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The iOS 9 Content Blocker thread

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blackboxxx

macrumors regular
Sep 10, 2008
154
118
I tried Adblocker for Safari by Mobotap and I think that the praise it got is undeserved. It's certainly not better than Crystal that got a lot of hate for some reason, and is, in fact, significantly worse:
  • Contrary to the previous claims that it blocks trackers, it doesn't. At least Google Analytics, NewRelic, ScoreCardResearch, Chartbeat, NetShelter and a bunch of other crap are not blocked (Crystal blocks most of these).
  • Blacklist JSON is statically embedded in the app. The only way to update it is through the App Store (Crystal automatically downloads new blacklist from iCloud).
  • No built-in option to report broken site or unblocked ad to developer (Crystal has it in the app itself or via action extension in Safari).
  • No whitelisting.
  • No customisation.
  • The app seems to be designed by 5-yo child for iPhone 6 screen and "Contact us" text at the bottom is cut off on iPhone 5s.
So I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but "Adblocker for Safari" is worse than some other free ad blockers out there. It might get improved in the future, but currently I cannot recommend it.
 
Alex Crane

Alex Crane

macrumors member
Jul 8, 2013
84
15
Moscow, Russia
Hello to everyone.

Until today I used ABP on my desktop computers. From this topic I've read about uBlock, tried it and... It's amazing how fast it is comparing to ABP!!!

Now I'm looking to Purify to buy. But, none of blockers I've tried not passes my personal test - http://fishki.net

Blockers that failed:
  • Crystal
  • AdMop
  • Vivio
  • AdBlocker for Safari Browser
  • Freedom
Can someone test http://fishki.net with Purify and Silentium, please.

P.S.: boots and watches are ads :)


image.png

image.png
 
Apple_Robert

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,671
52,509
In a van down by the river
Alex Crane said:
Hello to everyone.

Until today I used ABP on my desktop computers. From this topic I've read about uBlock, tried it and... It's amazing how fast it is comparing to ABP!!!

Now I'm looking to Purify to buy. But, none of blockers I've tried not passes my personal test - http://fishki.net

Blockers that failed:
  • Crystal
  • AdMop
  • Vivio
  • AdBlocker for Safari Browser
  • Freedom
Can someone test http://fishki.net with Purify and Silentium, please.

P.S.: boots and watches are ads :)


View attachment 584751

View attachment 584752
Click to expand...
I don't read Russian. I tested just now with Purtify and didn't see any ads.

Did it ever occur to you, to report the website to the developers you listed, so that the site can be corrected, instead of tossing apps aside, just because they fail to load one site correctly? That kind of thinking doesn't make sense, in my opinion.
 
KarimLeVallois

KarimLeVallois

macrumors 68030
Feb 22, 2014
2,607
1,772
London
Alex Crane said:
Hello to everyone.

Until today I used ABP on my desktop computers. From this topic I've read about uBlock, tried it and... It's amazing how fast it is comparing to ABP!!!

Now I'm looking to Purify to buy. But, none of blockers I've tried not passes my personal test - http://fishki.net

Blockers that failed:
  • Crystal
  • AdMop
  • Vivio
  • AdBlocker for Safari Browser
  • Freedom
Can someone test http://fishki.net with Purify and Silentium, please.

P.S.: boots and watches are ads :)


View attachment 584751

View attachment 584752
Click to expand...

Didn't see any ads with Silentium
 
Apple_Robert

Apple_Robert

Contributor
Sep 21, 2012
35,671
52,509
In a van down by the river
blackboxxx said:
I tried Adblocker for Safari by Mobotap and I think that the praise it got is undeserved. It's certainly not better than Crystal that got a lot of hate for some reason, and is, in fact, significantly worse:
  • Contrary to the previous claims that it blocks trackers, it doesn't. At least Google Analytics, NewRelic, ScoreCardResearch, Chartbeat, NetShelter and a bunch of other crap are not blocked (Crystal blocks most of these).
  • Blacklist JSON is statically embedded in the app. The only way to update it is through the App Store (Crystal automatically downloads new blacklist from iCloud).
  • No built-in option to report broken site or unblocked ad to developer (Crystal has it in the app itself or via action extension in Safari).
  • No whitelisting.
  • No customisation.
  • The app seems to be designed by 5-yo child for iPhone 6 screen and "Contact us" text at the bottom is cut off on iPhone 5s.
So I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but "Adblocker for Safari" is worse than some other free ad blockers out there. It might get improved in the future, but currently I cannot recommend it.
Click to expand...
There is only one person in the thread (that i have seen) who has called Crystal crap. I wouldn't put any stock in such comments from one person, especially one who appears to vacillate from moment to moment.

If you read my review, you will see that a little more leeway is shown to free apps versus paid apps.

And though the app in question is not perfect, it did a fine job for what it is, not what you, or anyone else thinks it should be, in regards to features it should have etc.

I also note in my reviews, that there is no such thing as an ad-blocker that can block everything. Not everyone traverses to the same websites. As such, what you have a problem with website wise, some others may not.
 
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D

DotCom2

macrumors 603
Feb 22, 2009
6,323
5,636
I'm running Crystal (latest version) on my iPhone 6 Plus and Silentium (latest version) on my iPad Air and I honestly can't tell the difference. They both ran exactly the same at least on the web sites I frequent including this one. (non-scientific test of course).
I'm happy with both.
 
hank moody

hank moody

macrumors 6502a
Jan 18, 2015
722
351
DotCom2 said:
I'm running Crystal (latest version) on my iPhone 6 Plus and Silentium (latest version) on my iPad Air and I honestly can't tell the difference. They both ran exactly the same at least on the web sites I frequent including this one. (non-scientific test of course).
I'm happy with both.
Click to expand...


people outside of USA notice the flaws more often. I can tell you for sure that crystal is much worse than adblock or purify. (i haven't tested silentium; i don't want to buy another adblocker because i am very happy with purify and adblocker).
 
B

blackboxxx

macrumors regular
Sep 10, 2008
154
118
Blacklist is out, $0.99.
Based on only one screenshot and short description, it looks very simplistic for a paid app. But, that might be the whole point.
Anyone tried it out yet?
 
T

tosbsas

macrumors 65816
Nov 22, 2008
1,297
437
Lima, Peru
I know - offtopic - Tapatalk is not woking here. I get notifications but the messages/me/subscriptions says - network not available. Not on wifi and not on 4G
 
scjr

scjr

macrumors 68020
Jan 28, 2013
2,196
1,340
I think I've settled on Silentium. It just checks all the boxes for me, at this point. I'm still trying others and have bought a few, but I keep going back to Silentium.
 
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