I just wanted to share with you the work of this developer on GitHub, I am a macOS and iOS user and I can’t wait to use this new FOSS adblocker (there are no others on macOS).
I’m not a computer scientist and I don’t have expertise but I try to help by spreading the spread, maybe someone can help or share it again!
Thank you all! P.S. I’m not the developer so I can’t answer any question
My only question: does it block YouTube ads?
The repository only has three files in it
It hasn’t seen a release yet, code is here:
https://github.com/arjpar/WebShield-staging/tree/ldev
I’m not endorsing it, never heard of it before this post, but this was literally the second line of the readme
Oh my bad. I thought the code link was a link to the current page.
So it’s swift with no release yet. I hope he releases a stable version soon
Safari iOS is cancer. Source: am developer who supports websites on Safari iOS.
I am a little curious how this could work though. My impression is that iOS is extremely locked down. Can’t even use a browser that isn’t Safari with a skin.
Safari supports extensions these days, including first-class support for content blockers
It’s really best in class in that regard. It’s the most customizable mobile browser. Firefox in android has more extensions, but Safari’s actually integrate better in the UI and you can use shortcuts for simple things too.
"I’ll gladly sacrifice functionality and my rights as a consumer for better UI integration " 🤢
Out of curiosity, what functionality and what rights am I sacrificing?
You can’t load software on your own device unless apple gives you permission even though you bought the device. I know how this goes every single time though. I can list features you don’t have or reasons why apple is trash and none of them will concern you at all. You will claim you don’t need other browsers but safari, you don’t need features android has had for years, you don’t need usb-c. Exactly the same conversation every time. When apple eventually gets any of these features, you will be ecstatic and love the company for them. It’s a cult.
And inb4 I am in the Google cult. Nope, fuck Google.
Those are a lot of words you put in my mouth. In fact, I can and have sideloaded apps (the process is stupid and overcomplicated, but it does work, I am not in the EU), and my iPhone does in fact have USB C (was a dealbreaker, I used a Pixel until iPhones had USB C). I wish I could use other browsers on my phone besides Safari but it’s not a dealbreaker for me, I can and do run Firefox on my computer when I need a different browser for any reason, I hope this will change in the future.
Apologies for my incorrect assumptions. I have had some very exhausting conversations with apple users. The EU had to force apple to use USBC (among other things no other company needs forcing to do) which is just insane. Honestly I’m a bit shocked that you came from Android phones and haven’t noticed the difference. There are many areas where you have little to no choice on iOS. How have you not noticed? If apple doesn’t want you to do it, you basically can’t.
If the browser thing was the only thing that would be a deal breaker for me for sure. You could install any browser you wanted on computers thirty years ago. How is it a thing that in 2024 a company is literally preventing you from installing a web browser on a phone that you bought?
There are many countless examples I’ve noticed over the years of things that cannot be done or are harder on iOS. On my android phone (and I wish there were options besides Android btw, because fuck Google) I can use SyncThing to keep my photos and other files backed up automatically without paying any cloud service. On iOS, last I checked you could even use a file manager, let alone anything remotely like SyncThing. They literally lock you out of doing anything that would cost them a penny. Such a shitty business model, removing any choice that doesn’t put money in their pockets.
Safari is different on iOS, you can’t just take for granted we’re just talking about “Safari” here. Since when have they supported extensions on mobile?
Safari on mobile iOS/iPad have supported extensions since iOS 15 (2021), it supported limited 3rd party content blockers since iOS 9 (2015)
Surprising. What do you have to do to publish such an extension? To get any app on your device typically apple must explicitly review and approve it 🤢
extensions on mobile are published as normal apps, so yes the process/requirements are the same as publishing any app on the app store
Thanks for that. Apparently a lot of apple simps are on here, since in getting downvoted a lot for just expressing distaste with the shitty practices of an evil corporation, which btw in time nearly everything I hate about them is getting legislated against by the EU. They are an anti-consumer pile of dogshit company.
You’re arguing about tech tribalists while being one yourself my dude
For a few years now.
