We at SEVEN Networks have been in the Android ad-blocking world for some time now, from our original releases of Open Channel, AdClear, AdClear for iOS, and AdClear Content Blocker for Android. But now we want to tell you about our latest product, the first ad-blocking launcher for Android adX Launcher.

In short: adX Launcher replaces your home screen, allowing you to launch apps through your new home screen ad and tracker free. Its goal is to replace old mechanisms like VPN, root, and others with a simpler version that blocks even more ads than the former could offer.

How it started?

While working on our previous solutions, we noticed a common trend. These apps were difficult to set up correctly and unavailable on Google Play for download and automatic updates. Even for those users who managed to get everything set up, they still faced some apps unable to block, annoying VPN issues and notifications, or ad blocking causing a blank square to appear instead of an ad. Our team set out to work on a solution that could solve these issues. After a lot of research and development, adX Launcher was born.

Why use it?

adX Launcher can do things other ad blockers can’t. First, adX Launcher is completely self-contained and only blocks ads within itself. To do this, we run an app in a process that we control so that we can hook into this process at runtime and make modifications, such as removing ads and trackers. This powerful mechanism allows us to do things other ad blockers never could and support apps that were previously not possible under previous mechanisms such as DNS, root, or VPN-based solutions.

One example of this is our ability to hide ad containers that normally would be left as a blank rectangle in an app with ad blocking.

Another common circumvention to ad blocking is certificate pinning which prevents other ad blockers from blocking ad requests. This limit does not apply to adX Launcher.

Where we are?

adX Launcher is now in a public beta. We have a lot of work left to do before we are ready for prime time, but we are excited to show you what we have and have our community help shape the development of our latest app. Right now, for our first iteration, we are primarily supporting YouTube. We will add support for more apps in future releases.

If you would like to join us, please download the app from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seven.mx.launcher

If you would like to request an app to support or lets us know about a bug please see our GitHub page: https://github.com/SEVENNetworks/adXLauncher

What to expect?

When you launch the app, adX Launcher will appear as your home screen, so don’t get surprised if no separate “app” is launched. When opening the App Drawer, you will see an adX badge on any app we have enhanced, as seen in the screenshot below. 

If you want to launch an app without enhancements, long-hold the app icon for a menu with launch options.

How to set adX Launcher as default?​

adX Launcher is designed to replace your default home screen, and apps must be launched through it to block ads and trackers. To ensure apps are always launched with adX, we recommend running adX as your default Launcher.

To set it:​

1. Open Android Settings

2. Search “default home app”

3. Select adX Launcher as your default home app4.

To remove:​

1. Open Android Settings

2. Search “default home app”

3. Select your previous default home app

Future plans

We plan to continue extending support, focusing first on social media, streaming services, and games to support all apps out of the box.



Help make the next releases of adX our best yet. As a member of the adX Alpha Program, you can take part in shaping adX by test-driving pre-release versions and letting us know what you think.

How do I participate?
As a member of the adX Alpha Program, you’ll be able to enroll your Android devices to access the private alpha’s and try out the latest features. You can provide feedback directly to adX using our Feedback mechanism or by joining discord – https://discord.gg/gTkxBf42WT

Simply go to our website https://www.adclear.com and “JOIN” our Alpha Program.

As you may know, we’ve been flagged by Google Play Protect for the possibility of collecting tracking information. We’d like to emphasize that this was a mistake on Google’s part; one of AdClear’s main functions is to block tracking capabilities. We’re actively working with Google to fix this error, and we’re dumbfounded as to what could be the cause.

We take this flag by Google very seriously as it is against what we stand for, not just our functionality. The proliferation of ads is very different across the world, and our mission is to protect the privacy of everyone. What information we do collect is technical, used to make improvements to AdClear’s stability across the range of different Android devices that are available. In the past year, we’ve introduced Firewall and DNS protection to AdClear as we want to cover every possible entrance for advertisers, malware, and hacking. We don’t want you to be vulnerable to outside threats or us.

If you’re a potential or existing user and you have any questions, feel free to contact us. We’re more than happy to assuage your concerns, and we don’t blame you for taking the notification seriously. Thank you for your interest in AdClear!

Contact:
csandlin@seven.com
support@seven.com

We have received feedback from our users that Google Play Protect is incorrectly flagging AdClear and blocking the initial installation with a message “This app can collect data that may be used to track you.”

All aggregated and anonymized information AdClear currently collects is currently used for debugging and improving our application.

The AdClear team is currently in the process of repealing the flag against the package “com.seven.adclear” and working with Google to understand why this flag was triggered in the first place. In the meantime, AdClear can be installed if you click the down chevron and tap “install anyways.”

At the end of last year, we teased new features for AdClear with the release of our new UI. You’ve waited patiently, and it’s finally here: the Firewall and Snooze features have been added! That’s not all; HTTPS filtering no longer requires a screen lock & AdClear can now clear cache / data automatically.

AdClear has always had a slight drainage effect on batteries, enough so to cause some users to uninstall. Now with Snooze mode, your battery life will improve when using AdClear! Snooze will cut off all network communication when the screen on your phone is turned off.  On top of that, the new Firewall feature will keep you safe from malware threats online. Regardless if your app is in the background or in the foreground, You now have protection.  To round it all off, HTTPS filtering is now a no-qualms choice to help protect from encrypted malware intrusion.

AdClear will keep your phone safe, charged, and free from ads, all for free. We want to thank our loyal users and beta testers that have assisted us in finalizing these features. With your help, AdClear has become the best ad blocker for Android there is. We continue to focus on new innovations, and we’re always here to help!

AdClear is available to download for free from our website.

For inquiries, contact:
Christian Sandlin
csandlin@seven.com

Using an ad blocker gives you more value than simply blocking intrusive, annoying, and sometimes auto-playing ads; they give you a better user experience.

With customers becoming more wise to the practices of ad publishers, ad blocker usage is skyrocketing, with mobile phones becoming the new frontier.

There have been many accusations levied toward ad blockers. For one, they “decrease the revenues of a business” and “do more harm than good.” Surprisingly, the naysayers have nothing to say about providing the consumers what they need. The truth is, ad blockers achieve more than simply blocking ads. They also:

1. Maintain Your Privacy

Online advertisements use trackers to monitor your data and your online behavior. And they do it without asking for it. Every click stores information about what you are browsing and generates a profile that advertisers would use to sell you targeted products and services. This method is intrusive and does not take into account the user’s wishes to stay anonymous. An ad blocker for iOS will be able to block these requests and would be able to provide users a browsing experience where they do not have to worry at every click that their personal data would be abused without their permission.

2. Secure Your Online Experience

Some advertisements are prone to hacking and contain malicious software that can damage your files, or encrypt them so that you can’t use anything unless you pay the hacker. So using ad blockers to get rid of ads does more than that—it protects you from ransomware!

Ads are not the only disguise taken by malicious software. They can be hidden among fake download buttons on a page, confusing users. Hence, a wrong click could potentially damage your files.

Using an ad blocker would give you more security than you thought was possible online. With a smooth user experience, you will also enjoy the removal of the threats that are common online.

3. With SEVEN AdClear for iOS, Block Ads in Your Native Language, Too!

Speaking of ad blockers, SEVEN AdClear for iOS is able to block ads in thirteen different languages! This means that the ads in your native tongue are held to the same scrutiny, would be blocked, and you can enjoy a safe, smooth user experience.

These are the languages in which our ad blocker is able to block ads.

 

• Arabic
• Bulgarian
• Danish
• French
• German
• Indian
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Polish
• Russian
• Spanish/Portuguese
• Swedish
• Turkish

 

 

The best part about this ad blocker for iPhone is it is completely free! We aim to provide peace of mind when you browse online, helping you receive the best user experience.

If you’d like to try it out, here’s the App Store link. If you have any questions about the product, don’t hesitate to give me a message!

Christian Sandlin
csandlin@seven.com

 

The major argument posited by content providers and publishers on ad blockers boils down to “blocking ads steals our revenue.” The editorial director of Tom’s Guide went as far as saying:

“Every time you block an ad, what you’re really blocking is food from entering a child’s mouth.”

Many might consider it morally unethical to block ads. Before you believe that, listen to the facts.

It all began with the surge of pop-up ads in the mid-90s. Advertisers saw the dire need of attracting customers because banner ads were not working, and thus pop-up ads were born.

And people hated it. Unreservedly.

These ads were annoying, disruptive, frustrating, and destroyed any semblance of quality user experience. When people turned to website publishers, they claimed innocence and said they needed money to stay afloat. Pop-up ads were the only way out.

So the people took charge, and ad blockers were created. It was a defense tactic against the most intrusive, in-your-face advertisement method. Using ad blockers simply protects users from what they don’t want in their browsing experience.

As for the theory that browsing websites is a contract between a user and a publisher—that the user browses for free, and in turn, they view the ads on the web pages— it’s hogwash. No one reads a privacy policy or really consents to these practices. This is why:

Ever Wonder What Advertisements Actually Do?

Online advertisements are lines of code, which can incorporate more than just what you see on the page. It is not simply a small box to ads in print media. It includes trackers that follow every click you make, make notes of what you watch and browse and then either sell that data to the highest bidder or use that data to create a profile about your behavior. Now here’s the big question: When was the last time a company website asked for your personal details? Unless you have signed up for a user account, probably never.

All of this monitoring and data collection is done without user’s consent. And this is why the anti-ad blocker theory is invalid. By using an ad blocker, you are only making the choice of keeping your data private. You only want to enjoy a seamless browsing experience without the distraction of ads.

So the next time someone tries to make you feel bad about using ad blockers, you will have enough counter-arguments. Just ask them about your right to privacy, and they’ll shut right up.

If you are looking for a kickass ad blocker for iOS, check out SEVEN AdClear for iOS. It’s completely free! If you have any questions, simply message me at:

Christian Sandlin
csandlin@seven.com

If the title surprises you, bear with us.

Yes, there has been a wide gap between what the users want and what the advertisers want when the debate comes to ad blockers. This is mainly because what the dream is for advertisers: an accurate customer profile able to help them understand what the users might buy, is a privacy nightmare. Content producers and companies wish for their ads to be viewed by many people, repeatedly, so that they would be able to sell their product and build a personal profile from your browsing history. To us normal folk, this is something we never agreed with.

This is why people are interested in using ad blockers on their iPhones—they want a better user experience. But the question remains, how can this help advertisers?

Here’s our two cents:

1. Empowering the Customer Will Provide Benefits for the Company

If we compare today’s online advertising methodology to that of yesterday’s print advertising, the focus has always been on how much space an ad can cover. Today, efficient advertising prioritizes how targeted an advertisement is, that is, how accurate the ads are to the user’s interests. While targeted advertisements are better for both consumers and the company, taking it to a level that infringes upon privacy is not acceptable.

Ad blockers for iOS prevent companies from accomplishing what users do not want. When enough companies are pressured, they will hopefully understand that there is a need to provide for users rather than advertisers. And maybe, just like the change from focusing on space to focusing on needs, there may be a revolution in the advertising world that empowers customers.

2.Ad Blockers Challenge Companies to Consider Marketing Methods Users Want to Engage With

When companies face a dead-end from this pressure, the smart ones would figure out other means to market their products and services to their customers. This could include survey forms that collect data important for targeting that is optional. The bonus of these methods would be that the end user would be fully aware which data goes into the company’s data sets and in control of which data they wish to divulge.

3. Companies Can Create Trust-Based Relationships with their Customers

Smart companies can build trust with their customers by creating transparency concerning what information they use and for what purpose. Customers might even be willing to cooperate and willingly provide more information. The only companies left behind would be the ones who do not provide quality products or services.

We’re all better off without them.

SEVEN AdClear for iOS is an effective ad blocker that is completely free! If you have any questions, send me a message and I’ll get back to you!

Christian Sandlin
csandlin@seven.com

When it comes to blocking ads, there is a stark difference of opinion between end users and publishers. While users are most likely to use an ad blocker for iOS to improve their user experience, publishers are angry that their paid ads and their tracking software are blocked.

While ads may be beneficial for some users, most find them annoying and disruptive. An ad blocker blocks these ads from ruining your browsing experience. Ad blockers are also useful for blocking malicious parties from gathering your data. Here are a few more legitimate reasons to use an ad blocker for iOS.

1. Keep Your Data Private

No one is happy with intrusive data gathering that is the norm among web publishers. 86% of users do not prefer businesses to share their information to third parties. This reluctance has increased as people are beginning to gain awareness about how their browsing data can be used to advertise to them. For example, imagine you are having a heated debate with a friend about a certain product. To get a valid source to back up your point, you search for various points of view. This seemingly innocent search will notify the product’s manufacturers to advertise their products to you, and you will be forced to view these ads on your Facebook page, your browser, or other social media.

If you had used an ad blocker for iOS while you made the search, the trackers would have been blocked and you would not have had to view the annoying ads. You’d even get the results faster!

2. Increase the Speed of Your Browsing

Using an ad blocker on your iPhone will reduce the amount of time that it usually takes to load a page. Ads grab the largest chunk of your data resources and reduce your browsing speed by forcing your browser and apps to load them before your content. An ad blocker for iPhone will stop this loading from happening, focusing your bandwidth on what you want it to do.

3. Increase Online Safety

Malvertising is the practice of attacking unsuspecting users via leaks in browsers and browser plugins. Major sites like Yahoo, Forbes, and more have fallen victim to these leaks, infecting millions of trusted users with malware. With an ad blocker for iOS, you will be able to browse safely as these advertisements will be blocked and you will have a safe environment to browse in.

If you are looking for a robust ad blocker for iPhone, try out Seven’s AdClear for iOS. If you have any questions about our product, you’re most welcome to contact me.

Christian Sandlin
csandlin@seven.com