Richard MacManus
@ricmac.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Tech journalist covering developers & the modern Web @ The New Stack · Internet historian @ https://cybercultural.com · Founded ReadWriteWeb (2003–2012) · 🥝 in 🇬🇧
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.social/@ricmac, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.social/@ricmac, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
Pinned
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
In the latest post in my history of blogging and RSS series, I look at the emergence of the blogosphere in 2002 — a thriving ecosystem of colourful personal sites that interconnected to each other via RSS, trackback and blogrolls. 2002 also saw the debut of RSS 2.0, Technorati and Google News […]
Reposted by Richard MacManus
In the latest post in my history of blogging and RSS series, I look at the emergence of the blogosphere in 2002 — a thriving ecosystem of colourful personal sites that interconnected to each other via RSS, trackback and blogrolls. 2002 also saw the debut of RSS 2.0, Technorati and Google News […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
In the latest post in my history of blogging and RSS series, I look at the emergence of the blogosphere in 2002 — a thriving ecosystem of colourful personal sites that interconnected to each other via RSS, trackback and blogrolls. 2002 also saw the debut of RSS 2.0, Technorati and Google News […]
I suppose the trackback of this era is quote-posts, because you are making your own post (toot) but referencing another post. I loved trackbacks in the 2003-04 period, because it was a way to get my little Radio Userland and then Movable Type blog noticed by the “A-listers” (as we called them […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 25, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I suppose the trackback of this era is quote-posts, because you are making your own post (toot) but referencing another post. I loved trackbacks in the 2003-04 period, because it was a way to get my little Radio Userland and then Movable Type blog noticed by the “A-listers” (as we called them […]
I actually started with mastodon.technology in early 2017, I think. But the reason was that mastodon.social wasn’t taking new users at the time. Mastodon.technology was shuttered soon after, but by then I had gone to mastodon.social (when the gates opened again). I was definitely on here by […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
I actually started with mastodon.technology in early 2017, I think. But the reason was that mastodon.social wasn’t taking new users at the time. Mastodon.technology was shuttered soon after, but by then I had gone to mastodon.social (when the gates opened again). I was definitely on here by […]
Reposted by Richard MacManus
If reading this gets you excited about the old days of blogs, blogrolls, and RSS feeds -- these are still around and you can join in!
Here's where you can host your blog:
https://manuelmoreale.com/blog-platforms […]
Here's where you can host your blog:
https://manuelmoreale.com/blog-platforms […]
Original post on stefanbohacek.online
stefanbohacek.online
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
If reading this gets you excited about the old days of blogs, blogrolls, and RSS feeds -- these are still around and you can join in!
Here's where you can host your blog:
https://manuelmoreale.com/blog-platforms […]
Here's where you can host your blog:
https://manuelmoreale.com/blog-platforms […]
Reposted by Richard MacManus
2002 was perhaps the peak of desktop-PC blog design. Many blogs of this time had a narrow main column of text and a sidebar stuffed with blogrolls, RSS buttons, photos, biographical information, and more. https://cybercultural.com/p/blogs-rss-2002/
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
2002 was perhaps the peak of desktop-PC blog design. Many blogs of this time had a narrow main column of text and a sidebar stuffed with blogrolls, RSS buttons, photos, biographical information, and more. https://cybercultural.com/p/blogs-rss-2002/
I talk to the CEO of Mozilla.ai about Mozilla's AI strategy and why the web doesn't seem to be that important in its new mission. https://thenewstack.io/how-mozillas-ai-strategy-disconnects-from-its-browser-heritage/
How Mozilla’s AI Strategy Disconnects From Its Browser Heritage
An analysis of Mozilla's pivot to AI, questioning why its strategy disconnects from its core strengths: The Firefox browser and open web heritage.
thenewstack.io
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I talk to the CEO of Mozilla.ai about Mozilla's AI strategy and why the web doesn't seem to be that important in its new mission. https://thenewstack.io/how-mozillas-ai-strategy-disconnects-from-its-browser-heritage/
In the latest post in my history of blogging and RSS series, I look at the emergence of the blogosphere in 2002 — a thriving ecosystem of colourful personal sites that interconnected to each other via RSS, trackback and blogrolls. 2002 also saw the debut of RSS 2.0, Technorati and Google News […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
In the latest post in my history of blogging and RSS series, I look at the emergence of the blogosphere in 2002 — a thriving ecosystem of colourful personal sites that interconnected to each other via RSS, trackback and blogrolls. 2002 also saw the debut of RSS 2.0, Technorati and Google News […]
I’m sharing this mainly because the poster did NOT mention Threads 👏 👏 👏 https://social.heise.de/@mho/115587959515516682
How far will it go this time?
This post from #Mastodon can reach the whole #Fediverse, #Bluesky & more.
That's #Sharkey, #Misskey, #Pixelfed, #Mbin, #Lemmy, #Friendica, #Hometown, #Akkoma…
If you see it, please share it.
#SocialMedia !fediverse@piefed.social
social.heise.de
November 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I’m sharing this mainly because the poster did NOT mention Threads 👏 👏 👏 https://social.heise.de/@mho/115587959515516682
Got my order for a Mastodon plushie and mug in. Looking forward to adding the “interoperability blue” plushie to my ‘Zoom background bookcase’ and drinking coffee from the mug while interviewing tech companies and startups :) https://shop.joinmastodon.org/products/mastodon-stuffed-toy-mini […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Got my order for a Mastodon plushie and mug in. Looking forward to adding the “interoperability blue” plushie to my ‘Zoom background bookcase’ and drinking coffee from the mug while interviewing tech companies and startups :) https://shop.joinmastodon.org/products/mastodon-stuffed-toy-mini […]
Your moment of Saturday zen: a red-breasted robin drops by during a rare break from blue tits and sparrows mobbing the bird feeder (let’s not talk about when the starlings come in, brawling and bullying).
Full disclosure: this photo, snapped through the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Full disclosure: this photo, snapped through the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
November 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Your moment of Saturday zen: a red-breasted robin drops by during a rare break from blue tits and sparrows mobbing the bird feeder (let’s not talk about when the starlings come in, brawling and bullying).
Full disclosure: this photo, snapped through the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Full disclosure: this photo, snapped through the […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
Reposted by Richard MacManus
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Funnily enough, I interviewed the head of Mozilla.ai this week — but that was before I saw the AI strategy document today. I had hoped to get Mozilla’s take on Web AI, especially after noting how locked in Google is on this. But, and make of this what you will, Mozilla.ai isn’t actually focused […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Funnily enough, I interviewed the head of Mozilla.ai this week — but that was before I saw the AI strategy document today. I had hoped to get Mozilla’s take on Web AI, especially after noting how locked in Google is on this. But, and make of this what you will, Mozilla.ai isn’t actually focused […]
Google’s recent Web AI Summit revealed more about how the company is positioning Chrome as a foundation for AI applications and agents. Also, we heard that Google is “super committed to continuing to invest in an open, interoperable Web,” according to Parisa Tabriz, Google Chrome VP/GM, in her […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Google’s recent Web AI Summit revealed more about how the company is positioning Chrome as a foundation for AI applications and agents. Also, we heard that Google is “super committed to continuing to invest in an open, interoperable Web,” according to Parisa Tabriz, Google Chrome VP/GM, in her […]
November 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
If you're began your web career in the 90s or early 2000s, and you weren't a programmer, this is a brilliant description of what you did:
"If you were the web designer, you were likely the web developer, you were probably what we then called the webmaster. You probably wrote a lot of the […]
"If you were the web designer, you were likely the web developer, you were probably what we then called the webmaster. You probably wrote a lot of the […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
If you're began your web career in the 90s or early 2000s, and you weren't a programmer, this is a brilliant description of what you did:
"If you were the web designer, you were likely the web developer, you were probably what we then called the webmaster. You probably wrote a lot of the […]
"If you were the web designer, you were likely the web developer, you were probably what we then called the webmaster. You probably wrote a lot of the […]
The Wayback Machine has been offline for the past hour or so :( Every morning before I work I am either writing Cybercultural posts or researching them, so Wayback is a daily visit for me. Hope they aren't having tech issues. No word yet on their socials (cc @internetarchive)
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The Wayback Machine has been offline for the past hour or so :( Every morning before I work I am either writing Cybercultural posts or researching them, so Wayback is a daily visit for me. Hope they aren't having tech issues. No word yet on their socials (cc @internetarchive)
Reposted by Richard MacManus
Listening to the presenters at #euroskylive today, in addition to the other communities I usually hang out with, I am beginning to conclude that the term
"Open Social Web"
has won as the name for the category / market / movement / ...
"Open Social Web"
has won as the name for the category / market / movement / ...
November 19, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Listening to the presenters at #euroskylive today, in addition to the other communities I usually hang out with, I am beginning to conclude that the term
"Open Social Web"
has won as the name for the category / market / movement / ...
"Open Social Web"
has won as the name for the category / market / movement / ...
Reposted by Richard MacManus
I seem to recall "pardon my rust" was a fairly common expression in the early 2000s...back when you weren't posting every day, let alone every 2 minutes on social media.
moveablebeast.com in 2006
https://web.archive.org/web/20060107154436if_/http://www.moveablebeast.com:80
moveablebeast.com in 2006
https://web.archive.org/web/20060107154436if_/http://www.moveablebeast.com:80
November 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I seem to recall "pardon my rust" was a fairly common expression in the early 2000s...back when you weren't posting every day, let alone every 2 minutes on social media.
moveablebeast.com in 2006
https://web.archive.org/web/20060107154436if_/http://www.moveablebeast.com:80
moveablebeast.com in 2006
https://web.archive.org/web/20060107154436if_/http://www.moveablebeast.com:80
Reposted by Richard MacManus
Apple's website in 2002 when the 2nd generation iPod came out. Full story: https://cybercultural.com/p/ipod-2002/
November 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Apple's website in 2002 when the 2nd generation iPod came out. Full story: https://cybercultural.com/p/ipod-2002/
RE: https://techhub.social/@Techmeme/115571814794553532
That's...quite a pivot. Also, reading this quote in the story made me think that, wow, I could've pivoted ReadWriteWeb into a tax compliance blog, since unfortunately I spent far too much time trying to figure out international tax while […]
That's...quite a pivot. Also, reading this quote in the story made me think that, wow, I could've pivoted ReadWriteWeb into a tax compliance blog, since unfortunately I spent far too much time trying to figure out international tax while […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
RE: https://techhub.social/@Techmeme/115571814794553532
That's...quite a pivot. Also, reading this quote in the story made me think that, wow, I could've pivoted ReadWriteWeb into a tax compliance blog, since unfortunately I spent far too much time trying to figure out international tax while […]
That's...quite a pivot. Also, reading this quote in the story made me think that, wow, I could've pivoted ReadWriteWeb into a tax compliance blog, since unfortunately I spent far too much time trying to figure out international tax while […]
RE: https://hachyderm.io/@TheNewStack/115571636467341046
The New Stack highlights a post I wrote in April 2022. I wasn't really predicting a "mass migration" (I did add, "perhaps a fantasy"!). But my conclusion holds, and I still think social media has a power user problem.
"...It makes no […]
The New Stack highlights a post I wrote in April 2022. I wasn't really predicting a "mass migration" (I did add, "perhaps a fantasy"!). But my conclusion holds, and I still think social media has a power user problem.
"...It makes no […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
RE: https://hachyderm.io/@TheNewStack/115571636467341046
The New Stack highlights a post I wrote in April 2022. I wasn't really predicting a "mass migration" (I did add, "perhaps a fantasy"!). But my conclusion holds, and I still think social media has a power user problem.
"...It makes no […]
The New Stack highlights a post I wrote in April 2022. I wasn't really predicting a "mass migration" (I did add, "perhaps a fantasy"!). But my conclusion holds, and I still think social media has a power user problem.
"...It makes no […]
This week on Cybercultural, more early-2000s Apple 🍎, including why Steve Jobs didn't want online music to go the streaming route (which of course it eventually did). https://cybercultural.com/p/ipod-2002/ #internethistory
2002: The Second iPod and Steve Jobs on Music Streaming
With its revolutionary 'touch wheel' and double the storage, Apple's 2nd gen iPod is the state of the art in digital music in 2002. But the future is online streaming, which Steve Jobs struggles to accept.
cybercultural.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
This week on Cybercultural, more early-2000s Apple 🍎, including why Steve Jobs didn't want online music to go the streaming route (which of course it eventually did). https://cybercultural.com/p/ipod-2002/ #internethistory
Well this Cloudflare outage has disrupted my Cybercultural publishing schedule. It's a bit like the old ReadWriteWeb days when I would be on the phone to our web hosts (who would usually blame it on Movable Type). Except this time I'm such a small fish in Cloudflare's ocean that all I can do is […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Well this Cloudflare outage has disrupted my Cybercultural publishing schedule. It's a bit like the old ReadWriteWeb days when I would be on the phone to our web hosts (who would usually blame it on Movable Type). Except this time I'm such a small fish in Cloudflare's ocean that all I can do is […]
"I have so much passion for Mastodon and the fediverse. The fediverse is an island within an increasingly dystopian capitalist hellscape. And from my perspective, Mastodon is our best shot at bringing this vision of a better future to the masses." - @Gargron […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"I have so much passion for Mastodon and the fediverse. The fediverse is an island within an increasingly dystopian capitalist hellscape. And from my perspective, Mastodon is our best shot at bringing this vision of a better future to the masses." - @Gargron […]
Reposted by Richard MacManus
Our Founder, @Gargron is stepping down from his position as CEO. He shared a reflection on his time building and growing Mastodon on our blog.
We want to take a moment to express the Mastodon team’s deep gratitude and admiration for Eugen, and for the technology and community he has built here […]
We want to take a moment to express the Mastodon team’s deep gratitude and admiration for Eugen, and for the technology and community he has built here […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
November 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Our Founder, @Gargron is stepping down from his position as CEO. He shared a reflection on his time building and growing Mastodon on our blog.
We want to take a moment to express the Mastodon team’s deep gratitude and admiration for Eugen, and for the technology and community he has built here […]
We want to take a moment to express the Mastodon team’s deep gratitude and admiration for Eugen, and for the technology and community he has built here […]