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Google Ads Ruined iPhone Safari

blairh

blairh

macrumors 603
Original poster
Dec 11, 2007
6,078
4,784
So I just started using an iPhone again after 18 months. I use my iPad daily.

What has struck me the most is the amount and size of the ads placed by Google in Safari. I literally can't stand it any longer. The popups. The size of the ads. Some of the ads animate. Its ruined Safari on the iPhone for me. I'm now using 'Perfect Web' browser.

When exactly did this happen to Safari on the iPhone? Even my iPad doesn't suffer from such an abundance of ads using Safari. It's also kinda ruined USA Today on the iPhone. An app I used to love when I previously owned iPhone's.

Also I'm open to trying new web browsers if you want to suggest some. Must have ad blocker and popup blocker.
 
blairh said:
So I just started using an iPhone again after 18 months. I use my iPad daily.

What has struck me the most is the amount and size of the ads placed by Google in Safari. I literally can't stand it any longer. The popups. The size of the ads. Some of the ads animate. Its ruined Safari on the iPhone for me. I'm now using 'Perfect Web' browser.

When exactly did this happen to Safari on the iPhone? Even my iPad doesn't suffer from such an abundance of ads using Safari. It's also kinda ruined USA Today on the iPhone. An app I used to love when I previously owned iPhone's.

Also I'm open to trying new web browsers if you want to suggest some. Must have ad blocker and popup blocker.
Click to expand...

Yes, all the ads just destroy the web browsing experience in Safari. Sometimes I think that the iPhone 3G days were better - all ads were flash so they were automatically blocked, the websites were fast and light, and they were the full desktop sites so you could just double tap on the article to fill the screen and read.
 
Yep. The ads are awful. Especially the ones that cover the entire page and force you to close them to see the content underneath. And even worse than that are the redirects that send you to the App Store.
 
trigonometry said:
Yep. The ads are awful. Especially the ones that cover the entire page and force you to close them to see the content underneath. And even worse than that are the redirects that send you to the App Store.
Click to expand...

Oh god the ones that redirect to the app store are INFURIATING. Wish you could disable that BS!
 
mangomind said:
and they were the full desktop sites so you could just double tap on the article to fill the screen and read.
Click to expand...

Early phones had specific cut-down WAP sites, then the iPhone came along with its full browser. Now we're getting "WAP 2.0" sites built for phones; even on my 6 I still get these cut-down sites despite having a screen large enough to display the full site. I wonder how many times we need to go around in circles...
 
Nermal said:
Early phones had specific cut-down WAP sites, then the iPhone came along with its full browser. Now we're getting "WAP 2.0" sites built for phones; even on my 6 I still get these cut-down sites despite having a screen large enough to display the full site. I wonder how many times we need to go around in circles...
Click to expand...

Yes. I'm just glad third party apps can change user agents. Apple should include that functionality in Safari.
 
What I find worse are these new "touch-optimised" websites.

The content goes from a block on the left to the right, then 3 regular-sized ads, then two lines. All the links are big buttons which truncate the text. It's just horrible.
 
blairh said:
So I just started using an iPhone again after 18 months. I use my iPad daily.

What has struck me the most is the amount and size of the ads placed by Google in Safari. I literally can't stand it any longer. The popups. The size of the ads. Some of the ads animate. Its ruined Safari on the iPhone for me. I'm now using 'Perfect Web' browser.

When exactly did this happen to Safari on the iPhone? Even my iPad doesn't suffer from such an abundance of ads using Safari. It's also kinda ruined USA Today on the iPhone. An app I used to love when I previously owned iPhone's.

Also I'm open to trying new web browsers if you want to suggest some. Must have ad blocker and popup blocker.
Click to expand...

On what sites? I don't see them on my iPhone?
 
I've seen some annoying ads, but I wouldn't say Safari has been ruined as a result. I'm far more annoyed by reloading tabs myself.
 
Not to mention ads account for more than 50 per cent of battery drain.
 
Ads seem to be worst in this holiday season but I hate ads that "activate" just because you let the cursor or finger get near them.

The worst ads are the one that give you an "X" to get rid of them and instead it activates them in to full screen!

Also ads that start playing automatically are also on thwe list of hates.
 
mangomind said:
Yes. I'm just glad third party apps can change user agents. Apple should include that functionality in Safari.
Click to expand...

They have.

To request the desktop website in Safari, tap the URL bar, then pull down revealing the "Request desktop website" option.

It's hidden away, but it is in there.
 
It wouldn't hurt to go to Settings/Privacy/scroll down to Advertising and turn on Limit ad tracking. Also, go to Settings/Privacy/tap on Location Services/scroll down to System Services and turn off Location-Based Alerts and Location-Based iAds.

If your not against jailbreaking, you can remove ads all together with "Untrusted Hosts Blocker" and "AdBlocker 2".
 
I'm using Mercury browser now. I love it. Only issue is I keep tapping the Menu button instead of Bookmarks. I wish there was a way to reverse it. Poor UI design IMO.
 
pdxmatts said:
It wouldn't hurt to go to Settings/Privacy/scroll down to Advertising and turn on Limit ad tracking. Also, go to Settings/Privacy/tap on Location Services/scroll down to System Services and turn off Location-Based Alerts and Location-Based iAds.

If your not against jailbreaking, you can remove ads all together with "Untrusted Hosts Blocker" and "AdBlocker 2".
Click to expand...

All those do are adjust the ads that appear. The first setting controls if the ads are based on things you "google" or websites you visit. The location setting does exactly what it sounds like. The ads will be geared towards your location.

Neither setting has any effect on the ads appearing or not. Personally, I leave those on b.c if I am going to get an add, I want to to be something I am interested in.

Jailbreak is the only real solution.
 
mattopotamus said:
All those do are adjust the ads that appear. The first setting controls if the ads are based on things you "google" or websites you visit. The location setting does exactly what it sounds like. The ads will be geared towards your location.

Neither setting has any effect on the ads appearing or not. Personally, I leave those on b.c if I am going to get an add, I want to to be something I am interested in.

Jailbreak is the only real solution.
Click to expand...

I didn't say it was a solution, but that it wouldn't hurt to check these in your settings. I read this in an article. "Some iOS 8 system services track your location for advertising, location-based alerts, and for enhancing your cell coverage. Not only can they be a drain on your battery life, they can also open you up to heavy-duty location tracking — even if third-party apps and services are not involved. Advertising can track and monitor your location."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/seven-privacy-settings-you-should-change-immediately-in-ios-8/
 
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