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This is, in my opinion, shortsighted. It's straightforward to create ads that you can't block on the client so long as you are the server of the ads yourself, a

This is, in my opinion, shortsighted. It's straightforward to create ads that you can't block on the client so long as you are the server of the ads yourself, as Google is. I'm not going to detail how since I don't want anyone on HN to get any ideas and build a business of it, but I'm sure it will happen eventually. For the time being I suspect it's cheaper to keep the current tech running since it brings in enough revenue, but if that ever stops being the case, I expect things not to end well for people who don't like ads. Google search is a good example of this, ads are literally intertwined into the search results, if you take this a few steps further you have ads that you literally can't block on the client.

jefftk 3y ago
I used to work in ads, and I agree this is an arms race that the advertisers could win, at least in cases like YouTube where they control the whole stack. I don't think it would be trivial, but YouTube could do it if they decided to.
- allanwind 3y ago
  Are there any workarounds for smart tv apps (browser, player)? They probably already "won" there and the user experience is horrible.
  - mistermo 3y ago
    Maybe a pihole.
    - HenryBemis 3y ago
      If it is Android, try NoRoot Firewall app.
  - lanuk 3y ago
    SmartTube for Android TV
- xnx 3y ago
  I see the future of streaming video ad avoidance being something like an AI-empowered Tivo, possibly as an HDMI dongle.
lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
> Google search is a good example of this, ads are literally intertwined into the search results, if you take this a few steps further you have ads that you literally can't block on the client. I'm not sure about your "few steps" so this may be moot. Is there no sufficient workaround of this nature? document.querySelector('.waste-of-money')?.remove(); Google might detect that the element was removed; ad blockers use CSS shenanigans to hide the element. Google might detect such shenanigans; ad blockers are forced to change. And so on. Is there really a way for Google to end this cat/mouse game in their favor?
- matsz 3y ago
  > Is there really a way for Google to end this cat/mouse game in their favor? Yet another "update" to the web extension manifest.
  - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
    That will affect a large number of users but if word gets out that this weird fork of Firefox[0] will allow them to view YouTube with no ads, Google is suddenly forced to enable browser attestation such that only versions of Chrome will allow people to use YouTube. That will likely affect those in the US but EU authorities sometimes like to curb these antitrust behaviors. I also get the feeling that such a change will cause them to lose American business to competitors. Amazon seems primed to start eating their lunch with Twitch; they would mostly need to start building and promoting more video on demand features. 0: It sends a "this is totally Chrome" user agent and possibly includes other APIs that YouTube will use.
    - dns_snek 3y ago
      > Amazon seems primed to start eating their lunch with Twitch That seems extremely unlikely, Twitch has already destroyed a lot of the goodwill they had with creators. Policy changes (or attempts) regarding baked-in ads, revenue splits, forced exclusivity, there's probably more.
nine_k 3y ago
As someone who doesn't like ads, I just pay for a premium YouTube subscription for my family. It's not the case with Google search, though, they don't offer me a way to pay. I will rather pay Kagi instead.

jefftk 3y ago

I used to work in ads, and I agree this is an arms race that the advertisers could win, at least in cases like YouTube where they control the whole stack. I don't think it would be trivial, but YouTube could do it if they decided to.

allanwind 3y ago
Are there any workarounds for smart tv apps (browser, player)? They probably already "won" there and the user experience is horrible.
- mistermo 3y ago
  Maybe a pihole.
  - HenryBemis 3y ago
    If it is Android, try NoRoot Firewall app.
- lanuk 3y ago
  SmartTube for Android TV
xnx 3y ago
I see the future of streaming video ad avoidance being something like an AI-empowered Tivo, possibly as an HDMI dongle.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago

> Google search is a good example of this, ads are literally intertwined into the search results, if you take this a few steps further you have ads that you literally can't block on the client. I'm not sure about your "few steps" so this may be moot. Is there no sufficient workaround of this nature? document.querySelector('.waste-of-money')?.remove(); Google might detect that the element was removed; ad blockers use CSS shenanigans to hide the element. Google might detect such shenanigans; ad blockers are forced to change. And so on. Is there really a way for Google to end this cat/mouse game in their favor?

matsz 3y ago
> Is there really a way for Google to end this cat/mouse game in their favor? Yet another "update" to the web extension manifest.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
  That will affect a large number of users but if word gets out that this weird fork of Firefox[0] will allow them to view YouTube with no ads, Google is suddenly forced to enable browser attestation such that only versions of Chrome will allow people to use YouTube. That will likely affect those in the US but EU authorities sometimes like to curb these antitrust behaviors. I also get the feeling that such a change will cause them to lose American business to competitors. Amazon seems primed to start eating their lunch with Twitch; they would mostly need to start building and promoting more video on demand features. 0: It sends a "this is totally Chrome" user agent and possibly includes other APIs that YouTube will use.
  - dns_snek 3y ago
    > Amazon seems primed to start eating their lunch with Twitch That seems extremely unlikely, Twitch has already destroyed a lot of the goodwill they had with creators. Policy changes (or attempts) regarding baked-in ads, revenue splits, forced exclusivity, there's probably more.

nine_k 3y ago

As someone who doesn't like ads, I just pay for a premium YouTube subscription for my family. It's not the case with Google search, though, they don't offer me a way to pay. I will rather pay Kagi instead.