The iOS 9 Content Blocker thread

[Ludatyk]

Since he is in that business, maybe he got pressure from his peers.

I'm sure he did. I know Gruber acknowledge that Deck ad wasn't as bad as others. I just don't believe the "Something doesn't feel right"... We all here don't believe that nonsense.

 

[Apple_Robert]

BTW, there's an interesting story reporting that the company behind Adblock Plus is offering money to developers of iOS ad blockers to let ads from their whitelist through:

http://www.businessinsider.com/adblock-plus-acceptable-ads-policy-2015-9

I think this will become a problem. There is a lot of money in the advertising business, and many developers will be tempted to accept "bribes" of one kind or another. This is compounded by the lack of transparency for the user: Since you cannot see the filter list in the popular apps, you don't really know what is blocked and what isn't, particularly when it comes to invisible trackers ...

Adblock Plus has been doing that for years. Its just that now the story is getting more press due to content blocking with iOS 9. I think their practice model is underhanded and sneaky.

 

[Ludatyk]

It doesn't really make much sense to me but I'm sure we'll get a 2-hour explanation on ATP next week.

His recent ATP episode... he speaks on using Ghostery database because he felt how good it was. He went through the necessary channels.. he had to give it some serious thought.

I already know the explanation won't make any sense to me... Especially given the fact how much he is against ads.

 

[Rigby]

Adblock Plus has been doing that for years. Its just that now the story is getting more press due to content blocking with iOS 9. I think their practice model is underhanded and sneaky.

Yeah, it was well known that Adblock Plus was taking money from advertisers. But I wasn't aware that they are offering money to other apps as well. Who can we trust? Mind you, I'm more concerned about privacy-violating trackers than ads ...

 

[scjr]

To quote myself:


I knew that Marco Arment was not to be trusted. Less than 48 hours and he removes the app from the store. You don’t spend days or weeks developing such an app and then changing your mind after a serious cash-in, especially after he wrote his critical essay. Despicable.

Don’t buy apps from developers who have a conflict of interest.

I agree.

An attack of conscience, after months of development and beta testing? He didn't know his app's main purpose was to block ads and his advertiser(s) had to remind him. What a terrible decision. This makes him look real bad.

 

[KALLT]

From his post it sounds like it was a mutual decision, and there won't be a Ghostery app at all in the future, until the backend these apps must use allow for more granular control

Apps decide which websites/trackers to include and they can also whitelist sites easily. I don’t know what his app does, but if that was the problem then it was poorly conceptualised to begin with.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yeah, it was well known that Adblock Plus was taking money from advertisers. But I wasn't aware that they are offering money to other apps as well. Who can we trust? Mind you, I'm more concerned about privacy-violating trackers than ads ...

Getting harder these days to be able to tell who we can trust.

I agree with you on privacy tracking violations. With iOS 9, we have been given back some power, which is a good thing.

I don't care to get into a big adblocking debate. I just want people to think about how ads, and tracking embedded in ads and the sites that host them, have become a nemesis for users. A site that we all visit every day and may call home, has its feet in the same waters.

The more sanitized my internet usage is, the better. And with Crystal and Blockr, amongst other beta ad blocking testing, I am pleased with the results thus far.

 

[tosbsas]

The link he posted has all the instructions and links you need in order to compile BlockParty and run it on your phone.

Ok just let me MAC through away my win 10 notebook than all is well. - lol

 

[KALLT]

Yeah, it was well known that Adblock Plus was taking money from advertisers. But I wasn't aware that they are offering money to other apps as well. Who can we trust? Mind you, I'm more concerned about privacy-violating trackers than ads ...

Adblock Plus is very open about this practice. They inform you of this when you open the extension for the first time, they give you an opportunity to opt out at any time and they adhere to criteria they developed together with their community. They take money from big advertisers (not websites) to cover the expenses for negotiating and monitoring the individual agreements they make.

Adblock Plus also doesn’t block trackers, they block ads and they block only those ads that are intrusive or annoying. What they are doing now is incentivising iOS developers to do the same. As long as these developer are transparent about this, I see no problem.

 

[Che Castro]

The purify developer mentioned on Twitter that his coming out with a Mac safari version of the app and might be free if you bought the iOS version

 

[trombo22]

Are there any reviews or people who did standardized tests on some of the paid blockers yet? % of trackers blocked, % of ads blocked, page load time, data usage etc? Since it is so new I'm doubting it but waiting for that before I pay for a couple of them.

 

[KALLT]

The purify developer mentioned on Twitter that his coming out with a Mac safari version of the app and might be free if you bought the iOS version

Which is weird, because Purify is based on uBlock… There are so many good extensions for Safari on the Mac, why bother paying for Purify just to get this?

 

[Apple_Robert]

The purify developer mentioned on Twitter that his coming out with a Mac safari version of the app and might be free if you bought the iOS version

He is good about pimping his product on Twitter with his own self-promoting app graph and boasting about being mentioned at places x,y, and z. He also talks about appreciating the testers and users while not having an in app feedback method. He also doesn't seem to respond to Twitter posts, unless they are centered around praising his product.

He reminds me of a fast talking used car salesman. Say whatever it takes to make the sale.

 

[KALLT]

Does anyone know if there is a content blocker currently in the App Store that is completely open source?

 

[scjr]

He is good about pimping his product on Twitter with his own self-promoting app graph and boasting about being mentioned at places x,y, and z. He also talks about appreciating the testers and users while not having an in app feedback method. He also doesn't seem to respond to Twitter posts, unless they are centered around praising his product.

He reminds me of a fast talking used car salesman. Say whatever it takes to make the sale.

It reminds of the guy who was so proud of his content blocker on Twitter, then pulled it from the App Store two days after release.

 

[hank moody]

He is good about pimping his product on Twitter with his own self-promoting app graph and boasting about being mentioned at places x,y, and z. He also talks about appreciating the testers and users while not having an in app feedback method. He also doesn't seem to respond to Twitter posts, unless they are centered around praising his product.

He reminds me of a fast talking used car salesman. Say whatever it takes to make the sale.

what adblocker do you recommend atm?

i think Crystal is the best.

 

[Che Castro]

He is good about pimping his product on Twitter with his own self-promoting app graph and boasting about being mentioned at places x,y, and z. He also talks about appreciating the testers and users while not having an in app feedback method. He also doesn't seem to respond to Twitter posts, unless they are centered around praising his product.

He reminds me of a fast talking used car salesman. Say whatever it takes to make the sale.

At least his not gonna chicken out like Marco

 

[hank moody]

At least his not gonna chicken out like Marco

you don't know that...

 

[Apple_Robert]

what adblocker do you recommend atm?

i think Crystal is the best.

I like Crystal thus far. It hasn't gotten everything. I have provided recent feedback on a few sites. I will pay close attention as to whether or not the feedback is put into place or ignored, either through no response from the developer or a lack of implementation.

At this point in time, I am still in the testing phase with the content blockers. I think it is way too early to hang my hat on one content blocking app.

 

[joydens]

Even worse, most people don't know that you can even request a refund... and there is no guarantee Apple will issue one.

Just requested mine and got it -

"We have received your request to cancel the purchase of Peace: Block Ads and Trackers, Powered by Ghostery® made on 17 September 2015. You should receive your refund for this app in five to seven working days."

 

[Rogifan]

Btw, if you use Purify you can use the share sheet to whitelist sites. I did it for daringfireball and loopinsight.

 

[Ludatyk]

Btw, if you use Purify you can use the share sheet to whitelist sites. I did it for daringfireball and loopinsight.

Do you use Purify only? Debating on whether to request a refund for Peace... But I have Crystal & Peace installed now.

 

[H.Finch]

Did you try reinstalling iOS 9 to fix the grayed out option?

Not yet... I though of it as a last resort to be honest... Seems kind of brutal to reinstall the whole OS to make one button work. But it might be the only way :S

 

[Trebuin]

I'm looking forward to a 32 bit version for my old iPad 2

 

[Apple_Robert]

Not yet... I though of it as a last resort to be honest... Seems kind of brutal to reinstall the whole OS to make one button work. But it might be the only way :S

You can try doing a hard reset. If that doesn't work, you may have to reinstall.