I prefer most of my interactions with Mastodon to be from my phone, so I concentrate my application choices for that platform. I do occasionally use an iPad or macOS machine to get to Mastodon, so preference is given to applications with a macOS option.
Mastodon applications are recent and development has been extremely active, and not yet complete. It is worth selecting showing recent updates. Perhaps avoid choosing an application with no updates for over a year.
Features I am looking for in a client
- Editing is available
- easy to view alt text on images
- easy to add alt tags for pictures
- long-click to save image
- edit one of your posts
- bookmark a post
- share a post
A web browser will work as a client for Mastodon. This works for iOS, macOS, iPadOS. You can view more information about a mastodon instance by adding 'about' to the end of the URL, such as with https://mastodon.social/about. A browser will also work to follow tags without an account, such as with a tag of 'GardenChat' https://mastodon.social/tags/GardenChat
- Can do almost everything from the web client.
Ice Cubes https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ice-cubes-for-mastodon/id6444915884 ( 1.4.7 12Feb2023)
New user experience is basic. Opens to 'Add account' screen in the 'Instance URL' field with a 'Suggestions field below, containing possible instances. There isn't more help in the app with what to do next. It works OK, if you know what you are supposed to do at this point, or if you already have an account.
iPad and iPhone versions of the App. There is limited support on macOS machines running the iPad app on macOS. There is a repository for this software project. https://github.com/Dimillian/IceCubesApp
- Editing is available
- easy to view alt text on images
- long-click to save image ( works some of the time for me )
- press three dots to edit one of your posts
- bookmark a post
- share a post
- easy to add alt tags for pictures, click on a picture and 'Add description'
- See an indication of conversations
Ivory for Mastodon https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ivory-for-mastodon-by-tapbots/id6444602274 (1.0.2 7Feb2023)
New user experience is welcoming. Opens to a screen welcoming you. There is an up arrow to get to the next screen, where it wants an instance name, however a question is asked about whether you already have an account or not. If you don't have an account you are sent off the JoinMastodon.org and Instances.social.
If you do already have an account you enter the account and press the Continue button.
iPad and iPhone versions of the App
- Profile edit is available within the application.
- Translation available with downloaded languages. Select text in post, then translate is an option. Can open in the translate app.
- click image to save
- MISSING - view alt-text on photos (can't find it, or it isn't there?)
- MISSING - Edit a post (can't find it, or it isn't there?)
Toot! for Mastodon https://apps.apple.com/us/app/toot-for-mastodon/id1229021451 (19.0 8Feb2023)
Opens to a Welcome to Mastodon! screen. There is a lot of small text, but it tries to get you to a next step. There is a watch the video link taking you to a YouTube video 'What is Mastodon' The video tries to explain how everything works. https://youtu.be/IPSbNdBmWKE. There is then a 'Choose a Server' text button which takes you to a screen with a field to enter an server instance address and another field where you can ask to see some random server, which you can then use to enter as a server.
iPad and iPhone versions of the App
- Excellent indication of conversations
- click on an image to see alt-text, swipe up to make it go away. no indication on the picture that alt-text is present
- edit is available from three dots, or 'more' text button
- long press to save an image
- share a post using the 'more…' button
- easy to add alt-text, can also adjust attention-point of a picture
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