Presently, I’m taking a bit of a break from being online. I’ve spent so much time looking at things, testing features, and replying to people getting ready for Micro Social to launch that I am a bit burnt out. It’s at this point that I realise the importance of iOS Shortcuts and the great API Micro.blog has.

I’ve been making things using Shortcuts for years. Back when it was Workflow, it essentially powered my day-to-day life, including my company. The app enabled me to work from an iPad, and I was constantly digging in and improving things.

At times like this, though, when I want to be away for a while, I can still write, publish, and share everything I need to, without needing an app. Apart from Ulysses, of course. There’s no friction, no distractions, and no fuss. Of course, Micro Social doesn’t try to hack your brain for more attention, but I’d still find myself scrolling or replying to mentions. So with a few Shortcuts on my phone, I can carry on as I was and still take the break I crave.

There’s some realisation here too. I know I should have built the share sheet well in Micro Social, and no doubt it will come. However, right now, I couldn’t get where I wanted to, so I included Shortcuts by Jarrod instead. Mainly because this fits in with my usage of micro.blog, but I also understand that they can be confusing and not straightforward to make yourself.

I much prefer this extra friction between me and the web. I have no self-control! So I will always opt for great Shortcuts over more integrations, and at this point, we must acknowledge why these work so well. Without Manton building a great API for micro.blog, none of this would exist. There would be no Shortcuts and no Micro Social at all — and for this, I am truly grateful.

Whilst listening to a recent episode of Modern Wisdom, the topic of boredom came up. As with many things in my life, this conversation arrived exactly at the right time. I’m not sure if the universe talks to be or this is some kind of frequency illusion, but it happens quite a lot for me. Anyway, the short but sweet conversation got me thinking, and this post is a result of those thoughts.

“Just to round out the boredom thing, it feels to me like if you don’t have something to take up your time, your habits, and your behaviour will sort of default to the path of least resistance.” — Modern Wisdom: #894, 25 Jan 2025

These thoughts are obviously affected by my current mental state, which is not the greatest it has ever been. I have a very busy task list currently yet find myself constantly unmotivated to do anything outside of work. Defaulting instead to spending too much time online. If you’ve read just a few of my posts before, you’ll know I absolutely hate that!

So the quote above finds me at a particular point where it reflects my life currently. I follow the path of least resistance, which unfortunately is the supercomputer in my pocket, only too willing to hover up my time and attention. It’s easier to pluck my phone from my pocket than it is to open a book to read, or write a blog post I’m working on.

Not only in terms of effort but also in terms of return. I can ignore the world around me much easier, scrolling social media than I can reading a book. I’m self-medicating my way out of the boredom feeling, and that’s not something I have usually struggled with.

Perhaps I’m burnt out. Perhaps I’m struggling with other underlying problems, but currently I am so bored with being busy that motivation for needed tasks is non-existent. There’s some work to do here to ensure these habits do not get out of control, and thankfully, listening to other people’s thoughts on topics makes me aware of the work that needs to be done on myself.

A recent episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman was a conversation with Seth Godin. Conversations with him are always enjoyable and I often take many brilliant insights away that help me in my creative life. His books and his talks are often all encompassing and the conversation turned to Ai and its effects on the creative industry.

computers really didn’t start making an impact in the design community until the late 80s, which at the time, a lot of the OG designers of that era were vehemently, vehemently opposed to using the computer.

They were certain that we’re going to lose jobs, it was going to take all the creativity out of the process, out of the way in which we created. It was going to create soulless work. Sound familiar?”

This is often the case with people trying to justify things or persuade others to embrace their thought process. Picking an analogy that has some crossover elements, AI needs computers, right, and then conflating the things together. Because X happened and that was fine, that means Y will also be fine.

If you have even a remote interest in tech, you’ve heard this a million times. Defenders of Apple usually point to people that thought the iPod would fail. As if this is proof that everything Apple does will succeed. When, of course, you only hear about the successes. You don’t hear about all the products that were predicted to fail and then did (apart from Humane). Because one thing happens once, doesn’t mean it ever will again.

Computers turned out fine for the creative industries. It allowed them to be much more accessible and even opened other areas. That doesn’t mean that AI will work out the same because the same noises are being made. I mean it might, but it also might not. There’s less to be learnt from the past, but it doesn’t always repeat itself.

The last few weeks have been a wild ride. After deciding to push my skills forward and release the app I developed for myself, I pushed myself further than I expected. Learning new skills, leaning on other people for help, and interacting with some wonderful people who have helped shape Micro Social into the app it is now. I’ve also had to say no to things a surprising number of times, and I don’t like it at all.

This hatred of saying no comes from the same place that my inability to accept praise does. Somewhere deep in my soul, my childhood no doubt, that wants to run away at the mere idea of it. I’m a people-pleaser. Some would argue, to a fault. It’s a skill I have had to learn how to deal with, and saying that to users of my app is especially hard.

As I wrote about right at the start, I wanted Micro Social to be very targeted in the way it worked. Providing something that I wanted from a micro.blog app, and not becoming all things to all people. It’s easy to get side tracked, though. The app is already a long way away from what I intended it to be, with features and abilities that I didn’t even dream of when I started.

In many ways, it is being shaped by its users. I’ve added many things that users have requested and been able to do them quickly and fairly well. I have still had to say no to more feature requests than I thought, and that is something I have found hard. Furthermore, I hope the email replies I have sent have made the right impression, and I have made the appropriate justifications in them.

There are some emails that I have had to simply delete because they have not been worded very nicely, but thankfully they have been few and far between. I apologise for saying no, but I hope you understand.

🔗 Important Update for Consumer Ai Pin Customers – Ground Control

Device Timeline: Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12pm PST on February 28, 2025. After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane’s servers, and .Center access will be fully retired.

That timeline is ridiculously short.

They clearly have next to no users.

Micro Social has always been about making Micro.blog a more engaging and customisable experience, and Micro Gram is the next step in that journey. Designed to bring a more intuitive way to browse, interact with, and appreciate photos, Micro Gram introduces a new level of usability to your timeline. Whether you’re simply scrolling through posts or leaving meaningful replies, Micro Gram makes it easier and more enjoyable than ever.

A Customisable Photo Timeline

At its core, Micro Gram gives users more control over how they view images on Micro.blog. The Instagram-style layout provides a familiar grid-based display, allowing you to quickly browse through posts and see multiple photos at a glance. No more endless scrolling just to revisit an image—everything is organised in a way that feels natural and efficient.

For those who prefer a more traditional timeline view, the layout remains flexible. Micro Gram ensures that photos integrate seamlessly into the browsing experience, adapting to how you prefer to engage with content.

Seamless Multi-Photo Navigation

One of the standout features of Micro Gram is the intuitive carousel display for multi-photo posts. Instead of tapping through different screens or losing track of where you are, you can swipe effortlessly through multiple images within a single post. This feature makes browsing fluid and frustration-free, giving you the ability to take in every image without disrupting the flow of your timeline.

This is particularly useful for users who love sharing photo series, travel albums, or event snapshots. Instead of overwhelming the timeline with multiple posts, you can now group images together while still providing a smooth viewing experience for those who engage with them.

A New Way to Show Appreciation

Micro.blog has always been different in its approach to engagement—there’s no traditional “like” button, encouraging users to interact in more meaningful ways. Micro Gram takes this a step further by introducing customisable photo reactions.

With this feature, you can tap the heart icon on a photo and leave a short personalised response, letting users know you appreciate their post without needing to write a full comment. This keeps interactions engaging while maintaining the conversational nature of Micro.blog.

To customise these responses, head in to settings and tap Reply Templates in the Photos section. Now you can’t leave a like, but make it personal.

Future updates will make this even easier to select the correct response you want to leave, and even randomise them.

Part of Micro Social Plus

Micro Gram isn’t just an update—it’s part of Micro Social Plus, a one-time purchase that unlocks premium features with no subscriptions or ongoing fees. Along with Micro Gram, Plus users get access to:

• Smart Replies & Smart Mentions – Improved conversation management with auto-detected participants and intuitive tagging.
• Book Recommendations – Powered by Micro.blog Discover, helping you find great reads.
• Early Access to Labs Features, including:
  • Follow Suggestions – Easily discover new people to follow.
  • Post Bookmarking – Save posts for later.
  • Push Notifications – Stay informed with instant alerts.

Micro Social Plus ensures you get the best experience possible, with exclusive features designed to enhance how you engage with content on Micro.blog.

A More Engaging Photo Experience

Micro Gram is about making photos feel as natural to interact with as text-based posts. Whether you’re browsing, replying, or sharing, the experience should feel effortless—and now, it does.

With intuitive multi-photo navigation, customisable engagement options, and a more visually rich layout, Micro Gram makes Micro.blog’s photo experience smarter, more interactive, and more enjoyable.

Ready to upgrade? Micro Gram is available now through Micro Social Plus. Unlock it today and start exploring a whole new way to engage with photos on Micro Blog!

Download Here

Rolling out today is a big update to Micro Social, adding several new features that have spent a long time in development.

Micro Social Plus

Micro Social Plus is a one-time purchase that unlocks exclusive features—no subscriptions, no expiry, just more ways to enhance your Micro.blog experience.

🔹 Micro Gram – A customisable Instagram-style photo timeline, making browsing and replying to photos more intuitive than ever. Plus, introduce a new way to engage with images using customisable photo reactions—tap the heart and leave a personal response. - Find out more

🔹 Smart Replies & Smart Mentions – Easily manage conversations with auto-detected participants and refined tagging, so you never miss the right people in a thread. - Find out more

🔹 Book Recommendations – Get personalised book suggestions powered by Micro.blog Discover, helping you find your next great read. Find out more

🔹 Early Access to Labs Features – Be the first to try new experimental features before anyone else. Currently available:

• Follow Suggestions – Discover new voices to connect with.
• Post Bookmarking – Save posts for later.
• Push Notifications – Stay up to date with instant alerts.

Micro Social Plus is a one-time payment—unlock everything above with no recurring costs. Upgrade today and take your Micro.blog experience to the next level!

Smart Replies & Smart Mentions

Version 1.5 introduces Smart Replies and Smart Mentions, designed to make engaging in conversations smoother and more intuitive.

🔹 Smart Replies – When replying to a post, Micro Social intelligently detects all participants in the thread, allowing you to easily choose who to include in your response. No more accidental exclusions or unnecessary tags—just seamless conversations with the right people.

🔹 Smart Mentions – Start typing @, and Micro Social will instantly suggest people you follow, making tagging faster and more precise. The intuitive interface lets you easily add, remove, or adjust mentions without hassle.n

These features ensure better control over conversations while keeping replies clean and relevant. Available as a one-time Plus Feature, Smart Replies & Mentions make social interactions more effortless than ever.

Micro Gram

A brand new feature is Micro Gram, a new way to customise your photo timeline, making it easier than ever to enjoy and interact with images.

🔹 Instagram-Style Layout – Micro Gram brings a familiar single stream of photos, allowing you to browse photos effortlessly and engage with posts at a glance.

🔹 Seamless Replies – Leaving a reply is now more intuitive, with a layout designed for quick and meaningful interactions.

🔹 Customisable Photo Reactions – Since Micro.blog doesn’t support likes, Micro Gram introduces a unique way to show appreciation. Tap the heart and leave a custom reply, letting users know you love their photos in a way that feels personal.

With Micro Gram, browsing and engaging with photos on Micro Social has never been smoother.

Upgrade Today

These features are completely optional and nothing is taken away from the app. By upgrading to Micro Social Plus you not only support further development, but also enjoy power user features that elevate your experience. This is a one off payment that doesn’t expire - but I think it’s well worth your while.

Download Here

One conversation on micro.blog brought this feature to life, but it took a long while to build and get right. The simple frustration of being able to reply to multiple people but do it correctly has been an issue for a while on micro.blog and Smart Mentions is here to help.

With Smart Mentions enabled when tapping a reply to a thread you will be given the option of who to reply to. It will intelligently pick out all this mentioned in the post you are replying to and also in earlier relies. In a simple to understand section at the top you can then choose who to mention in your reply and continue the conversation with care.

Smart Mentions

Alongside this you have an optional toggle for Smart Mentions. This allows you to mention anyone you follow with ease. Just type @ and a sorted list will appear as you type giving your suggestions. You can then tap on the name to insert them into your post.

This features the same UI as Smart Replies to allow for easy untagging if required and allow you to easily see who is included in the conversation.

Improvements in the future will allow Smart Mentions to search for a user you are not following if non exist in your following list however this version is designed to be as fast and user friendly as possible.

How Do I Get It?

Smart Mentions and Smart Replies will be a ‘Plus Feature’ in Micro Social going forward. This will be a one time payment to help support development of the app. No subscriptions, no reoccurring bills just one payment.

The features are rolling out to supporters this week, and are available to them for free as a special thank you. Join the Supporters now for early access, or keep an eye on updates in the next few weeks to use it yourself.

Download Micro Social

Micro Social started as a personal project to solve a simple problem — I wanted a better way to use micro.blog. Something that felt more customisable, modern, and streamlined, while still staying true to the simplicity of the platform.

Why Build Micro Social?

Over time, I found myself wanting more control over my micro.blog experience. I wrote about some of these frustrations and ideas along the way:

• Making Micro Social – How this app came to be.
• Micro Social and Threading – Improving the way conversations flow.
• Your Timeline, Your Way – The need for a more personal feed.
• Reading and Books – A better way to track and share books.

Micro.blog is an incredible platform, but I wanted a cleaner, more intuitive way to engage with my timeline, conversations, and the things I care about most—books, photos, and blogging. So, I built Micro Social for me, but I hope you like it too.

What Makes Micro Social Special?

✅ Customisable Feed – Tailor your timeline to focus on what matters most.

📸 Photos-Only Timeline – A dedicated space for visual storytelling.

📚 Books Integration – Track, share, and discover books effortlessly.

💬 Seamless Conversations – Follow discussions with improved readability.

🎨 Minimalist Design – A clean, distraction-free interface.

A Tool That Works for You

Micro Social isn’t trying to reinvent micro.blog—it’s about making it more flexible, more personal, and more enjoyable to use. Whether you want an easier way to track your reading, a cleaner photo-sharing experience, or just a timeline that truly works for you, Micro Social makes it possible.

Public Download

Micro Social is available now. If you love micro.blog and want a faster, more focused way to interact with it, give it a try and see how it fits into your daily routine.

👉 Download Micro Social Now

What About TestFlight?

Now that the app is available in the App Store, the public TestFlight will phase out. This build is actually a little better than the launch one as I had to cut features out to get it approved.

Supporters

I can’t thank my supporters enough for helping me get through the testing phase and also funding the developer account to get this launched. Supporters will have access to features before any one else going forward. Their TestFlight will continue with access to Smart Mentions, Smart Replies and Post Templates incoming.

If you want to become a supporter and support development I’d love for you to join here.

Where is x feature

Smart Mentions, Smart Replies, Book Recommendations, Post Templates and Follow Suggestions are almost ready for launch. As I posted yesterday, they will be behind a tip jar because these features took considerable work and effort to build. Alternatively, you can join my supports and have access to them earlier and without having to upgrade.

Any questions feel free to drop me an email in reply, go steady I’m still learning!

🔗 Valve Seemingly Bans All Steam Games That Require Watching Advertisements To Play - GameSpot

Steam does not contain paid advertising, and that advertising-based revenue models are not allowed on the platform. It further states that developers are also prohibited from using advertising as a way to provide value to players, such as giving players an in-game reward for watching or engaging with ads.

This is the way. If only Apple would also follow suit