Slashdot Mirror
Samsung's AdBlock Fast Removed From the Play Store (androidheadlines.com)
New submitter Alexander Maxham writes with the news reported at Android Headlines that Samsung's ad-blocking Android app called AdBlock Fast "was apparently ousted from the Play Store for violating section 4.4 of the Developer Distribution Agreement, stating that an app cannot disrupt or interfere with devices, networks or other parties' apps and services. (Also noted by Engadget.)
app cannot disrupt or interfere with devices, networks or other parties' apps and services.
Oooh, ooh, can an app mess with my internet connection by loading many ads? So anything that uses the device bandwidth excessively could also be banned now?
What's so crazy about it? Google makes almost all of their money from advertising and Apple makes practically none of theirs that way. Is it that difficult to see that one company would rather sell you a cheap device that serves plenty of ads and the other would rather you pay a premium for a device that will block all the ads?
No, you took stupid pills. As is so fondly said around here: Follow the money.
Apple's customer base want something that "just works" and lacks clutter. They'll pay a premium for this.
Google's customer base doesn't mind advertisements and are willing to put up with them as long as it keeps the apps and devices on the cheap.
While Slashdotters may disagree, these are the facts for about 95% of Android's user base. Most of them don't give a fuck about open source or custom distros, they like getting a cheaper device and free apps.
Oh yeah, all you have to do is this and that.
"This and that" is tick one box, that is present in the settings.
That is why I say "in spirit"
And you are wrong. If they were the same "in spirit" they wouldn't GIVE you the option to load apps from anywhere else on a silver platter.
Android is about as open as iOS.
No, android is a LOT more open than iOS.
Can I opt to use an alternative app store like fdroid or the humblebundle store on android? Yes, I can. Its officially supported. Can I do that on ios? No way, not without literally breaking ios.
Can I buy a game for android directly from the developer, on his website, download it and install it? Yup, I can do that if i want to. Can I do that on ios? Nope.
Can I download the source for android modify it and flash it to my device with the full support for doing so provided by the manufacturer (although obviously they'll no longer support the operating system I install). On some devices from some manufacturers: yes, you can. With Apple, on any device -- no. The software cannot be downloaded and modified, and no they do not support allowing you load any customizations you might make at all, period, ever.
To say they are the same even "in spirit" is simply... lying.
But you know what? Likely only 2% give a fuck about "The Open Source Spirit", have no interest in that, and don't want some screeching yowling loon telling them it's not open source enough.
So, before you keep going all RMS and howling about how it's not pure enough for you ... do kindly remember almost nobody else cares.
The rest of the world just rolls their eyes, tunes this shit out, and reaches for Candy Crush and Facebook.
Neither Google nor Apple are in the business of making phones to appease the rabid open source people. You may have to live with that fact.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Google's customer base is advertisers. Android users, which pay nothing to Google, don't mind the advertisements.