Another way to be part of the fediverse/ActivityPub

I’ve been thinking of ActivityPub more as an extra layer for existing websites to become “social,” eliminating the middleman (like Twitter, for example), rather than a direct replacement for social networks like Twitter. Instead of posting on a blog and then writing a tweet (to follow the example) announcing the blog post, the blog post itself is published directly to the timelines of those who follow you on Twitter. This is impossible on Twitter/X, but perfectly feasible with ActivityPub.

The idea of larger instances than just a handful of people who know each other, where you adhere to the admins’ decisions (and emotions), tends to lead to drama. Just look at the Fosstodon case, or the various conflicts led by Mastodon.art (tell me about a troublemaking crowd!) or among Brazilian instances since… forever?

What would such an alternative approach look like, where ActivityPub is “sprinkled” over an existing site instead of being a destination in itself?

You don’t have to look far for an example, because you’re in one. With the awesome WordPress plugin, this Manual do Usuário has become its own instance, findable in the fediverse at @feed@manualdousuario.net. Posts and podcasts are propagated through the fediverse, and comments made there appear here. And perhaps most importantly: zero #fedidrama.

And it goes further. It’s possible to create user profiles within WordPress using the ActivityPub plugin. This feature is still experimental and relies on additional plugins, but it already works — and there are people using it. Support for migrating profiles from Mastodon started to be implemented in version 5.3.0. In the future, who knows, I might migrate my personal profile over here…?

“Capitão Astúcia” takes an alternative path in filmmaking: straight to YouTube, free of charge

The first time I spoke with Filipe Gontijo was in 2015. He had just directed a virtual reality film, at a momento when big techs were promising that the future of entertainment lay in virtual reality packaged in a piece of cardboard with a phone stuffed inside.

Fast forward to 2025, and this time, still in the same email conversation, Filipe is innovating behind the scenes. His first feature film, Capitão Astúcia, was released directly on YouTube, for free, without ads. The business model? Anyone who enjoys the film can contribute with a Pix donation of any amount. And by “Pix” I mean the Brazilian instant money transfer systems.

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Firefox logo. Silhouette of a red panda wrapped in a blue circle.

Firefox 138, released this Tuesday (29th), introduces the long-awaited profile manager. The official documentation explains that “creating multiple profiles allows you to keep separate browsing data, themes or settings for different purposes, such as work and personal use.”

There are also new contrast options focused on accessibility, and in Windows 11, context menus now have that translucent (“acrylic”) look that is standard in the OS. Release notes and download.

The backpack of anthropologist Rafael Cristaldo.

In this series, readers showcase what they carry in their backpacks on a daily basis. Check out the other backpacks that have been published and submit yours — the this series depends on you.

Hello, everyone! How are you? My name is Rafael, I was born in November 1997, I’m from Farroupilha (RS), and I’m currently an anthropologist living in the capital, Porto Alegre. You can find me on LinkedIn and Instagram.

I’m writing this inspired by my artist friend and roommate Tiago Gasperin, who recently wrote about his fanny pack.

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MusicBrainz Picard identifies songs from *.mp3 files and automatically fixes metadata

Picard icon/logo.

In my first attempt to switch from streaming to move back to listening to *.mp3 files, one of the issues I encountered was organization: how to standardize the metadata of the songs?

The solution I was familiar with at the time — manually editing each song — was impractical. Who has time for that?

In my second (and this time, successful) attempt in 2024, I came across a free app that is almost too good to be true, MusicBrainz Picard (Linux, macOS, Windows).

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A quick look at the iPhone 16e made in Brazil

I was at my parents’ during the Easter holiday when I came across an iPhone 16e. I asked the owner for permission to take a closer look at the spiritual successor to the best iPhone. What a responsibility!

Despite the new name and being part of the current iPhone family, the iPhone 16e is, for all practical purposes, a new iPhone SE: a Frankenstein phone, made up of parts from older versions (the base is the iPhone 14), some components from the latest model (A18 chip and 8 GB of RAM), and features missing due to Apple’s stingy upselling tactics (previously it was the night mode in the camera, unavailable; now, there’s no MagSafe).

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Portuguese is the second most popular language (by far!) on Buttondown

The partnership between this Manual do Usuário and Buttondown, a newsletter service, has been renewed for the second time. Buttondown will continue to sponsor the (Portuguese-only) directory of Brazilian newsletters and the (also in pt_BR) series of interviews with newsletter creators.

In the conversation to renew the partnership, Justin Duke, founder and CEO of Buttondown, revealed to me that Portuguese is “Portuguese is now by far our second most popular language or locale,” and that “I have to assume you [Manual] are a huge reason why.” I was flattered by the comment and pleased with the results!

(Brands, see what you’re missing!? Advertise with us.)

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