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iOS 9 Content Blockers Mini-Reviews
- Thread starter Apple_Robert
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Seems like people were trying to give some helpful suggestions given that it wasn't clear if/when icons might be added, while at the same time without knowing about the limitations that were in play which weren't originally mentioned. But it seems like it's all good, and it's definitely helpful to have the additional information like app icons available along with the reviews.
Please review this: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1032930802
AdBlock Fast, the first free and open-source adblocker for iOS
Source: https://github.com/rocketshipapps/adblockfast
AdBlock Fast, the first free and open-source adblocker for iOS
Source: https://github.com/rocketshipapps/adblockfast
When one door closes...
Bought the Purify on sale, saving 3 smackeroos!
Thinking about buying a car withthe savings. Thanks to BasicGreatGuy for monitoring the pulse of the ad blocker marketplace, I'm rich!
Adblock Description
*Taken from the iTunes Preview page
"The completely free, #1 most popular ad blocker for Safari, with over 50 million users across all browsers.
AdBlock. Accept no substitutes.
* Easy setup, with ad blocking test function
* Save battery life by only loading the content you care about
* Save money on monthly data usage
* Enjoy faster web page performance
* Built-in privacy protection with anti-tracking
* Language-specific block lists
* A straightforward interface to get you blocking ads as quickly as possible. Run the app once and go.
* Free, blazing-fast, automagical updates and optimized block lists from our own, dedicated server
* Free, responsive support
...More
BETAFISH INC Web SiteAdBlock - Mobile Support
What's New in Version 1.1 (51)
* Improved block list rebuilding
* Enhanced setup flow
Screenshots
iPhone iPad
Adblock is another set it and forget it content blocker. There is no Whitelisting, or any other bells and whistles. There are three user toggles (Ad-blocking, International Languages, and Privacy Shield) which can be found in Settings > Safari > Content Blockers. Any time the app is opened, it seeks to download the latest EasyList and EasyPrivacy. It shows you the last time the lists were updated. Outside of that, there is no other meaningful user screen. There is a "Setup & Help" page as shown in the picture. However, the live version of the page is broken and doesn't display properly. Lots of good it is doing.
Once you enable Adblock, it will ask you to check the settings in the app, clicking the red "check settings" banner pulls up getadblock.com telling you the settings are active and please click the donate dollar amount box.
Adblock app design - D -
While I don't hold free apps to the same strict standards that one expects with paid apps, that doesn't mean I turn a blind eye or make excuses for an app's design, just because it is free. In my opinion, the design of the app is poor. When a company doesn't even check to make sure the app works correctly, it makes me wonder what else is not up to par. I also don't like the fact that they have incorporated a solicitation for money page into the checking the settings test. The test looks like nothing more than an excuse to solicit money. If the company truly cared about helping with an app problem as they claim in the picture above, why the heck is there no contact ability in the app? They can't be bothered to provide that ability but they made sure the solicitation page pops up for the new user testing the settings (what little there are).
Adblock blocking power - A
Overall, Adblock did very well. There were minor problems wth a few of the sites visited. However, nothing that would ruin the internet experience for me (generally speaking).
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
Adblock's blocking power was tested using the following websites Time Magazine, CNN, Yahoo, Macrumors, Amazon, Fox News, Huffington Post, iMore, The Verge, National Geographic, Crackle,* Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kat.cr, The Pirate...****** MacWorld,** MSNBC, Apple, Ebaums World, ImDB, YouTube, Hotels.com, Digiday, Reddit, Craigslist (local), Cult of Mac, blog.buttermouth, ESPN, Welt.de, Ciudad.com.ar,***** ABC.com.py, Times of Israel, 9to5toys, Straits Times,* Str.sg, info.singtel.com,*Times of India, Indian Express, and Courier.co.uk.****
Unless otherwise noted by the * symbol, all sites loaded correctly without any pop ups or blank advertising boxes.
* Site did not load
** Site loaded correctly but clicking links on main page or subsequent page didn't work.
*** Site loaded correctly but did not block all ad(s) on main page or subsequent site pages.
**** Site did not correctly load all non ad page elements (e.g. pictures, video, text etc.)
***** Site loaded correctly with no ads or pop ups. Empty advertisement blocks were noted.
****** Site loaded correctly but did not stop pop up message or redirects.
Adblock speed - B -
I found Adblock to be sluggish in loading several sites. Several other free content blockers previously reviewed are faster than Adblock. I wasn't having to check my watch to count the minutes. At the same time, Adblock was slightly slower.
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
Adblock price and developer contact - A
The price can't be beat, as it is free. I did not contact the developer prior to review. Rating was given based on the price of the app. I did not rate the ability or willingness of the developer to respond to questions or concerns.
Adblock overall rating - B -
If you are looking for a free content blocker that blocks ads, this is one to keep in mind. I would check out some of the other free apps I have reviewed before this one, as the overall user experience is not as strong as some of the other apps, in my opinion.
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I will do my best to get to that some time tomorrow.
*Taken from the iTunes Preview page.
"Description
Adblock Fast is a free, open-source ad blocker!
Just as webpages grew bloated with ads, so too have ad blockers grown bloated with little-used filtering rules and features that sap their speed and hog your device’s disk space, CPU cycles, and memory. Adblock Fast runs an optimized ruleset to accelerate pages more but consume less system resources than other ad blockers do.
Adblock Fast blocks ads in Safari not in other apps. To allow Adblock Fast to block in Safari:
1. press the Home button on your iPhone or iPad,
2. tap the “Settings” app,
3. tap “Safari” > (under “ General”) “Content Blockers”, then
4. toggle the “Adblock Fast” switch on.
To unblock ads, navigate to the “Adblock Fast” app.
To see the effect of Adblock Fast on a particular page, you may have to clear Safari’s cache (tap “Settings” > “Safari” > “Clear History and Website Data”) before reloading the page.
About us:
10x is an award-winning app studio based in Palo Alto and San Francisco. Our aim is to design the finest mobile and web experiences in the world.
...More
10x Web SiteAdblock Fast Support
Screenshots
iPhone iPad
Adblock Fast app design - A
Even though Adblock Fast is a free content blocker, one can tell that the developers gave some thought to the design and layout of the app. The animation upon opening the app catches the eye. While the app only has one page, the developers have made it easy for the user to turn on and off ad-blocking by simply tapping the main app screen log once, as well as providing a contact help email address for Adblock Fast by pressing the "HELP" text on the app page. Pressing the "HELP" text also explains to the user in a succinct manner, how to enable the app in Safari.
Adblock Fast blocking power - A
Out of the free content blockers reviewed thus far, Adblock Fast has done the best job loading and rendering the test webpages. I can tell that the developers have done a lot more than cut and paste the json file into the app. Take note developers who have created content blockers. If you want to stand out, take heed. Anyone can cut and paste lists. And the results of several of my reviews lately show (in my opinion) that many have done just that. And that is one of the reasons why the same websites have the same problem in so many content blockers.
I liked what I saw.
* Your experience may differ from mine due to several variables.
Adblock Fast's blocking power was tested using the following websites Time Magazine, CNN, Yahoo, Macrumors, Amazon, Fox News, Huffington Post, iMore, The Verge, National Geographic, Crackle, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kat.cr, The Pirate... MacWorld, MSNBC, Apple, Ebaums World, ImDB, YouTube, Hotels.com, Digiday, Reddit, Craigslist (local), Cult of Mac, blog.buttermouth, ESPN, Welt.de, Ciudad.com.ar, ABC.com.py, Times of Israel,***** 9to5toys, Straits Times, Str.sg, info.singtel.com, Times of India, Indian Express, and Courier.co.uk.
Unless otherwise noted by the * symbol, all sites loaded correctly without any pop ups or blank advertising boxes.
* Site did not load
** Site loaded correctly but clicking links on main page or subsequent page didn't work.
*** Site loaded correctly but did not block all ad(s) on main page or subsequent site pages.
**** Site did not correctly load all non ad page elements (e.g. pictures, video, text etc.)
***** Site loaded correctly with no ads or pop ups. Empty advertisement blocks were noted.
****** Site loaded correctly but did not stop pop up message or redirects.
Adblock Fast speed - A
I don't know about "the world's fastest," (as the app claims) but Adblock Fast is fast (at least in my experience). In my opinion, it is just as fast as Purify. It stands out in the app crowd.
Adblock price and developer contact - A
The A rating is solely based on the price of the app, (free) as I did not contact the developer and I do not know their customer service history.
Adblock Fast overall rating - A+
If you are looking for a free app that blocks ads, doesn't leave you waiting, and doesn't require tweaking, I recommend Adblock Fast.
In my opinion, the developers of Purify, Crystal, Admop and Silentium better stay on their proverbial code toes. With Adblock Fast available, said developers better give customers strong reasons to buy their app and stick with it.
I wish the app had Whitelisting ability and social widget blocking. Maybe if enough people request it, the fine folks at Rocketshipapps will incorporate the features in the next update.
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* The following was taken from the iTunes Preview page.
"Description
Get Just the Content. The most user friendly ad blocker for iOS 9 where privacy comes first.
Open transparent blocking rules hosted on Github. Curated to be lightweight on your device and keep Safari responsive.
Do you browse the internet on a mobile device?
- You can save on internet usage and data charges. Just Content is highly recommended for data capped, roaming or international mobile connections.
- Webpages can load super fast. No more waiting or looking at progress bars. Sometimes as fast as native apps!
- Stop getting annoyed by ads. Intrusive trackers & javascript should not ruin the browsing experience on the small screens.
Features -
* Block ads, trackers & javascript
* Uses native content blocking technology of iOS 9
* Apple's blocking technology allows the best privacy with performance
* Get automatically synced with the latest content blocking rules
* Curated by the open source community
* Support websites, content creators by whitelisting your favorite websites
* Whitelisting allows websites you trust to show ads. Only you can add websites to your device's whitelist.
* Universal iOS 9 app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
NETWORK REQUIREMENTS
Works on Wi-fi, 4G and Cellular 3G and EDGE/GPRS. Just Content does not need an active internet connection for ad blocking. Just Content ships with a great set of content blocking rules built in. In the absence of an active internet connection, only the newer blocking rules will not be downloaded to your device.
CONTACT
On twitter, we are @JustTheContent.
On the web, we are at http://justthecontent.com
Mail us your feedback at support@justthecontent.com."
...More
Krishna Kumar Web SiteJust Content - Block Intrusive Ads & Trackers Support
Screenshots
iPhone iPad
A new (free) minimalist content blocker has arrived in town by the name of "Just Content."
Just Content app design - A
The colors of the app are easy on the eyes and the layout is straight-forward where one can access the Whitelisting option (by engaging the star icon in the upper right corner of the app page, the settings option (by engaging the cog wheel in the upper left corner of the app page) as well as access Safari directly (by engaging the Safari icon at the bottom of the app page).
The settings option has the following sub menus:
"Toggle Sync" - This toggle is on by default and it allows the app to sync with the latest open source EasyList filters.
"Acknowledgments" - Engaging this menu gives one the ability to see that "Just Content" is based on the open source blocker, "BlockParty," as well as the open source EasyList filters. There are direct link to the github repository and Easylist. as well.
"Send Feedback" - Ability to email the developer from the app
"Please rate Just Content" - Takes the user directly to the app store listing
"Tell a Friend" - Opens the iPhone share sheet.
The Whitelist option (the star icon) is a single page where you can add the URL addresses of the sites you would like to Whitelist, as a means of showing your support.
Just Content blocking power - B
While "Just Content" did a good job of ad-blocking overall, I still saw some ads, was hit with redirects on two sites, and the links didn't work on two others.
Once again, I am seeing the same kind of results with the test websites, because a lot of developers seem to be cutting and pasting the filter lists, instead of verifying each one for accuracy with the app.
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
*Sponsored ads on Yahoo were not blocked and neither were Adchoice ads.
*Social buttons were not blocked.
Adblock's blocking power was tested using the following websites Time Magazine, CNN, Yahoo,*** Macrumors, Amazon***, Fox News, Huffington Post, iMore, The Verge, National Geographic, Crackle, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kat.cr,****** The Pirate...****** MacWorld,** MSNBC, Apple, Ebaums World, ImDB, YouTube, Hotels.com, Digiday, Reddit, Craigslist (local), Cult of Mac, blog.buttermouth, ESPN, Welt.de,*** Ciudad.com.ar, ABC.com.py, Times of Israel,*** 9to5toys, Straits Times, Str.sg, info.singtel.com, Times of India, Indian Express, Cnet, and Courier.co.uk.**
Unless otherwise noted by the * symbol, all sites loaded correctly without any pop ups or blank advertising boxes.
* Site did not load
** Site loaded correctly but clicking links on main page or subsequent page didn't work.
*** Site loaded correctly but did not block all ad(s) on main page or subsequent site pages.
**** Site did not correctly load all non ad page elements (e.g. pictures, video, text etc.)
***** Site loaded correctly with no ads or pop ups. Empty advertisement blocks were noted.
****** Site loaded correctly but did not stop pop up messages or redirects
Just Content speed - B
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
Pages loaded without any notable lagging or stalling. There was nothing in the test experience that made the app stand out speed wise.
Just Content price and developer contact - A
Rating was based solely on the price (free). I did not contact the developer before review and cannot speak to how fast he replies (if at all) to customer problems or concerns.
Just Content overall rating - B
I like the simplistic design of "Just Content." It does a decent job of ad-blocking although there are other free content blockers that do a better job, in my opinion. I recommend "Just Content" albeit it is a little farther down on my recommend list.
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What your top three now?
* The following was taken from the iTunes Preview page.
"Description
Get Just the Content. The most user friendly ad blocker for iOS 9 where privacy comes first.
Open transparent blocking rules hosted on Github. Curated to be lightweight on your device and keep Safari responsive.
Do you browse the internet on a mobile device?
- You can save on internet usage and data charges. Just Content is highly recommended for data capped, roaming or international mobile connections.
- Webpages can load super fast. No more waiting or looking at progress bars. Sometimes as fast as native apps!
- Stop getting annoyed by ads. Intrusive trackers & javascript should not ruin the browsing experience on the small screens.
Features -
* Block ads, trackers & javascript
* Uses native content blocking technology of iOS 9
* Apple's blocking technology allows the best privacy with performance
* Get automatically synced with the latest content blocking rules
* Curated by the open source community
* Support websites, content creators by whitelisting your favorite websites
* Whitelisting allows websites you trust to show ads. Only you can add websites to your device's whitelist.
* Universal iOS 9 app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
NETWORK REQUIREMENTS
Works on Wi-fi, 4G and Cellular 3G and EDGE/GPRS. Just Content does not need an active internet connection for ad blocking. Just Content ships with a great set of content blocking rules built in. In the absence of an active internet connection, only the newer blocking rules will not be downloaded to your device.
CONTACT
On twitter, we are @JustTheContent.
On the web, we are at http://justthecontent.com
Mail us your feedback at support@justthecontent.com."
...More
Krishna Kumar Web SiteJust Content - Block Intrusive Ads & Trackers Support
Screenshots
iPhone iPad
A new (free) minimalist content blocker has arrived in town by the name of "Just Content."
Just Content app design - A
The colors of the app are easy on the eyes and the layout is straight-forward where one can access the Whitelisting option (by engaging the star icon in the upper right corner of the app page, the settings option (by engaging the cog wheel in the upper left corner of the app page) as well as access Safari directly (by engaging the Safari icon at the bottom of the app page).
The settings option has the following sub menus:
"Toggle Sync" - This toggle is on by default and it allows the app to sync with the latest open source EasyList filters.
"Acknowledgments" - Engaging this menu gives one the ability to see that "Just Content" is based on the open source blocker, "BlockParty," as well as the open source EasyList filters. There are direct link to the github repository and Easylist. as well.
"Send Feedback" - Ability to email the developer from the app
"Please rate Just Content" - Takes the user directly to the app store listing
"Tell a Friend" - Opens the iPhone share sheet.
The Whitelist option (the star icon) is a single page where you can add the URL addresses of the sites you would like to Whitelist, as a means of showing your support.
Just Content blocking power - B
While "Just Content" did a good job of ad-blocking overall, I still saw some ads, was hit with redirects on two sites, and the links didn't work on two others.
Once again, I am seeing the same kind of results with the test websites, because a lot of developers seem to be cutting and pasting the filter lists, instead of verifying each one for accuracy with the app.
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
*Sponsored ads on Yahoo were not blocked and neither were Adchoice ads.
*Social buttons were not blocked.
Adblock's blocking power was tested using the following websites Time Magazine, CNN, Yahoo,*** Macrumors, Amazon***, Fox News, Huffington Post, iMore, The Verge, National Geographic, Crackle, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kat.cr,****** The Pirate...****** MacWorld,** MSNBC, Apple, Ebaums World, ImDB, YouTube, Hotels.com, Digiday, Reddit, Craigslist (local), Cult of Mac, blog.buttermouth, ESPN, Welt.de,*** Ciudad.com.ar, ABC.com.py, Times of Israel,*** 9to5toys, Straits Times, Str.sg, info.singtel.com, Times of India, Indian Express, Cnet, and Courier.co.uk.**
Unless otherwise noted by the * symbol, all sites loaded correctly without any pop ups or blank advertising boxes.
* Site did not load
** Site loaded correctly but clicking links on main page or subsequent page didn't work.
*** Site loaded correctly but did not block all ad(s) on main page or subsequent site pages.
**** Site did not correctly load all non ad page elements (e.g. pictures, video, text etc.)
***** Site loaded correctly with no ads or pop ups. Empty advertisement blocks were noted.
****** Site loaded correctly but did not stop pop up messages or redirects
Just Content speed - B
* Keep in mind your experience may differ slightly from mine, due to several variables.
Pages loaded without any notable lagging or stalling. There was nothing in the test experience that made the app stand out speed wise.
Just Content price and developer contact - A
Rating was based solely on the price (free). I did not contact the developer before review and cannot speak to how fast he replies (if at all) to customer problems or concerns.
Just Content overall rating - B
I like the simplistic design of "Just Content. It does a decent job of ad-blocking although there are other free content blockers that do a better job, in my opinion. I recommend "Just Content" albeit it is a little farther down on my recommend list.
I am going to give it some more time, before coming up with my favorites list. I want to give the developers some more time to fine tune their apps with updates and filters, especially since iOS 9 was just released.
Yes, any list we create now can quickly change tomorrow. See how quickly Crystal was in and out of favor?
In several categories, they are (at this point in time).
Developers are going to need to work hard to sway people to their paid content blocker apps, in my opinion. And a lot of that is going to involve ongoing updates to the user interface, as well as tweaking the filter list. And last but certainly no less important is customer service. If a developer doesn't respond to questions or concerns, that tells me that his focus is not where it should be. It takes time to respond to customers and potential customers. I don't want to hear that a company doesn't have time for me, especially when they are asking me to pay for their product with my hard earned money. And I definitely don't want to hear or experience that mentality after the sale. A business needs to do what it takes to stay competitive and provide solid reasons for keeping customers, as well as expanding.
Yeah, I wish I had know this earlier. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. I was fixed on a paid app but I'm leaning toward a free one at the moment.
It seems to be.
I am going to give developers some more time to fine turn their product and their business model. After that, I am going to come down hard on my follow up reviews dealing with updates and customer service.
You have been given fair warning developers.
I've been using two or three blockers all this time and I don't see any degradation in Safari.
* Taken from the iTunes Preview page.
Description
Speed up page load times & reclaim valuable content on Safari with Clear Ad Blocker. Clear Ad Blocker minimizes banner ads, auto-play videos, pop-ups & more so you can have a blissful Safari browsing experience. Save data, time & battery life with Clear Ad Blocker!
• Removes banner ads, video ads, pop-ups & other distractions from Safari.
• Brings important content back into Clear view on first load.
• Works on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
• Reduces load times & data usage, saving you time, money & battery life.
• Easy set up and zero maintenance; whitelists updated daily & automatically.
• Does not use proxy server to filter; uses sophisticated ad blocker technology on your device to target and remove ads.
• Compatible with iOS 9 Safari.
...More
Franco Yuvienco Web SiteClear Ad Blocker Support
iPhone Screenshot
Clear Ad Blocker is another free minimalist content blocker. Outside of enabling the app in Safari, there are no user preferences or other abilities.
Clear Ad Block's blocking power - A
Putting Clear through the test was a pleasant surprise. It is able to block Yahoo sponsored ads on both my iPhone 6 and iPad Air. It was also able to handle many websites that a lot of the paid apps failed to correctly render. I saw very few minor problems in my initial testing.
* Your experience may differ from mine due to several variables.
Adblock Fast's blocking power was tested using the following websites Time Magazine, CNN, Yahoo, Macrumors, Amazon,*** Fox News, Huffington Post, iMore, The Verge, National Geographic, Crackle, Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Kat.cr, The Pirate... MacWorld, MSNBC, Apple, Ebaums World, ImDB, YouTube, Hotels.com, Digiday, Reddit, Craigslist (local), Cult of Mac, blog.buttermouth, ESPN, Welt.de, Ciudad.com.ar, ABC.com.py, Times of Israel,*** 9to5toys, Straits Times, Str.sg, info.singtel.com, Times of India, Indian Express, Cnet, and Courier.co.uk.
Unless otherwise noted by the * symbol, all sites loaded correctly without any pop ups or blank advertising boxes.
* Site did not load
** Site loaded correctly but clicking links on main page or subsequent page didn't work.
*** Site loaded correctly but did not block all ad(s) on main page or subsequent site pages.
**** Site did not correctly load all non ad page elements (e.g. pictures, video, text etc.)
***** Site loaded correctly with no ads or pop ups. Empty advertisement blocks were noted.
****** Site loaded correctly but did not stop pop up message or redirects.
Clear Ad Block speed - B
I saw no stalling or lagging. Speed was what I consider typical compared to other B rated reviews.
Clear Ad Block price and developer contact - A
Score is based solely on price, (free) as I did not contact the developer prior to review, and am not aware of any prior customer history contact by the developer.
Clear Ad Block overall rating - A
If you are looking for a content blocker that does a good job of content blocking, Clear Ad Block does that. As stated previously, there are no bells and whistles. It works. I recommend Clear Ad Block.
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