The iOS 9 Content Blocker thread

[saratoga172]

Wow Crystal does make TechCrunch run smoothly! Runs much faster too.

I had to close Safari from the task switcher (double click home button) to clear out Safari and get the blocker to work. After that smooth sailing

 

[niewiesznic]

Is there any content blocker that works with iPad 4 gen Retina?

 

[Rigby]

crystal is working fine & its free, does blockr have any advantages over crystal that justifies the $1.20 for it.? looking at it on app store isnt enough

It's a little more configurable. And most importantly, it allows you to whitelist sites. I find that crucial. I think Crystal takes the "set it and forget it" approach a bit too far.

Still waiting for 1Blocker (which looks like it will have the most detailed configuration options). I'd also like to try Purify, but I think it's too expensive to blind-buy, so I'll wait for some more feedback from others.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It's a little more configurable. And most importantly, it allows you to whitelist sites. I find that crucial. I think Crystal takes the "set it and forget it" approach a bit too far.

Still waiting for 1Blocker (which looks like it will have the most detailed configuration options). I'd also like to try Purify, but I think it's too expensive to blind-buy, so I'll wait for some more feedback from others.

I am interested in trying 1Blocker as well. I like the idea of being able to create rules on the fly, along with the other features. Still hasn't hit the U.S. store yet.

 

[Swampbaby985]

www.theverge.com seems like an ad nightmare.

www.facebook.com

 

[pearvsapple]

Those can't block Youtube ads unfortunately. First to do it gets my dollar.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Those can't block Youtube ads unfortunately. First to do it gets my dollar.

Post a link to a YouTube video with ads. I haven't seen any thus far.

Here is a video with an ad at the beginning. It is not seen with Crystal loaded.

 

[dugbug]

I popped the $ for purify. It's rating is 4+ so I could install it on my kids iPhone and keep safari restricted (crystal is rated 17+ and Safari seems to check this)

It has a whitelist extension for safari and works fantastic overall.

I wish I could whitelist ads only and keep trackers blocked. Otherwise it works great.

 

[nutmac]

Marco Arment's Peace is out, which many reviewers are calling it the best content blocker out. It's a $2.99 paid app.

 

[dugbug]

Post a link to a YouTube video with ads. I haven't seen any thus far.

Here is a video with an ad at the beginning. It is not seen with Crystal loaded.

I don't see an ad with standard safari either

 

[dugbug]

Marco Arment's Peace is out, which many reviewers are calling it the best content blocker out. It's a $2.99 paid app.

Only for tracking as far as I can tell?

It uses the ghostery Dbase which is outstanding though

 

[funkymonkeyboy]

Crystal is number 8 in the UK AppStore utilities chart. 40 X 5 star reviews.

 

[steve62388]

Anyone with Purify installed? Can you please test www.courier.co.uk on iPhone?

Crystal works. (On iPad mini retina).

 

[thatJohann]

Marco Arment's Peace is out, which many reviewers are calling it the best content blocker out. It's a $2.99 paid app.

I tried it. still not as good as Blockr

 

[Bkxmnr]

Is anyone having problems viewing the gawker.com family of websites. I'm running blockr on my iPad Air 2. Nothing loads at all. Even if I load with content blocker. Is gawker trying to punish ad block users?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Is anyone having problems viewing the gawker.com family of websites. I'm running blockr on my iPad Air 2. Nothing loads at all. Even if I load with content blocker. Is gawker trying to punish ad block users?

Loads for me just fine using Crystal, Freedom, or Blockr.

 

[Apple_Robert]

1Blocker is finally available in the U.S. store.

I just created 2 blocking rules on the fly in 1Blocker. It you want to keep it simple, it is as easy as cut and paste the url. You can get more technical.

 

[anshuvorty]

Marco Arment has been solid developer IMHO - Overcast runs fantastic and I am sure that Peace will be the same! Glad he decided to go with Ghostery as that it is a solid extension and dbase overall.

 

[HiRez]

I’m also having this issue on 9.1 PB ... there is no “content blocker” option in my preferences. Am I doing it wrong?

EDIT:

yep, you have to download one first, then the setting magically appears in Preferences > Safari > Content Blockers.

This is pretty confusing, I had the same problem. And it's weird because if you use the new Settings Search, it even comes up with Safari > Content Blockers, but when you tap it, it brings you to nothing (just the Safari settings page where it's missing). At the least it should take you to the CB page telling you you need to download one, with a link to the App Store.

A shame they don't run on older devices, ironically the ones that should benefit most from the reduction in resource usage and increased speed.

 

[SoYoung]

Crystal did not work even if I turn on the switch until I opened up the app itself for the first time. Do we have to open the app everytime we reboot our phone or just once and its good?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Crystal did not work even if I turn on the switch until I opened up the app itself for the first time. Do we have to open the app everytime we reboot our phone or just once and its good?

I don't have the app, but normally, once is enough with apps of that nature.

 

[lagwagon]

Crystal did not work even if I turn on the switch until I opened up the app itself for the first time. Do we have to open the app everytime we reboot our phone or just once and its good?

Pretty sure just once. And every now and then to get updated block list version. (Should be on 4 right now)

 

[Yun0]

Crystal did not work even if I turn on the switch until I opened up the app itself for the first time. Do we have to open the app everytime we reboot our phone or just once and its good?

just tried it, its still working without opening the app again. i have background refresh off for everything as well which means i have to open the app to check for block list updates

 

[lagwagon]

just tried it, its still working without opening the app again. i have background refresh off for everything as well

With background refresh off (and if you don't leave it always in the app switcher) you will have to open the app for it occasionally to get any new versions of the block list. Just as a note.

 

[Rigby]

Crystal did not work even if I turn on the switch until I opened up the app itself for the first time. Do we have to open the app everytime we reboot our phone or just once and its good?

You need to open it once to give it an opportunity to download the filter list. From then on, I think it uses background refresh to update automatically if you have that enabled in the settings. Otherwise you should open it from time to time.

This will be similar for all blocker apps that can update their filter list without an app update.