The iOS 9 Content Blocker thread

[hank moody]

Purify is 11.8 MB according to the app store.

Nope.

23.1mb

 

[scjr]

Surely the numbers (measured by the dev himself, I guess?) are completely unbiased.

I've tried 7 blockers thus far and Purify is the fastest of them all, but I can definitely understand why you would think it's a biased graph.

 

[scjr]

I really detest this agressive twitter marketing, but for my usage purify is faster than Crystal and Blockr. I have no idea what kind of developer voodoo magic is going on, but somehow their handpicked list is very fast.

I agree. BasicGreatGuy mentioned the same thing. Whatever he's doing, it's different from the rest.

 

[Rigby]

Honestly I don't notice much difference in speed at all between the 3 blockers I have tried so far. To get a real picture you'd have to run tests across at least a dozen sites, always clearing the Safari cache between switching blockers etc. I'm way too lazy for that.

 

[vajrakagyu]

Tried most of them. Purify is the most effective and fastest.

 

[Tourgott]

Anyone know when BlockParty is released as an App? Or is there any other Content Blocker for iPhone 5? Thanks

 

[Rigby]

Anyone know when BlockParty is released as an App? Or is there any other Content Blocker for iPhone 5? Thanks

No iOS 9 content blocker that works on the iPhone 5 will be released on the app store, as per Apple's policy to only approve them for 64-bit devices. The only way is to compile and install it yourself via Xcode.

 

[kat.hayes]

With Crystal, is there a way to temporarily disable it if a page does not render correctly?

Is there a way to tell what it is actually doing on any given page? Ex: blocking cookies, tracking scripts, etc.

 

[doboy]

With Crystal, is there a way to temporarily disable it if a page does not render correctly?

Is there a way to tell what it is actually doing on any given page? Ex: blocking cookies, tracking scripts, etc.

Hold down the reload button in the address bar

 

[Warbrain]

Hold down the refresh button in the address bar

This stands for all content blockers if I remember right.

 

[doboy]

This stands for all content blockers if I remember right.

Yup, but that's the only way for Crystal

 

[Che Castro]

9h9 hours ago
Peter Binderup ‏@pbinderup
@purify_app please consider a way to report broken sites. Here in Denmark bt.dk is a good test site that blocks many blockers (ipad version)

Purify App– ‏@purify_app
@pbinderup Hi Peter! Of course — that's coming in an update quite soon.

 

[ohio.emt]

I have and am loving Purify. Is there any reason to get an additional blocker?

I have Blockr running still, with just the privacy blocker, but mainly the cookie warning blocker.

 

[Tourgott]

No iOS 9 content blocker that works on the iPhone 5 will be released on the app store, as per Apple's policy to only approve them for 64-bit devices. The only way is to compile and install it yourself via Xcode.

So first page is wrong? It says BlockParty will be released in the AppStore.

 

[Rigby]

So first page is wrong? It says BlockParty will be released in the AppStore.

It may well be released, but it will only be available for 64-bit devices. If you check the system requirements for the other iOS 9 content blocker extensions in the store, you'll see that none of them includes the iPhone 5.

 

[ardchoille50]

So first page is wrong? It says BlockParty will be released in the AppStore.

If it is released in the app store as a content blocker for iOS 9, it will work only on 64-bit devices. The first page doesn't yet mention architecture (32-bit vs 64-bit), or whether it will be a content blocker or a stand-alone browser.

 

[Tourgott]

Ok, thanks. That really sucks

 

[ardchoille50]

Ok, thanks. That really sucks

Well, regardless of what you buy, or when you buy it, you're going to run into limitations at some point - especially in an industry that moves this quickly.

 

[DanEp]

As already mentioned AdMop is free for a short time "Get AdMop while it is free!", Vivio seems just to be free because it has in-app purchases, which AdMop does not have.

still wondering why AdMop needs iCloud. Any ideas? I wrote AdMop support but have yet to hear back.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Vivio is another free content blocker (with free in app purchase for a limited time). The app is easy to maneuver with user toggles limited to General ad blocking “(which the app notes blocks the most commonly used ad systems (like Google Adsense) and additional ads on many popular websites.” There are also toggles for Privacy protection - “Blocks tracking scripts to protect your privacy” as well as a Social filters toggle which “blocks tracking scripts from social networks and social features like the Facebook like button.” In addition to the aforementioned toggles, the app also provides Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Polish and Greek filters.

Every time you open the app, Vivio looks to update the blocking filter. At the time of the view, there were just over 14,000 different filters in the app.

Vivio does not provide in app feedback, or some of the other features found in Purify, Crystal, Blockr or 1Blocker.

Vivio was put through the same website test as blockers in previous reviews. It does not block sponsored ads like Purify. Unlike Crystal, it was able to properly render Yahoo’s new photo carousel properly. In regards to Macrumors, iMore, The Verge, and most other sites, Vivio did not block ads. Load times for Vivio were much slower than the previous blockers reviewed, due to the fact that it failed to block ads etc.

Members who seek to make use of the foreign filter(s) may yield better result than the default filter used.

In my opinion, Vivio failed the test. Even though it is free with temporarily free upgrade to in app purchase, I don’t recommend this content blocker to U.S. citizens at this point in time.


Edited to amend review due to settings in the app that did not show the first time: Whitelisting is provided. If you want to be able to block Clickbait or tracking scripts, it will cost $0.99 each. You can also add custom filters.
Grade F

 

[ardchoille50]

Vivio is another free content blocker (with free in app purchase for a limited time). The app is easy to maneuver with user toggles limited to General ad blocking “(which the app notes blocks the most commonly used ad systems (like Google Adsense) and additional ads on many popular websites.” There is also a toggles for Privacy protection - “Blocks tracking scripts to protect your privacy” as well as a Social filters toggle which “blocks tracking scripts from social networks and social features like the Facebook like button.” In addition to the aforementioned toggles, the app also provides Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Polish and Greek filters.

Vivio does not provide in app feedback, Whitelisting, or some of the other features found in Blockr or 1Blocker.

Vivio was put through the same website test as blockers in previous reviews. It does not block sponsored ads like Purify. Unlike Crystal, it was able to properly render Yahoo’s new photo carousel properly. In regards to Macrumors, iMore, The Verge, and most other sites, Vivio did not block ads. Load times for Vivio were much slower than the previous blockers reviewed, due to the fact that it failed to block ads etc.

Members who seek to make use of the foreign filter(s) may yield better result than the default filter used.

In my opinion, Vivio failed the test. Even though it is free with temporarily free upgrade to in app purchase, I don’t recommend this content blocker to U.S. citizens at this point in time.

Grade F

I am greatly enjoying your reviews, the information you're providing is extremely helpful. Thank you very much for your time and trouble.

I'm wondering if it would be helpful to place all of your reviews in a dedicated thread so as to keep users from having to wade through too many unrelated posts. If so, I would vote that your thread be made a sticky for now.

 

[Tourgott]

Well, regardless of what you buy, or when you buy it, you're going to run into limitations at some point - especially in an industry that moves this quickly.

Yes but these limitations are obviously artificial because the Apps seem to work on the iPhone 5, don't they?

 

[deeznuts]

I'm loving Purify, probably the fastest of the lot I've tried including crystal. Have not tried freedom yet, is there any real advantage in adding freedom to the mix?

Freedom with Purify seems like its way faster & blocks even more ads on different sites

 

[tophril]

Vivio is another free content blocker (with free in app purchase for a limited time). The app is easy to maneuver with user toggles limited to General ad blocking “(which the app notes blocks the most commonly used ad systems (like Google Adsense) and additional ads on many popular websites.” There is also a toggles for Privacy protection - “Blocks tracking scripts to protect your privacy” as well as a Social filters toggle which “blocks tracking scripts from social networks and social features like the Facebook like button.” In addition to the aforementioned toggles, the app also provides Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Polish and Greek filters.

Every time you open the app, Vivio looks to update the blocking filter. At the time of the view, there were just over 14,000 different filters in the app.

Vivio does not provide in app feedback, Whitelisting, or some of the other features found in Purify, Crystal, Blockr or 1Blocker.

Vivio was put through the same website test as blockers in previous reviews. It does not block sponsored ads like Purify. Unlike Crystal, it was able to properly render Yahoo’s new photo carousel properly. In regards to Macrumors, iMore, The Verge, and most other sites, Vivio did not block ads. Load times for Vivio were much slower than the previous blockers reviewed, due to the fact that it failed to block ads etc.

Members who seek to make use of the foreign filter(s) may yield better result than the default filter used.

In my opinion, Vivio failed the test. Even though it is free with temporarily free upgrade to in app purchase, I don’t recommend this content blocker to U.S. citizens at this point in time.

Grade F

Yes, thank you for your reviews. I appreciate them tremendously. It's interesting that you only had 14k filters. I had over 40k when I was using it. I did switch back to Crystal when others mentioned it wasn't blocking sponsored ads, though.

If you have time, please also review Admop. Thanks

 

[DanEp]

Vivio is another free content blocker (with free in app purchase for a limited time). The app is easy to maneuver with user toggles limited to General ad blocking “(which the app notes blocks the most commonly used ad systems (like Google Adsense) and additional ads on many popular websites.” There is also a toggles for Privacy protection - “Blocks tracking scripts to protect your privacy” as well as a Social filters toggle which “blocks tracking scripts from social networks and social features like the Facebook like button.” In addition to the aforementioned toggles, the app also provides Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Polish and Greek filters.

Every time you open the app, Vivio looks to update the blocking filter. At the time of the view, there were just over 14,000 different filters in the app.

Vivio does not provide in app feedback, Whitelisting, or some of the other features found in Purify, Crystal, Blockr or 1Blocker.

Vivio was put through the same website test as blockers in previous reviews. It does not block sponsored ads like Purify. Unlike Crystal, it was able to properly render Yahoo’s new photo carousel properly. In regards to Macrumors, iMore, The Verge, and most other sites, Vivio did not block ads. Load times for Vivio were much slower than the previous blockers reviewed, due to the fact that it failed to block ads etc.

Members who seek to make use of the foreign filter(s) may yield better result than the default filter used.

In my opinion, Vivio failed the test. Even though it is free with temporarily free upgrade to in app purchase, I don’t recommend this content blocker to U.S. citizens at this point in time.

Grade F

How do you test load times? And thanks for your reviews!