Mastodawn

Andre Steingress Jan 24, 2023

Federico Viticci

Ivory by Tapbots is launching today.

This app marks the beginning of a new era for Mastodon clients on Apple platforms. It raises the bar in this category, but there’s still work to be done.

I reviewed Tweetbot 1.0 on MacStories in 2011; 12 years later, here is my review of Ivory 1.0:

Ivory for Mastodon Review: Tapbots Reborn https://www.macstories.net/reviews/ivory-for-mastodon-review-tapbots-reborn/

Ivory for Mastodon Review: Tapbots Reborn

There’s an intangible, permeating quality about Tapbots apps that transcends features and specs: craftsmanship. With Ivory, launching today on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, you can instantly appreciate that level of care and refinement that the Texas-based duo is well known for after more than a decade on the App Store. But there’s

Roberto Baldwin Jan 24, 2023

@viticci you should have hit me up, I would have tooted about my vespa for your top art!

Guillaume Laurent Jan 24, 2023

@viticci this is tooted from it - I love it, congrats @paul and all 😁👍

Mr. Funk E. Dude 🫠Jan 24, 2023

@viticci There's so much that needs to be done with the app. I'm surprised they would try to launch it this soon.

Sean Jan 24, 2023

@Mrfunkedude luckily you can try it for free and it’s a subscription so you get all the updates and new features as they roll out.

@viticci @Mrfunkedude I’m debating now on waiting for all the features to come out before I start the trial.

Mr. Funk E. Dude 🫠Jan 24, 2023

@jeremydebose @viticci I think that's fair. Especially if they want to charge $$$ for it. Who wants to buy something that isn't completed?

@Mrfunkedude @viticci yep. I trust them to finish, but I’ve paid for apps before to help the developers out then they disappear without finishing. Never again😂

DaltonRoad Jan 24, 2023

You can look at it for free but that’s it with the demo mode you can’t Star, Boost, Follow or write a new Toot…. But you can look at it.

Try out Ice Cubes also. It’s free and open source. It’s excellent.

@DaltonRoad yep I’ve looked at it. They even sat on the website to not download yet if you want it fully featured. So far: no reason to pay (even once new features are added).

DaltonRoad Jan 25, 2023

It looks good but I need to see the functionality. Ice Cubes is great right now and getting better

@DaltonRoad I’m liking Ice Cubes so far. Heck just the Icons pack is worth it. One thing I can’t figure out is the Settings for Avatar: Leading or Top.

DaltonRoad Jan 25, 2023

Be sure and ask @icecubesapp -

@DaltonRoad giving ice cubes a try though, thanks for that one.

Ammar Jan 24, 2023

@Mrfunkedude @viticci because they lost their (only?) source of revenue when Tweetbot went under.

Mr. Funk E. Dude 🫠Jan 24, 2023

@ammarmalik @viticci I get that. I think it could have waited another week or two to fix some more bugs, but maybe they just couldn't afford to wait? That's a shitty position to be in and I wish them nothing but luck.

Logan Highlen Jan 24, 2023

@viticci “Like from Ivory for Mastodon”

Ben Roethig Jan 24, 2023

@viticci I look forward to trying it. @icecubesapp already raised the bar, I hope Tapbots can raise it even further. Competition between excellent apps only makes the platform better.

Angel Jimenez de Luis 🍔Jan 24, 2023

Jay 🆘Jan 24, 2023

@viticci What apps do you use to write a longform piece like this?

herid Jan 24, 2023

@viticci just installed it. it's definitely already better than the other Mastodon clients I tried ( I only tried a couple though). The interface is well thought out. I like easy access to lists and bookmarks.

Fuzen Jan 24, 2023

@herid @viticci a key thing I see already is how much faster it loads than other clients. I can’t wait to see Mastodon’s user base grow.

gorzas Jan 24, 2023

@viticci is it going to be available on Android?

Robert Russes Jan 24, 2023

@gorzas @viticci I think @paul stated #ivory is Apple-only.

@gorzas no. Tapbots are Apple developers only. They are only a small team.

Wayne Robinson Jan 24, 2023

@viticci and already available at https://apps.apple.com/au/app/ivory-for-mastodon-by-tapbots/id6444602274 😊

‎Ivory for Mastodon by Tapbots

‎Ivory is a brand new app that brings over a dozen years of experience building the award-winning Tweetbot for Twitter, over to the Mastodon network. We obsess over every detail and put good design and experience first. Download and experience it for yourself. If you liked Tweetbot, you’ll love Ivory…

App Store

SBerron Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Loving it so far. I know there are still features to be built but the smoothness and performance already puts it above other clients in my mind.

Dennis Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Can’t wait to dig into this review. Just downloaded Ivory from the App Store (was on TestFlight too) and it’ll be worth every penny. I think the yearly subscription pricing is very fair as well.

Ryan in Minneapolis Jan 24, 2023

@viticci "This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.”

I know they’re planning a macOS release… but this is unfortunate.

Sean Jan 24, 2023

@ryaninmpls they are only 3 people so iOS takes priority.

Ryan in Minneapolis Jan 24, 2023

@Craktok I understand that — but the app is blocked from Apple Silicon-based Macs.

Sean Jan 24, 2023

@ryaninmpls yeah they said they prefer to make a dedicated Mac app rather than run a iPad app on the Mac.

Thiago Bertolino Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Awesome! I can’t wait to use it.

George T.Jan 24, 2023

@viticci A great review as expected from Viticci!

tredstone Jan 24, 2023

@viticci great review!

Michael Bloch Jan 24, 2023

@viticci it wasn’t showing up initially, so I went to the Tapbots account on the App Store and it magically appeared. Can’t wait to test it

Michael Haider Jan 24, 2023

@viticci @sandragibbons If you were looking for a #Metatext alternative, this may be the move

Sandra Bruxvoort Jan 24, 2023

@AeroEagle @viticci Appreciate the heads up! I’m going to try it out for sure. Thanks!!

Mark Levison Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Awesome news. @ivory I just downloaded, installed and subscribed.

Anthony Jan 24, 2023

@viticci instant download! Thanks for the great review. Any suggestions for how to find accounts to follow on Mastodon?

BrisWombat Jan 25, 2023

@anthonydewilde @viticci In short: hashtags. It’s all about hashtags. With the web version (and some apps), you can even follow a hashtag.

sclyde Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Very detailed review; thank you! Feel like it's still lacking many Mastadon specific features that apps like @icecubesapp already have and do really well; but as mentioned, Ivory is bound to catch up over time. Lots of competition/variety in the Mastodon app space right now, which can be a great thing for innovation.

Mark Derricutt (talios)Jan 24, 2023

@sclyde @viticci @icecubesapp One thing it already does well - which I found lacking in @icecubesapp - refreshing the feed inserts the new toots ABOVE your reading position.

sclyde Jan 24, 2023

@talios @viticci I believe @icecubesapp is looking into this. Saw something about it being tricky to impement with SwiftUI. Definitely agree though; one thing I loved about Tweetbot, and in this case Ivory.

Mark Derricutt (talios)Jan 24, 2023

@sclyde @viticci @icecubesapp I did wonder if there was some UI toolkit issue at play there (says he who hasn’t done UI stuff since Delphi, moons ago) - hats off to all these guys - these apps are stunning.

@viticci @zak I am on ivory yay :-)

Eduardo Pellanda Jan 24, 2023

Now my transition to Mastodon is completed!

Richard Jones Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Instabuy. Congrats on a great 1.0 @paul! 🍾

Sean Jan 24, 2023

@viticci even the @ivory account hasn’t tweeted this yet!!

@viticci I’m going to give it a try. Never used their Twitter app and I really like Metatext on iOS, but I’ve always heard good things about Tapbots so it’s worth a shot.

polyglow Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Is it really just limited to Mastodon instances? Or does ist support Activitypub and also work with Pleroma, Misskey etc?

Jae AKA J4 Jan 24, 2023

@viticci aww people, we said "no paid sponsorships" before

Kevin Russell Jan 24, 2023

Tapbots who made twitter famous and pleasure to use has pivotted from twitter to mastodon ne'er to return, and the first release of a Mac Apple client is here. Look back, this a reponse to that anmouncement. ( awkward, toot quotes now )

Rodney Jan 24, 2023

@viticci @chuqvr

Stephen Coles Jan 24, 2023

@viticci I had no idea about the “People who follow you” option in filters. Thank you!

Stephen Coles Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Hmm, I’m not seeing the same filter settings that you show. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Stephen Coles Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Ohh, I’m seeing now the filter settings under the 🔍 at the top of a timeline. A little puzzled at the difference between this and the Filters button at bottom.

Mike Schnier Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Decided to jump in! It’s been a while since I used Tweetbot but Ivory definitely feels more polished and responsive than the Mastodon client I was previously using.

Tom Declat Jan 24, 2023

@viticci Great read this! Shows the importance of indie developers and the future of social networking and decentralised web.

AT-AT Assault 🏳️‍⚧️Jan 24, 2023

@viticci I see a lot of ruckus about Mastodon apps that are apple exclusive. Are there any high quality apps that are also for android?

Ingo Radatz Jan 24, 2023

@viticci thx. Have learn new features of my new app