@stefano @dexter @tedu #MastoBlaster allows the same feeling.

Push Notifications and MastoBlaster

MastoBlaster, like other Fediverse apps, uses a design that maximizes user privacy.

When you log in to your instance, the app and the server exchange the necessary cryptographic keys. The app also communicates to the instance the address of the relay, which is the server responsible for forwarding notifications to Apple.

When a new notification is generated:

1. Your instance encrypts the notification.
2. It sends the encrypted payload to the relay.
3. The relay forwards it to Apple using its own authentication key.
4. Apple delivers it to your device.

The content of the notification is encrypted by your Fediverse server and can only be decrypted by your device.

The relay, which in the case of MastoBlaster is dedicated and hosted on a FreeBSD server, receives only encrypted data. It cannot read the content, does not know which account the notification belongs to, and does not store any information about the notification itself.

Apple knows which relay sent the notification and which device it must be delivered to, but it cannot access the content.

In short, only your instance and your device can read the notification.

#MastoBlaster #Fediverse #Mastodon #GoToSocial #Akkoma #iOS #Apple #PushNotifications #FreeBSD

• Build 77 should have fixed the markdown rendering issues
• Build 78 should have fixed the GoToSocial char limit issue

#MastoBlaster

The difference from other Mastodon API clients is that this one has #snac as a first class citizen.

I'm so glad!

https://mastoblaster.app/ @mastoblaster@mastoblaster.app

It should be fixed now.

Sorry about that

#MastoBlaster

A new build is now available on TestFlight. I tried to solve or improve some of the issues you've kindly pointed out.

The most important ones are:

• Now dark mode can be configured to show a grey background instead of black. Less optimised for battery, but much more readable. "It works for me!"
• Added the “Bookmarks” menu item, so bookmarks can now be displayed
• VoiceOver improvements - I'm not an expert, so I hope I'm doing it right
• GoToSocial - editing posts and push notifications should now be working - Notifications needed both relay and app support. Please test!

(Posted using MastoBlaster on macOS Tahoe - which is totally usable)

#MastoBlaster

Alt...

Screenshot of the Xcode debugger timeline view showing the process “MastoBlaster” (PID 88459) running with low activity: CPU at 12%, memory usage around 77.7 MB, disk activity at 16 KB/s, and network activity at 53 KB/s, with mostly minimal spikes in the activity graphs.

It is a lightweight, privacy-first Fediverse client for iOS, built around a simple idea: fast, small, predictable behavior, and first-class support for snac.

What makes it different:

• snac-first by design, not "compatible by accident"
• Works with all Mastodon API compatible software, including Mastodon, snac, GoToSocial, Akkoma, and others
• EXIF stripping on upload (HDR and orientation preserved)
• Optional on-device alt text generation via Apple Intelligence for your uploads and for images in your timeline
• Markdown posting for snac
• Granular notifications, grouping, multi-account
• Blocking and moderation tools
• Very small footprint, very low RAM usage

Alt text generation happens entirely on device via Apple APIs on supported hardware. Nothing is sent to external services.

It is built around my own workflow and priorities. It may not be for everyone, and that is perfectly fine.

Important note:
MastoBlaster will always be free for BSD Cafe users, illumos Cafe users, and for anyone connecting to a snac instance, including self-hosted ones.

The app is already usable, but this is still a test phase. I am looking for feedback, bug reports, and real-world usage insights.

TestFlight link:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

Stay tuned.

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Apple #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #GoToSocial #Akkoma #ActivityPub

#MastoBlaster

#MastoBlaster has its own #Fediverse account - powered by #snac

Follow @mastoblaster to receive all the updates, insights, etc.

#iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #GoToSocial #ActivityPub

https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

#apple #ios #app #snac

@justine oh, I see! You spotted the current #MastoBlaster build number! 😂

I've just pushed the build 69 of #MastoBlaster.

This build should solve the iOS 18.x crash at startup issue.

It should now be working, even if the layout isn't perfect (no padding left and right).

EDIT: Build 68 should also run on iOS 18.x but it currently crashes. I'll see if I can fix it.

After quite some time, I’m finally ready to share this.

MastoBlaster is now available in public testing on TestFlight.

It is a lightweight, privacy-first Fediverse client for iOS, built around a simple idea: fast, small, predictable behavior, and first-class support for snac.

What makes it different:
• snac-first by design, not "compatible by accident"
• Works with all Mastodon API compatible software, including Mastodon, snac, GoToSocial, Akkoma, and others
• EXIF stripping on upload (HDR and orientation preserved)
• Optional on-device alt text generation via Apple Intelligence for your uploads and for images in your timeline
• Markdown posting for snac
• Granular notifications, grouping, multi-account
• Blocking and moderation tools
• Very small footprint, very low RAM usage

Alt text generation happens entirely on device via Apple APIs on supported hardware. Nothing is sent to external services.

It is built around my own workflow and priorities. It may not be for everyone, and that is perfectly fine.

Important note:
MastoBlaster will always be free for BSD Cafe users, illumos Cafe users, and for anyone connecting to a snac instance, including self-hosted ones.

The app is already usable, but this is still a test phase. I am looking for feedback, bug reports, and real-world usage insights.

TestFlight link:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Pkxa5R1k

Stay tuned.

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse #Mastodon #snac #snac2 #Akkoma #GoToSocial #ActivityPub #OwnYourData

EDIT: https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/@stefano/116091591432086933

It's coming...

https://mastoblaster.app

#MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse

Hear hear! Apple just approved my MastoBlaster's build - let the test begin!

#MastoBlaster #iOS

Yesterday I submitted the first "public" build of MastoBlaster to Apple, and it is now under review. Once it's approved, I'll share the link with a few people for testing and gradually expand the beta as we go.

The goal is to provide a public beta to the entire Fediverse before the official release, so everyone can try it out. I've already been using it as my primary app for several days and, aside from a few bugs I still need to fix, it’s working well.

Stay tuned!

#StayTuned #MastoBlaster #iOS #Fediverse

@ruben #MastoBlaster will fix this 😉

I’ll probably release the first alpha of #MastoBlaster later next week.
There are bugs. There are missing parts. But it works!

Having been out most of the day, I’ve found a couple of annoying bugs on #MastoBlaster
But we’re getting there… I’ve been using it for days as my main app and it rocks!

Emoji reactions with #snac

#MastoBlaster

Alt...

A screenshot of MastoBlaster, showing you can react to posts, as supported by snac

Some other #MastoBlaster screenshots, from the emulator

Alt...

Timeline view with "Boost", "Quote post" and "Show boosts" - in Italian

Alt...

The compose window

@stefano What a great news! 🤩
Welcome #MastoBlaster 👨🏼‍🍼

Go #MastoBlaster!

The time is probably right.

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.

Stay tuned!

#MastoBlaster #Fediverse #Mastodon #iOS #FediverseApp #Announcement #Apple #snac #snac2