out my full-page New York Times advert and ignore the fact I'm a partner at a powerful VC firm in Silicon Valley that funded many of said landlords. *

• Also, that "readwrite" brand name looks familiar...can't quite place it...

ricmac, 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago) to random

Ok the latest idea I am kicking around re finding a Substack alternative: a website built with @eleventy or WordPress, with email subscription via @buttondown API. I saw something like this at Robin Rendle’s site @fonts. He hosts a newsletter called The Cascade (https://robinrendle.com/the-cascade/), which is hosted on his site and then sent out via email using Buttondown. I don’t yet know if that is automated (site -> BD via api) or a manual copy and paste job?

ricmac, 3 months ago to random

Does anyone remember using RealAudio in early 1996? I'm researching this era of the web currently, but I'm struggling to remember what it was like using RealAudio...other than it was pretty buggy! So if anyone has memories from late 95 or early 96, sing out please. The attached image is from Mary Meeker's 1996 "The Internet Report" (via https://www.businessinsider.com/the-coolest-web-sites-from-1996-2016-4). #internethistory

ricmac, 8 months ago to random

1/6 So, how's it going with the Great Migration from X/Twitter? For myself, I now treat Mastodon as my main tool for tooting/tweeting to the world. But I've always been more of a "reader" than a "writer" on social media (i.e. I don't toot every day, but I check social media regularly during each day — mainly for my job as a tech journalist). So a couple of observations about where the Migration stands from my perspective...

ricmac, 5 months ago to random

Over 2006, I ramp up Read/WriteWeb's advertising business, by first partnering with John Battelle's FM Publishing and then copying TechCrunch's sidebar ad format. #internethistory #web20 https://www.cybercultural.com/p/014-the-sponsor-ads-era-2006

ricmac, 3 months ago to random

My trip to Silicon Valley for the inaugural Web 2.0 Expo in April 2007, where I meet several Read/WriteWeb colleagues for the first time and enjoy the expanding tech bubble. Featuring some well-known names: @adactio @anildash @chrismessina @blaine @simon @esokullu #internethistory https://cybercultural.com/p/022-web20-expo-2007/

ricmac, 10 months ago to random

By now there's no doubt Threads will "go mainstream", but this has actually made me think early Mastodon users were right after all about not wanting this place to 'go large'. I admit, I initially wanted Mastodon to go mainstream, as there wasn't another alternative to Twitter until recently (when there are now too many). But I now like the idea of this being an alternative place — more down-to-earth, less marketing-y (altho I still want to pimp my articles here!).

ricmac, 5 months ago to random

It’s ok to hold two opposing opinions in your mind at the same time, if the larger truth is more important. I don’t trust Zuck / Meta, but I also want them to federate with Mastodon. Even if they play power games later on, you can always jump to an instance that blocks them. The power is with you, the “user”, and that is what the web started out as and always should be. Besides, if it all turns to custard just start an indie blog and/or sail the world like the Scuttlebutt guy from NZ.

ricmac, 6 months ago to random

This sounds pretty awesome, especially compared to the X drought and Threads reticence to support publishers -> “Mozilla aims to convince publishers that Mastodon isn’t just another place they have to support, but one that could deliver on their objectives. As it learns from the publishers and other content creators what they want and need, it then intends to use that understanding to build features and drive efforts that can help them reach their audiences.” https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/03/why-mozilla-is-betting-on-a-decentralized-social-networking-future/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGVjaG1lbWUuY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKSkHAVVumO1LJSMTfT8X6jFEzRM3LgYRuJ30yhcbhsDEvxKIfe7XGizGENpzhz3PfR-ImL0_oUR9DGheAFyZm_ruIIMfX9Ue1i_qLDuDihM6CcTHa8F-e0KIIvN6WGqOCIZVyKgdIE5ORkZ3TEnu0oQXVSO9tVVdoN6NBMwh6DW

ricmac, 7 months ago to random

We know Musk’s X hates web publishers, but it’s disappointing to see that Meta’s Threads does too. What’s wrong with distributing the articles / podcasts / videos etc that you, as a professional journalist or whatever, work hard on and want to share? I know we are all waiting for Meta to be the fediverse’s savior, but I just don’t trust them.

ricmac, 7 months ago to random

I got to visit the physical @internetarchive this evening, featuring a tour from the one and only @brewsterkahle. Really enjoyed it, and they are doing amazing work keeping our Internet history alive!

image/jpeg

ricmac, 9 months ago to random

I know this is controversial here, but as a journalist and writer, I really want global search on Mastodon -> “An upcoming patch for Mastodon, which is currently in the testing phase, will introduce federated cross-instance full text search” https://dotart.blog/dotart-blog/full-text-search-coming

ricmac, 10 months ago to random

Hmmmm. This stance from the CEO of OpenAI is a worry. Creativity is a human activity. AI can help, but I think Altman is vastly underrating the human factor here.

ricmac, 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago) to threads

The poll on whether you would follow a #Threads user on Mastodon is over: 3,889 of you voted, with one-third of you voting "Hell No!". But 57% voted "Heck Yes!", so that is the majority opinion (10% voted "other" — many of which were either undecided or had more nuanced views). I have to say, one-third of the wider #Mastodon community being against following Threads users is significant. Seems like it could be a major dividing line for the #fediverse going forward. As if we need more wars...

ricmac, 2 months ago to random

Someone said the other day that what is now known as “X” is not the Twitter most of us knew and loved. I totally agree and in fact, I’m glad it’s called X now, because we can remember Twitter for what it was and not what it became over the past year. I actually have similar feelings about ReadWriteWeb, which as far as I’m concerned ended in October 2012 when I left the site and it was re-branded ReadWrite by the new owners. ReadWrite ≠ RWW, even though they inherited my site’s old content.