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9 seconds of page load for ads is unacceptable. Mobile browsing has become a pita because of all those poor ads network, and i think once again (after the flash

by bsaul 11y ago

9 seconds of page load for ads is unacceptable. Mobile browsing has become a pita because of all those poor ads network, and i think once again (after the flash controversy) apple is going to save the web by making radical decisions like this one. It may very well be that mobile web content browsing becomes even more pleasant than using native apps thanks to that, since they too seem to fall for the trend of putting the maximum number of ads possible. Only with native you'll never be able to block anything easily.

joosters 11y ago
If Apple wanted to, they could let the content blockers work for native apps as well. All in-app ads that I have seen are loaded over the same HTTP mechanisms. I guess they have chosen not to do so.
- zimpenfish 11y ago
  I'd be amazed if the SDK's UIWebView (whatever it's called these days) didn't have access to this in some future release. I doubt they'd apply it to generic HTTP calls on apps though - it would ruin the ad-supported app ecosystem and Apple aren't that daft.
  - _jsn 11y ago
    SFSafariViewController (the new API for presenting a Safari-like browser inside your app) already does support content blocking.
neor 11y ago
Apple isn't doing this to save the web, they are doing this so developers will be forced to create a native app to show ads and make some money. Easiest way to show ads in a native app on iOS... oh wouldn't that be iAd service in which Apple gets a cut of the profit?
- bsaul 11y ago
  Don't know why you got downvoted, as it's a valid counterpoint. You may be right, and that's maybe what some people at Apple may think. But i don't think it's right. Ad-supported business model is ubiquituous, and there are loads of companies who have a vital interest into finding new ways to put ads in web content. What i think is that by making it harder to put ads in mobile web content, they'll make it more expensive as well, and thus push toward higher quality ad networks ( better targeting, better speed, better content). Just like the end of flash saw an increase of quality SPA HTML5 frameworks.
- stephenr 11y ago
  I think this fits in very well with Apple's recent push on its pro-privacy stance. The WWDC session for this feature specifically highlights a major privacy issue this can help solve: blocking privacy-invading tracking scripts. It's completely possible to show ads without tracking every move the user makes across the web.
- Sephiroth87 11y ago
  And I'm fine with that, at least iAD doesn't make an app load a page 9 seconds slower...
- josho 11y ago
  I think Apple is doing this more as a shot at Google than for revenue. Specifically, Steve Jobs was enraged that Google entered the smartphone market, ever since Apple has been positioning products to erode Google's position. E.g. Apple Maps, removal of the youtube app, iAds, now the ability to block ads.
- Tloewald 11y ago
  Apple is probably doing it first and foremost to improve browser performance, battery life, and user experience. That's how they make money. If users like their products they buy more products. No conspiracy theory needed.
- Kurtz79 11y ago
  I really don't get your point, with a native app the developer has full control of what is being shown, if anything ad ad-blocker would steer users more towards a clean web browers than an ad infested native app. As a real world example, the (otherwise excellent) Twitch app on iOs serves unskippable minute long video ads with an annoying frequency, so much that I often prefer using the service through an ad-blocking web browser (which btw DO exist on the App Store, and have been for a while already).

by bsaul 11y ago

joosters 11y ago

If Apple wanted to, they could let the content blockers work for native apps as well. All in-app ads that I have seen are loaded over the same HTTP mechanisms. I guess they have chosen not to do so.

zimpenfish 11y ago
I'd be amazed if the SDK's UIWebView (whatever it's called these days) didn't have access to this in some future release. I doubt they'd apply it to generic HTTP calls on apps though - it would ruin the ad-supported app ecosystem and Apple aren't that daft.
- _jsn 11y ago
  SFSafariViewController (the new API for presenting a Safari-like browser inside your app) already does support content blocking.

neor 11y ago

Apple isn't doing this to save the web, they are doing this so developers will be forced to create a native app to show ads and make some money. Easiest way to show ads in a native app on iOS... oh wouldn't that be iAd service in which Apple gets a cut of the profit?

bsaul 11y ago
Don't know why you got downvoted, as it's a valid counterpoint. You may be right, and that's maybe what some people at Apple may think. But i don't think it's right. Ad-supported business model is ubiquituous, and there are loads of companies who have a vital interest into finding new ways to put ads in web content. What i think is that by making it harder to put ads in mobile web content, they'll make it more expensive as well, and thus push toward higher quality ad networks ( better targeting, better speed, better content). Just like the end of flash saw an increase of quality SPA HTML5 frameworks.
stephenr 11y ago
I think this fits in very well with Apple's recent push on its pro-privacy stance. The WWDC session for this feature specifically highlights a major privacy issue this can help solve: blocking privacy-invading tracking scripts. It's completely possible to show ads without tracking every move the user makes across the web.
Sephiroth87 11y ago
And I'm fine with that, at least iAD doesn't make an app load a page 9 seconds slower...
josho 11y ago
I think Apple is doing this more as a shot at Google than for revenue. Specifically, Steve Jobs was enraged that Google entered the smartphone market, ever since Apple has been positioning products to erode Google's position. E.g. Apple Maps, removal of the youtube app, iAds, now the ability to block ads.
Tloewald 11y ago
Apple is probably doing it first and foremost to improve browser performance, battery life, and user experience. That's how they make money. If users like their products they buy more products. No conspiracy theory needed.
Kurtz79 11y ago
I really don't get your point, with a native app the developer has full control of what is being shown, if anything ad ad-blocker would steer users more towards a clean web browers than an ad infested native app. As a real world example, the (otherwise excellent) Twitch app on iOs serves unskippable minute long video ads with an annoying frequency, so much that I often prefer using the service through an ad-blocking web browser (which btw DO exist on the App Store, and have been for a while already).