I had a funny idea today. After updating the Apple Invites app, I wondered whether it could be used to create a photo-sharing space for a small group of people, since its features rely on iCloud services. It seems to have everything you need: a welcome page, albums, links to external websites, and options for managing guests and comments. I created a fake invitation to test the RSVP process from start to finish, and I have to say that signing up seems to be the weak point for now. An Apple Account isn’t required, but at first glance, that isn’t very clear. Apple Invites is iPhone-only, so there’s no iPad or web version for content managers. Too bad. Yet, something to think about.

Since Claude Code exists, I have noticed a surprising phenomenon: more and more new applications are appearing on the App Store or coming to life as web applications accessible only to their creator-promoter. The process is called vibe coding. When I see people creating new applications with the help of artificial intelligence, I can’t help but think back to the era of the introduction of PageMaker, the LaserWriter laser printer, and the Macintosh. These three elements enabled the democratization of what became known as ‘Desktop Publishing.’ Many people who knew nothing about printing, layout, and design started creating posters, newsletters, etc. The results were not always of very high quality. Fast forward to today: artificial intelligence and tools like Claude Code are bringing us back into a similar context of high-velocity creation. It’s fascinating. The more things change…

This morning, I visited Reddit to answer a question about Craft. When I noticed five notifications, I clicked the bell icon. Two of them were about engagement stimulation, which I felt was manipulative and deceptive. I dislike being tricked this way. LinkedIn is also good at this. And Meta, the master of them all. Major platforms will likely face legal challenges in the future because their product design promotes toxic engagement tactics that manipulate users for growth. Om Malik won’t be around to see this unfold, sadly.

Federico Viticci is sharing an explanation about why MacStories resumed posting on X:

We want to be absolutely clear about something: returning to X does not represent a change in our values, what MacStories or we stand for, or an endorsement of Elon Musk. We abhor Musk’s politics, his rhetoric, his careless disregard for others, and the direction he has taken X. But we also disagree that participating on X means we have aligned ourselves with any of Musk’s views or actions. We reject Musk’s worldview and will continue to treat people with the kindness and respect they deserve wherever they are on the Internet.

That’s not enough. MacStories is contributing to the bad internet, the siloed internet. They are feeding the machine. I stopped reading MacStories long ago because it became something else I don’t really care about. Here’s another reason to stay away. MacStories is giving people more reasons to return to X, too. Sad that in today’s world you cannot stand by yourself and only depend on toxic platforms to thrive. Too bad, because the original MacStories was really great.

My sister, who discovered water painting late in life, is part of a group of artists who share the same passion for art and painting in general. She is really good. She has taken many art courses since COVID. Now, she’s part of a Facebook Group, and when she mentioned it, I suggested creating a website for her to showcase her work, separate from platforms like Meta. She inquired about discoverability. What can I say to her? Is discoverability always tied to rewards? Are likes part of a validation process? Can we be on the web without seeking discoverability or rewards (likes, reblogs, etc.)?

No One’s Happy recent blog post suggesting not to use native apps:

“Most native apps collect far more data than their website equivalents ever could. They request permissions to hardware, sensors, and background processes that browsers deliberately restrict. The third-party software embedded in these apps frequently transmits your location, device identifiers, and behavioral data to third parties before you even see a consent prompt. This data is in tandem bought, sold, and aggregated by brokers. It has been used to out individuals, track immigrants, and enable prosecution over reproductive healthcare.”

While this is true, refusing to use native apps is surprising advice. One might think the App Store submission process that every developer is subject to prevents bad actors, but it doesn’t. Coupled with the developer’s ordeal with the App Store review process, some developers are suggesting focusing development efforts on web applications instead. And finally, vibe coding might be another factor driving a move toward web application development. Yet the web is a jungle where user tracking is a standard “feature” that mines the browsing experience with bloated web pages that sell you ads and lead you to forced engagement.