>I'll bet Apple won't consider "Install from Apple Store" type messages as ads."
Which for me, is the worst kind. When you accidentally click an ad (sometimes unbeknownst to you) and suddenly the browser is closing and iTunes is opening, trying to get you to install Game of War...
That said, if ad-blocking works on iOS, I think much of what he writes comes true. It will be interesting.
> I worry about the internet a hell of a lot more on IPhones than I do on androids, because I can't install a proper adblocker, because of Apples anti-competitive policies regarding browsers (the ad blocking api's in safari are gimped compared to firefox).
This is silly. Who determines what a "proper adblocker" is? There are plenty of adblockers available for iOS. In fact, you can even use Firefox AS an adblocker.
>The market share of iOS also has increased a bit, and iOS does not allow ad blocking very easily. You have to configure some sorta DNS-based ad blocking, which is harder than the traditional desktop firefox/chrome adblockers to install.
Are you considering installing a content blocker not easy? Or not ad blocking? Firefox Focus is free and a few taps away from the app store.
Seems easier to me than installing ublock origin on desktops. Which people can easily be misled into installing ublock, or adblocker, or any the other scammy ones that do not really block ads or do something else nefarious. It is harder for a non technical user to get fooled by an iOS content blocker.
I really want to like Safari and I try every release, but I can't use it for more than a few minutes because the adverts that get through are just so unbelievably bad (to someone that isn't used to seeing any). The Apple-recommended strategy of using simple OS-level Content Blockers just doesn't cut it unfortunately. It's such a shame (to me) that all that developer effort on Safari is effectively wasted because of the relentless scurge of ads.
I understand why Apple decided to prevent the install of integrated Ad blockers directly in the browser because it's a security risk, but the reality is that the web is unusable without them. I really hope that there is an Apple Engineer reading this, and that some day Apple will find a solution :-)
Perhaps the solution is as simple as Apple curating their own approved blocking database similar to that used by popular adblockers and baking it into Safari in a secure fashion. Then again, that might open them to legal challenges.
> Interestingly, installing ad blocking is harder in the mobile though (requires a separate browser)
I think this will change soon - at least on iOS if Apple takes ad-blocking to it's natural end. The not-so-subtle Apple v Google (and Google v. MS) strategic corporate warfare has been enlightening and entertaining to me. I had no idea corps would shake hands for the cameras whilst stabbing each other in the back concurrently.
> Companies built around an advertising model should detect and reject Apple browsers.
Not sure why this gets repeated. iOS users whether you like it or not are a significant percentage of users (especially on mobile). They skew higher socio economically and are far more likely to spend money for content. There is a reason why iOS is the primary platform for development.
Companies should instead look at WHY people would want to block ads. They are often poorly implemented on mobile e.g. cover content or are unable to be dismissed. They don't take into account people are generally skimming through content. And they excessively drain the battery.
> But we've already had examples of ad-blocking companies doing deals with advertisers to whitelist URLs and I simply don't trust them not to on-sell my browser history.
As I recall, uBlock Origin originated as a direct response to ad-blockers engaging in exactly this behavior.
Content blockers are nice, but I’m going to have to agree they are necessary but insufficient on my phone. uBlock Origin as it exists in say Firefox is pretty much exactly what I want and I’d be able to probably uninstall every other ad-blocking extension. I appreciate that Apple tried this approach initially but it’s time to change course and allow more powerful ad-blockers to also exist.
> The issue with deeper and deeper ad blocking technology is that you're going to end up putting more and more trust into your ad blocker.
To be honest, I trust my ad blocker more than I trust Apple.
This is not a joke. Remember that Apple takes literally billions of dollars per year in payoff to make Google the default search engine in Safari. Apple's interests are not exactly aligned with mine.
> My ad blocking app uses a VPN configuration so it works in every single app on my iPhone.
I would never trust an ad blocking app with all my traffic data and who the hell knows what else besides the VPN configuration it's installing in that profile.
Installing an iOS configuration profile is more or less equivalent to handing out physical unlocked access to whoever made that profile you've just installed.
I'm not saying your VPN-based Ad-Blocker is doing this. I'm saying they could. And just them having that capability is enough for me to never hand them that capability in the first place.
> Because content blockers are fine for the majority of users, IMO.
This seems like putting the cart before the horse, no? Apple is in a good position to change this and chose not to. Personally it changed the internet for me when I could right click ? block content forever. Meanwhile I haven’t found any content blocker on ios or safari that successfully blocks all ads. Even firefox focus lets some through.
There’s a reason they’re focusing on “privacy” and not “ad blocking”.
> I'm going to not share your content, and others will do the same, and you'll see readership drop
The point is that you're extrapolating your intent and level of control to the rest of the internet audience, which you're not colluding with.
The ad-blocking at OS level is arguably even easier to detect than browser-based. It also doesn't stop advertising in apps, which is an example of how Apple is incentivized to keep advertising for it's own platform (i.e. Apple is looking out for #1 when it comes to blocking ads, not you).
>And nobody cares to give you a good adblocking solution out of the box. Google makes money by ads so I guess they'll never change that.
I've never used an apple device, but does apple give you that ? The problem you are describing is a general one due to overlapping roles of all hardware and software makers. Everyone wants ad and data money.
> iOS apps are full of "you have one unread message!"
Android isn't any better.
I have used adblock for years now, practically since I started using the internet. About 2 sites are whitelisted: hackaday and reddit. They show reasonable ads. I absolutely hate flamboyant flashing ads. Especially those that go full-screen on mouse-over.
If all ads where like the ads on reddit and HaD I wouldn't complain, I proably wouldn't even have an adblocker. But that malicious bulk? No thank you.
>It's basically only actually useful for locked down platforms like certain fruit-flavored mobile devices that don't allow their users to install a proper ad blocker
Which for me, is the worst kind. When you accidentally click an ad (sometimes unbeknownst to you) and suddenly the browser is closing and iTunes is opening, trying to get you to install Game of War...
That said, if ad-blocking works on iOS, I think much of what he writes comes true. It will be interesting.
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