New iOS App Blocks Those Annoying 'Open in App' Pop-Ups in Safari

[Chaos215bar2]

Too bad the app can't fix the worst offender of them all: Safari itself. I've had to uninstall more than one app because Safari insists on trying to push you into an app even when the app's website does exactly what you need.

 

[HeroOfTime32]

Just fyi, this is the exact same warning text that is displayed for each and every extension that alters websites you visit in some way. It seems to currently be an all or nothing affair, a bit more granularity in iOS in this matter would be helpful.
Also, it seems to be possible to activate Banish under ‘content blockers’ (which do not have this kind of access) without activating the actual extension, although I haven’t tried yet if this has any effect on functionality…

Yeah, but some extensions allow a per-website configuration. At least, I know Noir does for their Safari dark mode configurations...

 

[macduke]

Ahh yes, we in the industry refer to these as “dickbars” and they are annoying as hell.

Notice to website developers using this feature: If I was to move use to your app, it would likely be placed on the 8th home page of oblivion, never to be used again. Just let me use your website as a website.

You know it’s not us, right? It’s the ***** VP of Marketing doing this to you. Go yell at them.

 

[nwcs]

Hush nag never was useful for me. And how do you know that Super Agent is collecting data?

From the App Store description. Says Contact Data and Other Data linked to user.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I actually wouldn't mind the opposite - something that forces a website to offer the app experience, instead.

Anytime somebody messages me a link for an Amazon product, it just opens in my mobile browser, and not the Amazon app - with no suggestion to use the app instead.

Opener does that. Fantastic app.

 

[Moonjumper]

Ahh yes, we in the industry refer to these as “dickbars” and they are annoying as hell.

You know it’s not us, right? It’s the ***** VP of Marketing doing this to you. Go yell at them.

As a game designer, I know the commands from marketing can be... not helpful (being polite).

 

[_Spinn_]

Thank goodness. Those banners are very annoying.

 

[Hyperchaotic]

Finally 🙌

There are other extensions doing the same, "Rekt" for example.

 

[ktecac]

finally can use reddit again (the app for some reason sucks more than just using the browser) i literally dropped everything just for the satisfaction of going to reddit in safari and not seeing that horrible popup

 

[unfunfionn]

I use Hush for that

Hush is great but it really needs to be accessible from the Safari extensions bar. Plenty of websites break with it still and then it’s an absolute pain to bypass, because you need to open the device settings, disable the extension, accept the pop up on the site, and then enable the extension again. I’m surprised this has never been improved.

 

[Rafterman]

Eh. Doesn't bother me enough to get an app for it.

 

[Sbstndalton]

it could be worse you could use the 'remove from home screen' option and banish it to the app library.

I actually use the App Library as my home page. More organised. Although I would prefer to be able to better organise apps, because currently I have games in my productivity folder.

 

[Banish]

Any ideas on how to a/b test the extension vs content blocker? I suppose we could ask the dev! Might drop him a message.

Hi, developer here. The content blocker is 90% of the functionality. The extension is needed to patch up issues beyond what's possible with a content blocker (like sites hijacking scrolling until you dismiss the popup). You can allow permission on select websites or use just the content blocker, but you might run into minor issues. When using the extension, no data leaves your phone--there's no back-end. banishforsafari@gmail.com

 

[Damian83]

I wish there was a way to truest remove the constant cookie pop ups on every website

‎Hush Nag Blocker

‎Browse the web like it should be – free of nags to accept cookies or privacy invasive tracking. It's tiny, fast, free, open, secure and without any access to your data. “I’d recommend Hush to anyone who uses Safari” — John Gruber, Daring Fireball SECURE AND PRIVATE Hush doesn't have any...

apps.apple.com

 

[Blue Hawk]

From the App Store description. Says Contact Data and Other Data linked to user.

It’s just the email address if you login inside the app

 

[jsamuelson]

Hi, developer here. The content blocker is 90% of the functionality. The extension is needed to patch up issues beyond what's possible with a content blocker (like sites hijacking scrolling until you dismiss the popup). You can allow permission on select websites or use just the content blocker, but you might run into minor issues. When using the extension, no data leaves your phone--there's no back-end. banishforsafari@gmail.com

Thanks for dropping by and answering the question! 👍

 

[return2sendai]

Instant download…. Instant uninstall… Saved you guys $2…

 

[f12003_ga]

Just bought it!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful app on MacRumors!!

 

[name99]

I like the functionality of the popups (if not always each specific implementation).

Getting switched to the app dedicated to that content often means fast access to a better viewing experience e.g. with native controls, easy adding to watch lists, more fluid/responsive features etc.

Someone's clearly never tried to use the native Reddit app...

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I’ve had this app since reading about it on DF. It works great and the developer is very responsive too -- got an immediate response from him when I mailed him a site that didn’t block the pop-up (Substack.com).

Banish now joins Vinegar, 1Blocker and Noir in my arsenal of ‘make the web great again’ apps. Thanks Alex!

Don't forget Baking Soda, from the same developer of Vinegar for all the terrible video players on non-YouTube sites.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Now make one to remove cookies setting pop-ups. I would pay another $2 for that

Super Agent is what you are looking for.

 

[Havoc035]

Desktop users have those for free. But Apple won't allow uBlock origin etc...

There are some pretty decent adblockers for iOS like AdGuard. uBO unfortunately isn’t available apparently due to Safari not supporting some required API features. I do hope it will become available at some point though.

 

[SemiAridNomad]

I’ve had this app since reading about it on DF. It works great and the developer is very responsive too -- got an immediate response from him when I mailed him a site that didn’t block the pop-up (Substack.com).

Banish now joins Vinegar, 1Blocker and Noir in my arsenal of ‘make the web great again’ apps. Thanks Alex!

Appreciate the list, not familiar with DF could I get the full name?

 

[altaic]

Appreciate the list, not familiar with DF could I get the full name?

Daring Fireball

 

[svish]

Great to see this app/extension!! Those pop-ups are very annoying.