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God. I just stopped opening the play store. Everything is ads and autoplaying videos. I added the update shortcut to homescreen to go straight to updates

by ffpip 6y ago

Marsymars 6y ago
Sadly the App Store also has ads and no way to deep link to updates.
- wlesieutre 6y ago
  It’s possible, just not obvious. Create a Shortcut with the “Open URL” action and point it to “itms-apps://apps.apple.com/updates” You can then add the shortcut to your home screen, run it from the shortcuts widget, via search, etc.
  - adav 6y ago
    Where does one find more of these secret URLs?
    - wlesieutre 6y ago
      Federico Viticci at MacStories is the author to search for on all things Shortcuts. I found that one here: https://www.macstories.net/ios/shortcuts-corner-apple-frames-for-iphone-11-and-11-pro-app-store-updates-page-logging-completed-reminders-and-time-zones/ https://www.macstories.net/ios/shortcuts-corner-apple-frames... He also has a list of links for the Settings app here: https://www.macstories.net/ios/a-comprehensive-guide-to-all-120-settings-urls-supported-by-ios-and-ipados-13-1/ https://www.macstories.net/ios/a-comprehensive-guide-to-all-...
      - adav 6y ago
        Thank you :)
        wlesieutre 6y ago
        I was underselling it a bit with “not obvious.” It’s more like “requires secret magics.“
Dahoon 6y ago
I have never seen an add or a video on Google Play except a line of "Suggested for you" apps which I guess are paid for? The only videos are after clicking an app and then they have never ever started playing automatically. Must be either a regional thing, a custom per phone brand or something like it. Neither my OnePlus or Google phones have it.
- Marsymars 6y ago
  > I have never seen an add or a video on Google Play except a line of "Suggested for you" apps which I guess are paid for? Yes, those are absolutely ads, they're explicitly labelled as such. And they're not very subtle, there's another double-tall row of them every other page when scrolling through the Play Store. There are also ads for other apps on every app page, and ads for search results. The search result ads are egregious - e.g. if I search for a major bank app, the first several results are for competing banks, they're barely differentiated from the legitimate results, and they're explicitly not what I'm looking for. I feel like I'm at an awful bazaar where I know what I want but slimy merchants keep yelling at me and getting in my way to shove their junk in my face. I'd pay $10/m just to get rid of ads on the Play Store and Google Maps. > The only videos are after clicking an app and then they have never ever started playing automatically. There's a Play Store setting for controlling autoplay of videos. > Neither my OnePlus or Google phones have it. Play Store is a Google App, phone manufacturer has no impact.
- ffpip 6y ago
  When you open the GPlay Store, 50% of the screen is ads. When you open an app listing, the bottom is filled with ads for competitors.
pmontra 6y ago
This is not my experience but 1. I use the store only for free apps 2. I use Blockada which blocks ads even inside apps https://blokada.org/ https://blokada.org/ Download it from F-Droid, not from the Play Store. Google doesn't allow the full functionality version on its store.
- ffpip 6y ago
  I already use adaway. Have a rooted android
literallycancer 6y ago
Use Aurora store. Use an adblock.
- ffpip 6y ago
  I use both. Adblock doesnt stop play store ads. HTTPS. Play store is needed for buying apps. Can't do that from aurora store without a risk of your Googz Account getting banned.
  - literallycancer 6y ago
    What kind of play store ads? I have AdAway and don't get any ads. It needs root though. You could buy apps from a desktop browser and just configure the account details in Aurora for the paid apps? I haven't heard of anyone getting banned.
    - ffpip 6y ago
      I too use Adaway with custom lists. However you can't block playstore ads via DNS blocking/Hosts method. Because you need to install your own certificates to read HTTPS traffic on android (which is what AdGuard does, very risky) The aurora dev's account gets frequently banned. Look into is telegram group.

God. I just stopped opening the play store. Everything is ads and autoplaying videos. I added the update shortcut to homescreen to go straight to updates

by ffpip 6y ago

God. I just stopped opening the play store. Everything is ads and autoplaying videos. I added the update shortcut to homescreen to go straight to updates

Marsymars 6y ago

Sadly the App Store also has ads and no way to deep link to updates.

wlesieutre 6y ago
It’s possible, just not obvious. Create a Shortcut with the “Open URL” action and point it to “itms-apps://apps.apple.com/updates” You can then add the shortcut to your home screen, run it from the shortcuts widget, via search, etc.
- adav 6y ago
  Where does one find more of these secret URLs?
  - wlesieutre 6y ago
    Federico Viticci at MacStories is the author to search for on all things Shortcuts. I found that one here: https://www.macstories.net/ios/shortcuts-corner-apple-frames-for-iphone-11-and-11-pro-app-store-updates-page-logging-completed-reminders-and-time-zones/ https://www.macstories.net/ios/shortcuts-corner-apple-frames... He also has a list of links for the Settings app here: https://www.macstories.net/ios/a-comprehensive-guide-to-all-120-settings-urls-supported-by-ios-and-ipados-13-1/ https://www.macstories.net/ios/a-comprehensive-guide-to-all-...
    - adav 6y ago
      Thank you :)
      - wlesieutre 6y ago
        I was underselling it a bit with “not obvious.” It’s more like “requires secret magics.“

Dahoon 6y ago

I have never seen an add or a video on Google Play except a line of "Suggested for you" apps which I guess are paid for? The only videos are after clicking an app and then they have never ever started playing automatically. Must be either a regional thing, a custom per phone brand or something like it. Neither my OnePlus or Google phones have it.

Marsymars 6y ago
> I have never seen an add or a video on Google Play except a line of "Suggested for you" apps which I guess are paid for? Yes, those are absolutely ads, they're explicitly labelled as such. And they're not very subtle, there's another double-tall row of them every other page when scrolling through the Play Store. There are also ads for other apps on every app page, and ads for search results. The search result ads are egregious - e.g. if I search for a major bank app, the first several results are for competing banks, they're barely differentiated from the legitimate results, and they're explicitly not what I'm looking for. I feel like I'm at an awful bazaar where I know what I want but slimy merchants keep yelling at me and getting in my way to shove their junk in my face. I'd pay $10/m just to get rid of ads on the Play Store and Google Maps. > The only videos are after clicking an app and then they have never ever started playing automatically. There's a Play Store setting for controlling autoplay of videos. > Neither my OnePlus or Google phones have it. Play Store is a Google App, phone manufacturer has no impact.
ffpip 6y ago
When you open the GPlay Store, 50% of the screen is ads. When you open an app listing, the bottom is filled with ads for competitors.

pmontra 6y ago

This is not my experience but 1. I use the store only for free apps 2. I use Blockada which blocks ads even inside apps https://blokada.org/ https://blokada.org/ Download it from F-Droid, not from the Play Store. Google doesn't allow the full functionality version on its store.

ffpip 6y ago
I already use adaway. Have a rooted android

literallycancer 6y ago

Use Aurora store. Use an adblock.

ffpip 6y ago
I use both. Adblock doesnt stop play store ads. HTTPS. Play store is needed for buying apps. Can't do that from aurora store without a risk of your Googz Account getting banned.
- literallycancer 6y ago
  What kind of play store ads? I have AdAway and don't get any ads. It needs root though. You could buy apps from a desktop browser and just configure the account details in Aurora for the paid apps? I haven't heard of anyone getting banned.
  - ffpip 6y ago
    I too use Adaway with custom lists. However you can't block playstore ads via DNS blocking/Hosts method. Because you need to install your own certificates to read HTTPS traffic on android (which is what AdGuard does, very risky) The aurora dev's account gets frequently banned. Look into is telegram group.