Google to bring a built-in ad filter into Chrome next year

In hopes to clean up its browser of “annoying or intrusive advertisements,” Google is creating its own ad filter for Chrome in the coming year. The company doesn’t want to call it an ad blocker as it will just block any pages that have ads that don’t meet Chrome’s guidelines. Examples are videos that auto-play with sound or interstitials that take up an entire screen. Sridhar Ramaswamy, the executive in charge of Google’s ads, says that even ads “owned or served by Google” won’t be exempted. The filter will work for both mobile and desktop. They will introduce a tool that can help publishers determine if the ads they have on their site are in violation of Chrome’s guidelines.

In concept, the idea of an ad filter can be used for good. It’ll help improve performance, since bad ads are known to make browsing slower and more annoying to users—giving you a better experience online. But this also puts into the hands of Google, an ad company, a whole lot of power over what ads we can or can’t see. It can put publishers in a bit of a bind as well as help cement Google’s dominance. But Ramaswamy says their goal is to make online ads better. “We believe these changes will ensure all content creators, big and small, can continue to have a sustainable way to fund their work with online advertising.” But again, we still can’t help but think about the implication of this move.

Google takes down adblocking app for Samsung devices

We reported a few days ago that Samsung's allowing its users to block ads through its mobile browser. Google's dashed those plans though as they pulled adblocking app AdBlock Fast from the Google Play Store. According to the app's developer, Rocket Labs, they got an email from Google Play saying the app breached section 4.4 of an agreement Android developers need to sign. The section says Google doesn't allow any activity that "interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator."

By blocking ads, it's understood that this interferes with third-party services. It's worth noting that Google earns most of its revenue through advertising. And a lot of the web pages accessed through Samsung's browser run ads that make money for Google and other companies or organizations.

Source: The Guardian

Samsung introduces adblocking into its mobile web browser on Android

Samsung is hoping to help out users who don’t want to see any ads on their Galaxy devices with a new over-the-air update. The company updated its web browser on Android for 5.0 users to include the new adblocking capability. If you’re using Chrome, you won’t be able to take advantage of this as it just works on Samsung’s own mobile browser. Developers can build adblocking extensions for Samsung’s browser. The first extension available is Adblock Fast is the first to take advantage of the API and it supposedly raises speeds of loading a page by up to 51 percent on average with ads blocked.

If you’re not a Samsung user but want access to the browser and its adblocking capabilities, Samsung has made it available for Android users running version 5.0 and up. Android 4.0 users should be getting the feature in the coming months.

Source: The Next Web | Download: Adblock Fast (Free) + Samsung Internet (Free)

Apple issues refunds for iOS9 ad blocking app Peace

After gaining popularity and skyrocketing to the top of the iTunes charts, the Peace ad blocking app for iOS 9 was taken out of circulation by its developer Marco Arment. He didn’t like that it was the approach for blocking ads was “too blunt” and that all ads shouldn’t be treated the same. Initially, refunds for the pulled out app was done via request because developers can’t forcibly issue them. But now, Apple is moving forward with offering refunds for everyone. If you’ve bought the app, expect an email from Apple informing you of your refund. The processing should take a few days.

Source: Marco Arment | Via: The Next Web