For much of the past decade, I've been a champion of Google Chrome. It's been my browser of choice not only on the PC and Mac desktops but also across all my Android mobile devices. I've now switched to a different browser, and the switch may well be long-term if not permanent. That browser is Opera, a browser I first tried in 2006 on a Nokia phone, but a thoroughly modern product today that mirrors much of what Google Chrome offers - built-in tabbed browsing, a bookmarks bar, … [Read more...] about Opera: a good browser alternative to Google Chrome
ad blocking
Ad blocking is about to get serious
The ongoing angst about ad blocking by online publishers and advertisers looks set to move to another level following reports that Google intends to include an ad blocking feature in the Chrome browser. The Wall Street Journal reports that the ad blocking feature would filter out certain online ad types deemed to provide bad experiences for users as they move around the web. The Journal notes: Unacceptable ad types would be those recently defined by the Coalition for Better Ads, an … [Read more...] about Ad blocking is about to get serious
Ad blocking: reaching a tipping point for advertisers, publishers and consumers
Last week, mobile operator Three UK announced it will block advertising on its network in a trial taking place in mid June. Three's action marks a new milestone in long-running arguments about online advertising between the online advertising industry, individual web publishers, and consumers who are the targets for much of that content. There's growing opinion - authenticated, so to speak, by the increasing use of software to block online advertising - that a large proportion of … [Read more...] about Ad blocking: reaching a tipping point for advertisers, publishers and consumers
Ad-blockers: naughty or nice?
The issue of ad-blocking, and its impact on sustainable revenue, has been simmering for quite a while says guest author Justin Maxwell, founder and CEO of microdonations and micropayments platform tibit, who suggests one way of addressing the problem head on. Some recent events have pushed ad-blocking into boiling territory over these past couple of months, first with Apple allowing ad-blocking apps into their app store, and then Yahoo trialing a system where some ad-blocking users found … [Read more...] about Ad-blockers: naughty or nice?
How to solve the ad blocking question
If you run ad blocking software on your computer or mobile device, you're either preventing the appearance of obtrusive, annoying ads that sometimes block content and add code that slows down the loading of the site you're visiting, especially on mobile devices; or you're strangling the revenue lifelines of companies who need to advertise to keep their businesses running, or enable media companies to keep paying for great journalism. That's pretty much what the current situation looks like, … [Read more...] about How to solve the ad blocking question
The word on ad blocking
I run ad blocking software in the browser on my computer that prevents ads appearing on most web sites I visit. Chrome is my default browser; as I sign in to my Google account in Chrome, and have it sync across all my devices, I have the ad blocker available to me on all those devices including mobile. I have a white list of sites that I'm happy for ads to show, but they are few and far between. There has been quite a bit of commentary over the past few weeks on the economic cost to business … [Read more...] about The word on ad blocking
FIR #819: The ad-blocking revolution is just months away
Intro: Two new FIR Interviews coming this week; Quick News: A steady percentage of Americans continue to stay offline according to Pew, LinkedIn starts building a syndicated content network, what Millennials expect from employee communications, Snapchat tweak boosts traffic for publishers; the Media Monitoring Minute with CustomScoop; News That Fits: The ad-blocking revolution is just months away; listener comments; what's the fate of Google+, and should communicators remain engaged?; … [Read more...] about FIR #819: The ad-blocking revolution is just months away