Google Takes Away Choice

Well it was going to happen sooner or later. Google would find more ways to take away our ability to block advertisements.

* Popular ad blocking app nixed from Google Play

“In a move that has sparked negative criticism, Google has decided to delete the popular ad blocking application, AdBlock Plus, from its Android Play Store.” Read more..

I don’t understand why they chose to get authoritarian, and show us the middle finger, as approximately 1% (my estimate) of computer users are savvy enough to have ever even heard of AdBlock Plus. (I’ll let the article explain the Who, the How, the What, and — the Why you should care.)

But we do live in a world run by ad revenue.
($17 Billion in first half of 2012 [online]..)

It’s one reason I ignore good practice and am still using an older version of Firefox: each new version they release, more ad blocker, security, and privacy “add ons” no longer work (wonder why?).

I am not going to say what I really think here, nor use the language I want to, but I will say to any and all Google employees, honchos, and stockholders — rethink this move. It stinks and makes you look bad. (Yes, I know. That’s how you make your money – watching us, tracking us, and showing us Ads. But.)

I’ll further say that I support the folks who brought us AdBlock Plus, and “root for” them and folks like them. I hope they’ll figger a ‘workaround’..

Today’s concept to ponder: “Slippery slope”. Incrementalism in the study of rationality can be seen as a stealthy way to bring about radical changes that were not initially wanted: a slippery slope.

Today’s quote: “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~ Buddha

Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Ad Block Your Way To A Happier You

What is real? What is ‘hype’?

Percentage-wise.

Why is everyone trying to sell me something? All the time.

I have had it up to my eyeballs.. and I think I’m going to rebel. I think I’ll declare a new Personal Policy.. which goes like this: If I know about this product because of advertising and/or the media, I ain’t gonna buy it.

Wait. That won’t work. I can’t think of a single thing that isn’t being hyped.

Hmmm… maybe I’ll have to modify that some. How about: When forced to choose between two products.. I buy the one that advertises less.

Yes.. that might work.

TechPaul’s Plan to Improve the World #347.

Hey, do me a favor, will you? I need more input for my data set. If you haven’t taken my (quick and easy) Tech poll, please take 60 seconds, and click here. Thanks!
[ It won’t take you the full minute.. I promise.]

**Look for the results Friday.

Today’s free download(s): The Sophos Endpoint Assessment Test (an “endpoint” is IT- speak for “computer”) is a single scan checks that:

• your Microsoft service pack is the current one for your operating system
• your Microsoft patches are all up to date
• anti-virus protection is installed, running and current
• a personal firewall is installed and running

The Endpoint Assessment Test checks for over 600 patches, 28 anti-virus applications, and 22 firewall applications.

Need some ad blockers?
For Internet Explorer: try SelectView
For Firefox: get the plug-in “Add ons” AdBlock Plus, Flashblock, and NoScript.

Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved. post to jaanix

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