Like others, desktop I’m using Firefox with ublock origin. Android phone, Firefox with ublock origin. Android TV, SmartTube. Ad blockers have always outpaced Google in my experience though I use youtube maybe like twice a week and I don’t randomly browse reccomendations. Just there for specific stuff
Enjoy it while it lasts. With Google forcing developers to register their Android apps (or they’re not allowed to be installed, unless you’re a developer), it puts pressure on applications like Firefox (or ublock origin) to tow-the-line.
This won’t happen tomorrow or next year, but the writing is on the wall, unless people push back or the government begins to push back on Big Tech.
The removal of device owner rights has always been a soil boil.
I’m hoping by the time googles Android goes to shit, GrapheneOS is readily available on more phones or PostmarketOS. Same with Linux with KDE Plasma Bigscreen running on a minipc rather than using an android TV box
You can still install them, they announced the rules weeks ago.
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You need to go into the phone settings and enable developer mode (this doesn’t mean YOU’RE a developer)
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Flip a setting to on that will allow it
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See some scary prompts and acknowledge no one is asking you to do this
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Reboot the phone (its intended to cut off communication with who might be scamming you). (edit: I think this reboot step specifically is a clever idea)
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Wait 24 hours.
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Install the app
From there you can keep the phone in the ‘unlocked’ state, or allow it to relock after 7 days.
I’m not saying this is good, but it IS still possible.
I understand and agree with your sentiment, but try explaining how ”developer mode" does not make you a developer to my Grandma.
It’s the same b.s. optics that invented “sideloading” as some technically shady practice, when it has always been: just installing the stupid app.
Maybe your grandma who doesn’t understand that, shouldn’t be installing unverified apps without someone like yours guidance? That’s not a hard concept if they’re going as far as installing something else not from a store.
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Do yourself a favor and never turn on WiFi on your smart TV, get an android streaming box, and install projectivy launcher on it. Then you can sideload smartube the adfree YouTube client with downvotes, dearrow and sponsorblock built in.
I don’t see any ads. Grayjay goes brrr!
On my tv I can keep closing the ad and re-opening the video until I get a 5 second ad or no ads at all!
Usually takes less than 30 seconds, instead of watching a minute long video.
Works with ads in the middle of the video too, you just need to skip to where you were after.
The day ad block stops working is the day I stop using sites with ads
For everyone using an Android based platform: Just install Smarttube. It don’t show ads and has sponsorblock and dearrow integrated
Don’t forget to use ublock and adguard !
Youtube has ads? But seriously, this is hurting the honest user.
I mean, I’m not.
Pihole+ublock+privacy badger = win
Me using SmartTube and PipePipe/Tubular:
lol wut?
Don’t forget Unwatched if you’re on iOS platforms!
Seems like youtube forces sign-in using Unwatched on iOS? An alternative is Vinegar which replaces the video player in Safari, and skips the ads, mostly and usually (until youtube updates some things then vinegar needs to catch up).
Thank you for this! I did not know this was an option.
Im seeing more ads getting through ublock origin.
Open Vivaldi on Tablet, enable Tracker, Manage Sources, Enable EastList, no ads.
I already deleted the app from my phone once they introduced modal overlay ads that you have to dismiss
For me it isn’t the length, but the frequency that is bothering me. It’s insain, it’s like every 3-5 mins depending on the video length. It’s unusable atleast in my case. Only watching from devices I have adblocker on now. Not my phone.
