TSMC will start making advanced 3-nanometer chips in Japan, stepping up plans to manufacture semiconductors in the country in a triumph for Sanae Takaichi’s technology ambitions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/02/05/companies/tsmc-plan-upgrade-chip-plant/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #tsmc #kumamoto #manufacturing #nvidia #apple #sanaetakaichi #ai #taiwan #tech

#FBI stymied by Apple's #LockdownMode after seizing journalist's #iPhone

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has so far been unable to access data from a #WashingtonPost reporter's iPhone because it was protected by Apple's Lockdown Mode when agents seized the device from the reporter's home, the US government said in a court filing.
#apple #security #privacy #journalism

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/fbi-stymied-by-apples-lockdown-mode-after-seizing-journalists-iphone/

@9to5Mac

that's an absolute nightmare scenario that will likely result in the same outcome as the rude individuals watching videos or talking to someone on speaker, in public. 🤦 🤮

#VoiceAssistant #VoiceControl #Apple #Siri #Amazon #Alexa

#FBI stymied by Apple's #LockdownMode after seizing journalist's #iPhone

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has so far been unable to access data from a #WashingtonPost reporter's iPhone because it was protected by Apple's Lockdown Mode when agents seized the device from the reporter's home, the US government said in a court filing.
#apple #security #privacy #journalism

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/fbi-stymied-by-apples-lockdown-mode-after-seizing-journalists-iphone/

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 #BSDCafe #illumosCafe

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 #BSDCafe #illumosCafe

RE: https://mastodon.scot/@mattgemmell/116007889086838327

A fantastic post that makes an excellent point: Liberty, freedom and computing ethics really do matter. Now more than ever.

And Matt's process of extricating himself is right on. He's doing it gradually, as he suggests, "quiet quitting". SLOW, STEADY. If you're deeply entrenched in Apple services don't quit before you start because it seems too much to do.

Slow, steady steps. In the end, you will be more free.

YOU WILL BE MORE FREE.

This is important.

#Apple #Freedom #Tech #FreeSoftware

The last year I’ve been making a conscious effort to pivot away from proprietary/american tech, for a mix of reasons. I’m increasingly worried about #privacy, data collection, data sovereignity, that kind of things. Not wanting to have more or less my entire life stored on servers inside american privacy and data laws jurisdiction. Wanting to support #european tech. And, where possible, a preference for open source #foss #floss #libre software. I’ve been quite in the «apple fanboy» category for the last 20+ years, and deeply buried in the whole iCloud ecosystem. Partly because of Apple’s traditional stance on privacy, and the whole «if a service is free, you’re the product» thing. I used to look forward to #apple event keynotes like others do to football matches. The last handful of iterations of #macOS, #iOS, macs and iPhones has sparked steadily decreasing amounts of enthusiasm from me though. Anyway, the last year has seen me replace most iCloud services with @protonprivacy , my macbook pro with a @tuxedocomputers infinitybook pro running #linux, and my iPhone with a #Fairphone 6 running @murena /e/OS. And a patchwork of other services and apps to replace what I used to have. Here's a summary, and some questions to others. 1/n

#Macstodon now runs in the latest bleeding-edge build of the Snow emulator! And if you use Snow's built-in HTTPS stripping, then you don't have to configure WebOne or another proxy, just install Macstodon and start using it 😎

Thanks @twvd for the FPU fixes and all the other hard work you put into Snow! This is the kick-in-the-pants I need to get the next version of Macstodon out the door 🙂

#RetroComputing #RetroProgramming #VintageMac #68K #PowerPC #Apple #Mac #MacOS #ClassicMac

Hey everyone, if you're feeling all angry and want to protest, #Apple Music has you covered! Subscribe to get your protest vibe going!

Posted by an Apple user just now. Not sure if it is a user created playlist or official but let me just say, FUCK YOU APPLE. You can stick your attempt at profit by marketing protest songs straight up TIM COOK'S ASS.

You insulting fucks.

#Boycott

#Macstodon now runs in the latest bleeding-edge build of the Snow emulator! And if you use Snow's built-in HTTPS stripping, then you don't have to configure WebOne or another proxy, just install Macstodon and start using it 😎

Thanks @twvd for the FPU fixes and all the other hard work you put into Snow! This is the kick-in-the-pants I need to get the next version of Macstodon out the door 🙂

#RetroComputing #RetroProgramming #VintageMac #68K #PowerPC #Apple #Mac #MacOS #ClassicMac

So thousands of programmers have been laid off recently, they can almost all work remotely and we all need to get off US tech as quickly as possible. Seems like the perfect opportunity to fund an open source collaborative suite of products to replace meta, alphabet, microsoft apple and amazon.

#tech #ustech #programming #eu #meta #amazon #microsoft #amazon #apple

Der zweite #did - da muß ich doch … Als #Apple User (Betreutes Wohnen, nennt es mein Sohn) schwer. Aber wenn #Linux auf dem M4 läuft, fange ich an. Beim #iPhone wird das so nicht gehen. Also nach dem OS-Versorgungsende kein iPhone mehr kaufen.
Mail, Browser, Websuche #didit

(A)Social-Media:

#Twitter war schön. Dann immer nervigere Werbung. Als dann die Timeline nicht mehr auf “Folge” einstellbar war, war Schluß. Auf meinem 1st-Hobby Account nur noch Links in’s #Fediversum. Mein größter SM-Fehler war es, eine Hobby-Gruppe bei #Facebook zu starten. Wie der Zauberlehrling mit den Besen werde ich das nicht mehr los. Aber auch da poste ich oft nur noch Links. Ebenso in meinen anderen SM Hobby Accounts ( #Bluesky, #Threads, … Bei #WSocial Mal sehen)

Für heute habe ich mir #Youtube vor genommen. Hochladen ist #dudit, aber das Ansehen! Das ist richtig fies, die Timeline schafft es immer mal wieder, mich zu fesseln. Am Besten, es gibt keine Grund Youtube zu starten. Und da sind wir bei der Follow-Klocke. Wenn die Videos nun mal sonst nirgends zu sehen sind? Auf dem iPad gibt es auch keine Werbefreimach-App.

Bei meinen Gefolgten sind einige aus den Öffentlichen, die doch gefälligst ihr Material in der Mediathek ablegen sollten. Da fehlt dann wieder die "Folgen-App”. Sollte technisch möglich sein, muß nur mal einer machen |-) 

1/2

Der zweite #did - da muß ich doch … Als #Apple User (Betreutes Wohnen, nennt es mein Sohn) schwer. Aber wenn #Linux auf dem M4 läuft, fange ich an. Beim #iPhone wird das so nicht gehen. Also nach dem OS-Versorgungsende kein iPhone mehr kaufen.
Mail, Browser, Websuche #didit

(A)Social-Media:

#Twitter war schön. Dann immer nervigere Werbung. Als dann die Timeline nicht mehr auf “Folge” einstellbar war, war Schluß. Auf meinem 1st-Hobby Account nur noch Links in’s #Fediversum. Mein größter SM-Fehler war es, eine Hobby-Gruppe bei #Facebook zu starten. Wie der Zauberlehrling mit den Besen werde ich das nicht mehr los. Aber auch da poste ich oft nur noch Links. Ebenso in meinen anderen SM Hobby Accounts ( #Bluesky, #Threads, … Bei #WSocial Mal sehen)

Für heute habe ich mir #Youtube vor genommen. Hochladen ist #dudit, aber das Ansehen! Das ist richtig fies, die Timeline schafft es immer mal wieder, mich zu fesseln. Am Besten, es gibt keine Grund Youtube zu starten. Und da sind wir bei der Follow-Klocke. Wenn die Videos nun mal sonst nirgends zu sehen sind? Auf dem iPad gibt es auch keine Werbefreimach-App.

Bei meinen Gefolgten sind einige aus den Öffentlichen, die doch gefälligst ihr Material in der Mediathek ablegen sollten. Da fehlt dann wieder die "Folgen-App”. Sollte technisch möglich sein, muß nur mal einer machen |-) 

1/2

So thousands of programmers have been laid off recently, they can almost all work remotely and we all need to get off US tech as quickly as possible. Seems like the perfect opportunity to fund an open source collaborative suite of products to replace meta, alphabet, microsoft apple and amazon.

#tech #ustech #programming #eu #meta #amazon #microsoft #amazon #apple

If Apple-focused YouTubers and podcasters are actually fed up and as disgusted as they often profess to their audiences, they should step over the line and actually call for a boycott. There's no shortage of reasons at this point. Start naming specific grievances, list them out. Repeat them. And use the word boycott over and over.

Move on from criticism. If ever there was a time for #tech media folk to actually take a stand, 2026 is that time. Passive "reporting" helps #Apple. Do better.