A server I'm running on a cheap VPS has downtimes as the hoster apparently switches the VPS off with no prior warning (crashes it) every so many weeks. (That hoster is Contabo, who does not have too good a reputation hereabouts.) They don't boot it up automatically, I have to do that myself.
p.s. If you're wondering what the heck this post is about, Mastodon has an optional alternative web interface for use on computers which has lots of columns instead of just one:
Also, apologies for the now-deleted post about finding people on Twitter, the tool possibly had some error messages, but will check on its status and re-post if needed.
If you're using Mastodon through the web on a computer, there's an optional multicolumn interface you can use instead of the default single column one.
Log in through your server’s website
Click ⚙️ Preferences
Tick the box marked Enable Advanced Web Interface
Click the Save Changes button
Click the Back to Mastodon link at the left of the screen
If you change your mind, click the ⚙️ icon on the left to get back to settings.
Unfortunately there's no official way of doing this.
If you're comfortable using github, you can vote for this feature to be added by giving a thumbs up at https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/9463 (thanks to @astro_ray for highlighting this).
In case you missed it, the official Mastodon Android app has been updated to include hashtag following and Mastodon's Lists feature! 🎉
The latest version of the app is v2.2.0.
Also, a reminder that you don't need to use the official app at all, you can get most features a lot sooner on third-party apps (e.g. Tusky, Fedilab, Megalodon, Subway Tooter etc).
Third-party apps for all platforms are listed on Mastodon's official site at https://joinmastodon.org/apps (scroll down past the official app).
Installed Moshidon to check it out, but the List function looks unfinished there too-- I figure out how to create a list but I can't seem to find a way to add anything to it?
The menu in your screenshot is the only menu a List seems to get.
@feditips your account is one of the best things on Mastodon! (I know, I know, the whole Fediverse!) you helped so much when I was just starting out. thank you for everything you do! (I've $ tipped before, too! :-)
A good way to discover interesting posts on here is to follow hashtags. When you do this, posts with the tags will start showing up in your timeline even from accounts you don't follow.
To follow a hashtag, just search for that hashtag, then click the "Follow" button at the top of the page of results for that tag.
To check what you're following, go to your profile and select "followed hashtags" or #
finally i checked my followed hashtags list from mastodon and compared it with my file and everything is ok, I was sure of following more hashtags but finally it seems that since I change of instance I never follow back all the hashtags I was thinking about.
sorry for the inconvenience /o\
If you want to let people know about your account on here, it's important to include your full account address (also known as a "Fediverse address").
If you paste a full Fediverse account address into the search box on any server, it will always make the account profile appear, even if previous searches drew a blank.
You can exchange account addresses with others just like you might exchange email addresses or phone numbers.
@feditips Im pretty sure I've heard "webfinger ID" come up more since I think this is the first time I've heard "fediverse address". YMMV, and my brain is toast from this morning.
p.s. This works for addresses from Mastodon but also addresses from other Fediverse platforms too.
You can copy and paste addresses from Pixelfed, PeerTube, BookWyrm etc into Mastodon's search box, their profiles will appear and you'll be able to follow them from Mastodon. Their posts will appear in your normal Mastodon feed.
I've reformatted it to be a "one stop shop" for anyone curious about PeerTube, with useful non-technical info alongside safe interesting content. Channels are curated through an allowlist, so people won't see any nasty stuff.
@feditips speaking of #peertube can you please remind peeps that #bcon23#blender is on now and the videos are now incoming onto the official instance!
You can follow this account directly on #mastodon by searching for @blender which will give updates directly in users feeds as they come in:) plus you can also comment from right here.
Or if you're impatient, and you'd like to see the videos before they get posted here, you can go to this playlist directly:
Profiles on Mastodon sometimes look blank even when they're not blank 😲
It may happen if the account is very new and/or doesn't have many followers. If you follow a "blank" account, posts made after that follow will appear as normal on the profile.
More info why, and how to see the actual complete profile:
@feditips Thought about hosting #twitch streamer #vods#archives using #peertube to offset traffic costs but unsure how viable and cost efficient that would be.
Considering it may be very low traffic per video if the archive spans back 5 years, the benefit may only show when playing vods from recent streams.🤔
The income for most streamers is also relatively low so there's very little incentive for setting it up unless depending on charity.