Comments on: Why Opera wouldn’t include an AdBlock feature in the browser http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html A blog covering the latest buzz on the Opera browser and its competition. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:51:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Dan http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-44851 Dan Mon, 12 Mar 2007 05:05:31 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-44851 Well, freedom of choice I guess. I understand the argument that ads keep pages free. I for one use adblock plus, which gets rid of everything. I really don't have the time to constantly manually block stuff. I'm just one of those people that hates pretty much all graphical ads. Of course, google text ads still show, and aren't obtrusive at all. This is the reason that I stick with firefox, and don't use opera. If opera had an extension like adblock plus, i'd probably use opera, as it has a much smaller memory footprint, and is overall a great browser. (yes I'm posting this from opera, but that's just cuz i'm testing my website atm) Well, freedom of choice I guess. I understand the argument that ads keep pages free. I for one use adblock plus, which gets rid of everything. I really don’t have the time to constantly manually block stuff. I’m just one of those people that hates pretty much all graphical ads. Of course, google text ads still show, and aren’t obtrusive at all. This is the reason that I stick with firefox, and don’t use opera. If opera had an extension like adblock plus, i’d probably use opera, as it has a much smaller memory footprint, and is overall a great browser. (yes I’m posting this from opera, but that’s just cuz i’m testing my website atm)

]]> By: arielb http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-20583 arielb Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:45:33 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-20583 There is no question that Tomshardware.com is much more enjoyable in Firefox with Adblock+. All those ads and especially the mouse over links are gone. Opera has a lot of nice things but to me this is a killer feature and I would only consider another browser that had it such as Flock. There is no question that Tomshardware.com is much more enjoyable in Firefox with Adblock+. All those ads and especially the mouse over links are gone. Opera has a lot of nice things but to me this is a killer feature and I would only consider another browser that had it such as Flock.

]]> By: DigitalRaven http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-14179 DigitalRaven Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:29:44 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-14179 post #32 - Your statement makes it sound as if there was a standard for doing this. There isn't. I'm not going to ignore Firefox because it can't import my firewall suite's DNS and adblock lists. Your statement makes no sense. post #33 - Third party community? Please research before you post. Bookmark Sync? It sounds as if you want your browser to run on a flash drive and both Opera and Firefox can do that. So if you carry around your browser on a usb stick, what are you syncing? post #31 - you represent Firefox users well. Good arguments on your site. Obviously this is what has come to pass. post #32 - Your statement makes it sound as if there was a standard for doing this. There isn’t. I’m not going to ignore Firefox because it can’t import my firewall suite’s DNS and adblock lists. Your statement makes no sense.

post #33 - Third party community? Please research before you post.

Bookmark Sync? It sounds as if you want your browser to run on a flash drive and both Opera and Firefox can do that. So if you carry around your browser on a usb stick, what are you syncing?

post #31 - you represent Firefox users well. Good arguments on your site. Obviously this is what has come to pass.

]]> By: Matthew http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-13554 Matthew Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:02:20 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-13554 While I definitely want better adblock (it doesn't have to be in browser, if Opera had a better 3rd party community, who'd care who does the adblocking?), my main problem is the lack of bookmark synchronization. It's just too much work to copy bookmarks to a flash drive and update them constantly. If Opera had better 3rd party support, this would be a non-issue too. While I definitely want better adblock (it doesn’t have to be in browser, if Opera had a better 3rd party community, who’d care who does the adblocking?), my main problem is the lack of bookmark synchronization. It’s just too much work to copy bookmarks to a flash drive and update them constantly. If Opera had better 3rd party support, this would be a non-issue too.

]]> By: Anonyous User http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-11488 Anonyous User Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:52:17 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-11488 I won't switch to Opera until I can import filterset.g into it. Until then I'll have to use firefox. I won’t switch to Opera until I can import filterset.g into it. Until then I’ll have to use firefox.

]]> By: Wladimir Palant http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-7353 Wladimir Palant Mon, 07 Aug 2006 12:25:00 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-7353 I have to disagree with most of the points made. In my opinion it is not only possible to include ad blocking functionality in a browser but it will also happen for most browsers like it did for popup blocking. I posted my argumentation <a href="http://adblockplus.org/blog/could-adblock-be-built-into-the-browser" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I have to disagree with most of the points made. In my opinion it is not only possible to include ad blocking functionality in a browser but it will also happen for most browsers like it did for popup blocking. I posted my argumentation here.

]]> By: Daniel Goldman http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5975 Daniel Goldman Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:24:42 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5975 yearoo, why would you want to block the ads on this site? I do need to cover my hosting and other expenses :-) yearoo, why would you want to block the ads on this site? I do need to cover my hosting and other expenses :-)

]]> By: yearoo http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5974 yearoo Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:15:49 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5974 What the content blocker need is the ability to block iframes, like the ads on this site. What the content blocker need is the ability to block iframes, like the ads on this site.

]]> By: tbc http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5910 tbc Tue, 18 Jul 2006 21:18:33 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5910 One thing that bothers me on the present content blocker interactive interface is that I am not able to mark some of the most annoying stuff blocked by clikng on it. Take for example this picture page: http://www.fortframes.cz/english/pictures.phtml?image=storm.jpg&title=design%20storm&width=800&height=540 -- it has a nasty flash animation that (on my screen) covers the picture :(. If I start the block-content interface, I am not able to block that ugly animation... This is a nice example of the Opera content blocker being used not to block ads, but to fix an annoing design. While there might not be place for a "real" ad blocker in Opera, the content blocker is useful and also besides blocking only ads! One thing that bothers me on the present content blocker interactive interface is that I am not able to mark some of the most annoying stuff blocked by clikng on it. Take for example this picture page: http://www.fortframes.cz/english/pictures.phtml?image=storm.jpg&title=design%20storm&width=800&height=540 — it has a nasty flash animation that (on my screen) covers the picture :(. If I start the block-content interface, I am not able to block that ugly animation…

This is a nice example of the Opera content blocker being used not to block ads, but to fix an annoing design. While there might not be place for a “real” ad blocker in Opera, the content blocker is useful and also besides blocking only ads!

]]> By: Yehudah Goldstein http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5739 Yehudah Goldstein Sat, 15 Jul 2006 14:53:05 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5739 The problem with Opera's solution is that it accepts wildcards only at the end of urls like www.site.com/ad/*. In Firefox */ad/* is possible through CSS selector. The problem with Opera’s solution is that it accepts wildcards only at the end of urls like http://www.site.com/ad/*. In Firefox */ad/* is possible through CSS selector.

]]> By: Bruce Couper http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5725 Bruce Couper Fri, 14 Jul 2006 23:49:52 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5725 I think Opera's behavior is the correct one. Anyone whose skill is so modest they can manage only the content blocker within Opera can easily block those things that most annoy them. Anyone with a bit more skill can block absolutely anything. For example, one can simply use the HOSTS file. Balance is what is important (as in so many things) and I think in this Opera strikes the right balance. I choose to allow advertising which is not too intrusive in exchange for valuable content. Sometimes the advertising is even relevant; for these reasons I allow Google ads and in return Google provides me extremely valuable services. My experience? Online since the mid-80s (FidoNet). There was no advertising then, on that network, and I remember first being on the Internet and then the World Wide Web and the absence of advertising. I don't really like advertising but, for now, it's just the way things are. It's a reasonable trade for content. When it's unreasonable Opera provides one way to remove it. I think Opera’s behavior is the correct one. Anyone whose skill is so modest they can manage only the content blocker within Opera can easily block those things that most annoy them. Anyone with a bit more skill can block absolutely anything. For example, one can simply use the HOSTS file. Balance is what is important (as in so many things) and I think in this Opera strikes the right balance.

I choose to allow advertising which is not too intrusive in exchange for valuable content. Sometimes the advertising is even relevant; for these reasons I allow Google ads and in return Google provides me extremely valuable services.

My experience? Online since the mid-80s (FidoNet). There was no advertising then, on that network, and I remember first being on the Internet and then the World Wide Web and the absence of advertising. I don’t really like advertising but, for now, it’s just the way things are. It’s a reasonable trade for content. When it’s unreasonable Opera provides one way to remove it.

]]> By: Lis Riba http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5710 Lis Riba Fri, 14 Jul 2006 18:56:39 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5710 I will say that the current Content Blocker has become one of my favorite features of the new release. And, I don't mind having to train it. There are some ads (certain blog networks, for example) that I do choose to see. I will say that the current Content Blocker has become one of my favorite features of the new release.

And, I don’t mind having to train it.
There are some ads (certain blog networks, for example) that I do choose to see.

]]> By: cr0ft http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5696 cr0ft Fri, 14 Jul 2006 16:44:51 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5696 I'm all for not including an ad blocker into Opera. Most users don't hate ads virulently enough and can do their daily surfing just fine in spite of ads, and those ads do help support the sites that display them. Personally, though, I never click on ads and I find them extremely disturbing. Usually the ads are the "loudest" part of any site, which I really hate. I only allow them on specific sites that I visit on a regular basis and want to support, in case I get some odd compulsion to click on one of them... ;) The rest I flush completely using Privoxy. Privoxy is the best choice for ad control and privacy enhancments for any browser, IMHO - it is a separate application you can fine-tune and get working perfectly and then you can upgrade, downgrade, sidegrade or degrade any and all of your installed browsers without losing the privacy and ad filtering info you've set up. Less cruft in the Opera browser - faster browser - non-savvy users see ads and people who don't want them can just use Privoxy. No worries. I’m all for not including an ad blocker into Opera. Most users don’t hate ads virulently enough and can do their daily surfing just fine in spite of ads, and those ads do help support the sites that display them.

Personally, though, I never click on ads and I find them extremely disturbing. Usually the ads are the “loudest” part of any site, which I really hate. I only allow them on specific sites that I visit on a regular basis and want to support, in case I get some odd compulsion to click on one of them… ;)

The rest I flush completely using Privoxy. Privoxy is the best choice for ad control and privacy enhancments for any browser, IMHO - it is a separate application you can fine-tune and get working perfectly and then you can upgrade, downgrade, sidegrade or degrade any and all of your installed browsers without losing the privacy and ad filtering info you’ve set up.

Less cruft in the Opera browser - faster browser - non-savvy users see ads and people who don’t want them can just use Privoxy. No worries.

]]> By: yourmom http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5680 yourmom Fri, 14 Jul 2006 07:32:59 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5680 hmm yes, who would (trys a 2nd time) hmm yes, who would (trys a 2nd time)

]]> By: yourmom http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5679 yourmom Fri, 14 Jul 2006 07:30:39 +0000 http://operawatch.com/news/2006/07/why-opera-wouldnt-include-an-adblock-feature-in-the-browser.html#comment-5679 yeah, who would use an "ad blocker" yeah, who would use an “ad blocker”

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