After successfully founding and selling the popular Mastodon client Mammoth, developer Shihab Mehboob has returned to the competition with the launch of his new app, Saturn. This app is designed to work with the decentralized social network Mastodon and introduces a unique feature called “Highlights” that summarizes your timeline and showcases popular content.
Mehboob emphasizes that Saturn does not utilize AI or machine learning technology for the Highlights feature, as many Mastodon users are wary of such technology. Instead, he explains that the feature is powered by a simple native checker that identifies the most liked and reposted posts and accounts in the user’s timeline, bringing them to the forefront of the app. Additionally, the feature includes content that may have been reposted into your feed, even if it’s not from accounts you follow.
One of Saturn’s primary goals is to address concerns from critics about the difficulty of finding interesting accounts to follow on Mastodon. To achieve this, Saturn supports the ability to post various types of content such as images, videos, GIFs, polls, custom emoticons, drawings, spoiler text, and more. Furthermore, Saturn promises chronological timelines only, in contrast to other platforms that use algorithms for content curation.
Similar to other third-party Mastodon apps like Ivory, Saturn allows you to customize the bottom navigation bar for quick access to popular posts, latest news, suggested accounts, communities, and trending tags. The app also provides easy access to your feed, server firehose, community posts, lists, bookmarks, and profile from the in-app navigation bar.
Moreover, Saturn is ad-free and offers a premium subscription option for $12.99 per year or a one-time purchase of $39.99. Subscribers gain access to the smart highlights discovery feature, lurker mode for safe browsing, speed dial for messaging contacts, support for unlimited accounts, push notifications, custom themes, icons, social sharing, shortcuts, widgets, and more.
With a focus on iOS 18, Saturn supports Apple’s App Intents for Shortcuts, Control Center Widgets, Translations, Pencil gestures, and Live Activities for the Apple Watch. Mehboob highlights the app’s beautiful interface, customization options, smooth performance, and fast integration of new OS-specific features as its strongest points.
Saturn is available as a free download with in-app purchases and has received support from backers like Mozilla, Long Journey Ventures, and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff since the sale of Mammoth.
