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Adblock: Google did not slow down and lag YouTube performance with ad blocker on by Sayan Sen Back in November, the internet was abuzz with conspiracy theories of Google purposely slowing down YouTube on Mozilla Firefox while its own browser, Chrome, would work fine. However, those rumors were shot down soon after as Google explained that it was not just Firefox that was the subject of "suboptimal viewing" experience and that it was happening irrespective of the browser. Google put the blame on "installed ad blockers." Fast forward two months, now in January we just had another similar incident with several user reports online of YouTube being slow with adblockers. As is usually the case in these instances, most netizens of course were quick to once again point the finger at Google. The issue was first brought to attention by Reddit users and the thread blew up with many more chiming in to say they were experiencing a similar thing. As it turns out, the bug was not YouTube or Google and was in fact a problem with Adblock and Adblock Plus' recent update Version 5.17.0. Hence if you were using something else like uBlock Origin (like me), you probably did not notice any slowdown. Adblock Plus developers noted the issue as performance regression on its GitLab repo. It wrote: Recently, ABP released version 3.22 which upgraded the bundled extension engine version to 1.1.1. AdBlock released version 5.17.0 which also updated the extension engine to version 1.1.1. We've had several reports of slow response time since the update. It appears to be an issue in the extension engine since ABP, AdBlock, and the EWE test extension all seem to experience a similar issue with the 1.1.1 version of the extension engine. The issue has now been fixed with the latest eyeo's Web Extension Ad Blocking Toolkit (EWE) version 1.1.2, where the breaking change has been reverted. Name: @eyeo/webext-ad-filtering-solution New version: 1.1.2 Reverted "Content filters are now updated via the history.pushState() event, when single page apps navigate using the browser's history API (EE-14, EE-90)". Breaking changes: None. Other changes: Reverted performance regression. Hence, if you are one of those users who is experiencing issues with Adblock and Adblock Plus, you should update your extension. It is also advised not to run multiple content filters or adblockers on your browser if you are facing performance issues. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we'd appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support!

YouTube appears to be slowing itself down upon detecting ad blockers by Steve Bennett As Google continues to wage war on ad-blocking users who access YouTube, a recent discovery has been made that the site itself will load significantly slower and almost freeze upon detecting an ad blocker. Similar to previous attempts to slow down the site and the introduction of prompts to disable ad blockers, which will prevent viewing of content until the user does so, this change has been discovered to be increasing CPU load for the site, which disappears as soon as the page is reloaded without an ad blocker enabled. In a thread on the YouTube subreddit, users noticed that not just the site but video buffering was slowed with an aim to make YouTube unusable when accessed while ad-blocking software is enabled. An unintended side effect of these changes is that it's causing crashes within another Google product, Google Chrome. https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/195octe/youtube_started_slowing_video_buffer_with_adblock/ Tests by PCGamer have shown that when YouTube is open with AdBlock enabled, CPU load on the author's specific machine is increased by approximately 17% compared to when the add-on is disabled. Additionally, even when users have YouTube Premium subscriptions, the slowdown still happens, with tests still producing an approximate 15-18% CPU load increase. Google, and therefore YouTube, have declined to comment on the recent discoveries. However, given the implementation of a deliberate five-second delay to video loading that was introduced back in November, this latest move is hardly surprising. Google's position on the matter makes it clear that the company wishes to give users who use ad blockers a "suboptimal viewing" experience. As an online publication, Neowin also relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we'd appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support! Source: 9to5Google; PCGamer Update: Adblock has explained why Google isn't even the culprit for the slow YouTube performance.

Get this AdGuard 3-Year Subscription Bundle for only $29.97 by Steven Parker Today's highlighted deal comes via our Apps + Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where you can save 89% on this AdGuard 3-Year Subscription Bundle. Get rid of annoying and intrusive ads and protect your device from malware with this advanced ad blocking app Meet the world's most advanced ad blocker! AdGuard is a unique program that has all the necessary features for the best web experience. The software combines the world's most advanced ad blocker, a whole privacy protection module, and a parental control tool—all working in one app. This amazing software deals with annoying ads, hides your data from a multitude of trackers, protects you from malware attacks, and lets you restrict your kids from accessing inappropriate content. Install AdGuard and see the internet as it was supposed to be: clean and safe. Get rid of annoying banners, pop-ups & video ads once and for all Hide your data from the multitude of trackers & activity analyzers that swarm the web Avoid fraudulent & phishing website and malware attacks Protect your kids online by restricting them from accessing inappropriate & adult content Important Details Family Plan Length of access: 3 Years This plan is only available to new users Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Max number of devices: 9 Access options: desktop & mobile Software version: AdGuard Family Updates included Connecting to a VPN gives you an encrypted connection to the Internet. This allows you to stay private, stay secure, and access the online content you want — no matter where you are. AdGuard VPN is a virtual private network (VPN), which is a secure tunnel between two or more devices. This VPN is your ultimate solution for safe internet without restrictions from a trusted developer. A must-have when you need uncompromising online privacy protection. Zero-logging policy and advanced encryption algorithm guarantee that your personal data is not collected and your traffic stays private at all times. 60+ locations worldwide, check complete list of servers here Own security protocol to provide faster and safer VPN connection Possibility to add websites to exclusions Pings screen to show closest and fastest servers Possibility to choose DNS server (to block ads/trackers) Up to 10 devices connected simultaneously Zero-logging policy guarantees personal data security Trusted developer you can rely on What You Get: Up to 10 devices connected simultaneously All locations Light-speed servers Unlimited data No logs policy Trusted developer Available on all platforms Good to know Length of access: 3 Years This plan is only available to new users Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Device per license: 5 Access options: desktop & mobile Updates included Privacy Created by a team from Russia, AdGuard software Limited is headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus. While the country does follow European privacy laws, it's not part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. Adguard may not properly work in China. Here's the deal: This AdGuard 3-Year Subscription Bundle normally costs $293.98, but this deal can be yours for just $29.97, that's a saving of $263. For full terms, specifications, and license info please click the link below. This price drop ends on 10/23 @ 11:59PM PT. Get this subscription Bundle for just $29.97, or learn more See all discounted Neowin Deals on offer. This is a time-limited deal. Get $1 credit for every $25 spent · Give $10, Get $10 · 10% off for first-time buyers. Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. Other ways to support Neowin The above deal not doing it for you, but still want to help? Check out the links below. Check out our partner software in the Neowin Store Buy a T-shirt at Neowin's Threadsquad Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: An account at Neowin Deals is required to participate in any deals powered by our affiliate, StackCommerce. For a full description of StackCommerce's privacy guidelines, go here. Neowin benefits from shared revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site.

YouTube gets more aggressive in pushing adblock warnings with countdown timer by Omer Dursun YouTube continues ramping up its efforts to push more users to its paid Premium subscription. The platform has begun testing a new anti-adblocker popup version aimed at non-paying (non-Premium) viewers. According to a new Reddit post, the updated warning includes a countdown timer in the top right corner, indicating how long the user has left to take action before the ad plays. Based on initial reports, the timer appears to run for 30-60 seconds. The rest of the warning box remains the same, explaining the benefits of YouTube Premium and providing the options to "Allow YouTube Ads" or "Try YouTube Premium." A screenshot of the new warning popup was shared on Reddit. Several users confirmed seeing the timed warning as well, indicating YouTube is currently testing this with a limited number of accounts. In June, YouTube limited viewers to three videos when an ad blocker was detected. It then allowed users to allow ads or try YouTube Premium, which gives users an ad-free experience for a monthly fee. The platform has been aggressively pushing users to its premium offering, which removes ads entirely. Earlier this year, YouTube launched a "1080p Premium" video quality with a higher bit rate. Last week, this video option became available for desktop. The timed warning represents YouTube's latest tactic to wear down non-paying adblocker users. While workarounds like VPNs and some browsers like Brave exist, these are temporary fixes. YouTube likely has measures planned to counter such methods. Meanwhile, many users resist Premium due to the service's rising costs. A recent price increase brought the individual monthly fee to $13.99 in the US. But prices remain lower in markets like India. The backlash over YouTube's intrusive promotions continues to grow. But the Google-owned company shows no signs of backing off the strategy. The timed warning box is likely the next phase in YouTube's ongoing efforts to push more ad blocker users into paid subscriptions.

YouTube confirms that it is testing out blocking ad blockers on the site by Steve Bennett Even though many websites on the internet are available for free, a large proportion of their income comes from advertisements, especially on YouTube where a lot of content creators earn income from ads within their videos. There are ad blockers out there however which prevent these adverts from displaying, denying the sites of income. Earlier this week, reports were posted to Reddit that, when attempting to play videos on YouTube a prompt was displayed that prevented playback until ad-blocking software was disabled. This was later confirmed by a YouTube employee on the YouTube subreddit. While it may be fairly clear why YouTube has decided to start testing this feature with a view to implementing it in the future, given that a large portion of income for not just YouTube but creators as well comes from the ads. However, many users in the same thread have expressed frustration at YouTube with their apparent increase in ad placement within videos on the site. Of course, the same prompt encourages users to try YouTube Premium, which includes the removal of adverts within videos, and YouTube is wanting to drive subscriptions to the platform, hoping to capture users who wish to continue not seeing adverts on the site. Even though YouTube has looked into separate tiers of Premium to just block ads with no other perks, this has not come to light and only the main tier continues to exist in individual and family plans. Source: 9to5Google

Microsoft acknowledges bug causing YouTube playback errors on all Edge versions by Abhay Venkatesh Microsoft has acknowledged an issue affecting all versions of the Edge browser that results in YouTube videos failing to play when AdBlock or AdBlock Plus extensions are enabled. The Redmond giant said in a Tech Community post that it investigated the possible bug based on user feedback. The problem currently affects the browser on all operating systems. Users reported being served with an error or a blank screen when trying to play videos on the YouTube website. The issue was faced by users that had the ad-blocking extensions enabled. Currently, the only workaround for the issue for those that are facing it is to disable the extensions and reload the page to play the video. The post adds that the team is working on investigating further while working on a fix. The firm is looking for users to provide feedback on whether they are seeing the error when the extension is disabled, or even without the extension installed. You can provide feedback by pressing the Shift+Alt+I keys and providing the details, or by heading to the ellipsis menu (…) > Help and feedback > Send feedback. You can also choose to send diagnostic data to help the teams check for logs. Since the issue is known to affect all, Canary, Dev, Beta, and Stable flavors of the browser on all platforms, the company could push a hotfix to all versions when a resolution is ready. For now, though, the only way for those affected to get YouTube to work is by disabling the Adblock extensions

Google explains its new extensions policy that has drawn the ire of ad blockers by Muhammad Jarir Kanji Google has recently come under fire for a new change to the way the Web Request API works in Chrome. This API is used by many extensions, and the changes could affect the ability of ad blockers to function properly. Google is charging ahead despite the controversy, however, and took to its security blog to explain why it thinks the changes are necessary for the protection of users, and to also quell concerns about the change potentially neutering ad blockers in Chrome. The company explains that the explosive growth in the popularity of extensions has resulted in the Chrome team having to take drastic measures to reduce their abuse by nefarious actors. This comprised of not only various changes to how extensions are reviewed, but Google has also increased the number of reviewers by 400% in the last year, alongside a 300% increase in the size of the teams that work on extension abuse. This has already resulted in the rate of malicious extension installations going down by 89% since 2018, but Google feels it needs to do more. Its solution has been to change how APIs relating to extensions work. Previously, extensions such as ad blockers would be able to request all information about a network request - which would include possibly sensitive information - from the browser in order to perform their specific functions. With the change, Google will be replacing the Web Request API with the Declarative Net Request API, which allows extension makers to have granular control over exactly the information they need from the browser, without receiving information that is sensitive or otherwise irrelevant to their function. The blog uses the following simple schematic to explain the difference: Google concludes the post by admitting the change has been controversial, especially with regard to ad blockers, but reiterates that the change would not necessarily neuter ad blockers. Developers would simply need to change how their extensions work using the new API in order to provide the same functionality. Other Chromium-based browsers like Opera and Vivaldi have declared that they will continue to support the old API for extensions, despite Google's changes. For Chrome users, the only exception to the new rules, once they're implemented, would be to switch to the enterprise version of Chrome, which will continue to support the old API.

Google's Chrome browser will block all ads on websites running 'abusive' ads by Muhammad Jarir Kanji In a new blog post outlining measures the company is taking to make the web a more pleasant place, Google today announced a major change to how its Chrome browser will interface with ads. Following up on its promise from last year, the company is showing its serious about making ads better. The post outlines Google's intentions to block all ads on any website that it finds to be 'abusive' in the manner in which ads it serves ads to visitors. The company had already started to block ads it believed were 'intrusive' in February of this year, but it seems its current protections were not doing enough, with more than half of what it considers abusive experiences passing through the filters. As a result, the search giant is upping the ante by blocking all ads on offending sites. Some examples of what Google considers misleading or abusive experiences are ads that try to trick the user by masquerading as a system warning, ads which do not close even after you press the 'close' button and ads used by scammers and phishers to steal personal information. In general, Google expects all sites to abide by the Better Ads Standards prescribed by the Coalition for Better Ads. Webmasters can check if their site contains any ads which would trigger Google's filters by going to the Abusive Experience Report in their Google Search Console before the changes are implemented in December, with the release of Chrome 71. Experiences flagged as abusive will be given a 30-day period for removal, after which ads on the site will be blocked. The company also noted that if, for some reason, a user wanted to see purportedly abusive ads without Google's filtering, they could manually turn off the protections in the browser settings. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we'd appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support!

Google explains how Chrome's ad filtering will work by Michael Allison Google's planned ad filtering feature in the Chrome browser will be going live tomorrow, and the company has laid out a guide explaining how the feature works for the sake of transparency. To begin with, Google's ad blocker feature isn't an "ad-block" per se as it is commonly characterized, but can be more accurately described as ad filtering. Once the feature is enabled, Chrome will automatically filter out advertisements that do not adhere to the Better Ads Standards which were previously established by the Coalition for Better Ads, which Google joined last year. Chrome will evaluate websites that run ads against the Better Ads Standards and grade them as 'Passing', 'Warning' or 'Failing'. Should a site receive a failing grade, Chrome will filter out adverts on that site, preventing pages from displaying them on that site. Chrome will give its users a notification in the browser, alerting them whenever it blocks advertisements on a website, and giving the opportunity to automatically enable all ads on that site should they choose to do so. For a firm that relies heavily on advertising revenue, it might seem counter-intuitive to want to block ads; Google says that the purpose of the ad filter isn't to filter all ads or even to filter any ads at all despite what the name implies. The firm hopes to "improve the experience for all web users", and force sites into compliance with the Better Ads Standards, claiming that 42% of all sites which were previously falling below the Better Ads Standards have now improved the quality of their adverts, and are now passing. With the Better Ads Standards initiative and Chrome's new auto ad filtering as the stick, Google isn't blocking all web ads, just enough bad ads so that users don't have to. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support!

VPN-based ad blockers banned from iOS App Store by Paul Hill Several VPN-based ad blockers on the iOS App Store will no longer receive updates after Apple decided to enforce guideline rules. The developer behind Adblock and Weblock stated that Apple has begun rejecting updates to the apps because they violate the App Store Developer Guidelines. According to Apple, the blocked updates aren’t the result of a new policy but an existing one. Apple’s Developer Guidelines read: “Apps should use APIs and frameworks for their intended purposes and indicate that integration in their app description. For example, the HomeKit framework should provide home automation services; and HealthKit should be used for health and fitness purposes and integrate with the Health app.” It’s a little unclear why Apple has only just now decided to start blocking the affected apps but some suggest that part of the reason for the block is because Apple displays ads in iOS 11’s Apple News app and these were being blocked by the ad blocking apps. Now that Apple is working to stop VPN-based ad blockers, the only type of acceptable ad blocker will be those which use the Safari Content Blocker (SCB). The SCB only blocks ads that appear within the Safari app, rather than across other apps, like the VPN-based clients do. Source: ZDNet

I got this email from Pure VPN (VPN I use) saying they're going 360 degrees. I could only wonder what it meant until I went into more details. So, they're launching a complete new security solution that includes IPS/IDS protection, Anti-Virus, Parental Control, AD-Blocking & Apps Data Usage Control. That is pretty amazing for a VPN app. This made me so excited that I came right here to share it with all the guys I have been recommending PureVPN to at this forum. And to top it, people already subscribed to Pure VPN will be getting the premium upgrade for free. Also, if you subscribe to their VPN by 30th June you get the upgrade for free too.  Here's the link I received for more details. P.S: I know I'm informing you all a bit late, since it's already 30th June. I'm sorry, but yeah you still have today if anyone is up for a grab.

Google wants to fix online advertisement with a new Chrome that automatically blocks ads by Muhammad Jarir Kanji Intrusive ads and ad blocking extensions have been the source of much discussion recently, as the increasing use of ad filtering has led to a significant decrease in online content creators' bottom lines, with many publications even starting to withhold their content until they've been whitelisted. Google wants to fix the problem and is working on a new version of Chrome that will automatically block many ads. "Online ads should be better," say Sridhar Ramaswamy, Google's Senior VP of Ads and Commerce. As a result, he announced that Google will be joining the Coalition for Better Ads and is intent on supporting their Betters Ads Standards on a future version of Chrome, to be released in 2018. What this means in practice is that Chrome will, by this time, come with a built-in ad-blocker that will automatically stop ads from displaying on sites that do not adhere to these new standards. This will also include ads owned or served by Google. Examples of ads that the Coalition for Better Ads classifies as intrusive include pages that require you to wait for X seconds before displaying the content, auto-playing videos videos sound, large sticky ads and pop-ups, among others. As part of this new initiative for better ads, the company also announced Funding Choices, which is now in beta, that will allow publishers to display an automated message if the visitor is detected as using an ad blocker, asking them to whitelist the site or purchase a subscription to remove all ads through Google Contributor. Many publishers already do this but it's nice to see Google building the capability natively. Google's larger vision for this new world of online ads is to not only provide a better browsing experience for the end user but to, hopefully, also prevent excessively intrusive or annoying ads from driving users to ad blockers in the first place, thus allowing content creators to still generate revenue as long as they abide by a few common sense rules. Hopefully, this will serve as an acceptable compromise for what is becoming a growing problem. As an online publication, Neowin too relies on ads for operating costs and, if you use an ad blocker, we appreciate being whitelisted. In addition, we have an ad-free subscription for $28 a year, which is another way to show support! Source: Google

7 Days: A week of Windows 10 updates, Apple upgrades, and Samsung's hot mess by Andy Weir 7 Days is a weekly roundup of the Editors' picks of what's been happening in the world of technology - written with a dash of humor, a hint of exasperation, and an endless supply of (Irish) coffee. It's been another action-packed week across the tech world, filled with a seemingly endless stream of official announcements, spicy rumors and a few surprises. And with the weekend upon us once more, 7 Days is here again to make sure you know what's been going on. We begin this week with news that Adblock Plus - a company that has one job: to block ads as you browse the web - is planning to show you a lot more ads. ABP has launched an automated platform to make it easier for the company to sell 'acceptable ads' to display to its users. Earlier this year, Twitter announced changes to the way that web addresses and images are handled in tweets, helping users to get more out of the 140-character limit. It looks like those changes will come into effect on September 19. It's been a great year so far for Spotify. The music streaming service revealed that it now has over 40 million paying subscribers - an increase of 10 million in just six months. If you've been looking for a solution to run Android apps on a Windows device, this may come as music to your ears: Jide's Remix OS is now available as a virtual machine for Windows PCs. Image: Shutterstock The European Commission has outlined plans to make free public Wi-Fi widely available across the EU, as well as deploying 5G cellular infrastructure within the next few years. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, which recently voted to exit the EU, is now thinking of protecting its national interests by building a wall - a firewall, that is. The head of GCHQ's new cyber security unit believes a national firewall could offer improved protection for UK government services and major British businesses. Amazon announced the launch of its Echo home hub in the UK and Germany on Wednesday, as well as introducing a new version of its Echo Dot companion device. Over in the US, an accidental discovery at the University of California Irvine could lead to batteries in our devices that don't need to be replaced for hundreds of years. On Thursday, Microsoft once again claimed that its Edge web browser provides superior battery life on notebooks and tablets compared with rivals such as Firefox and Chrome. Google introduced the new Chromecast Preview Program, allowing users of its media streaming device to test new firmware before it's released. On Monday, HP announced its purchase of Samsung's printer business in a deal worth $1.05 billion. Under the terms of the acquisition, Samsung has agreed to buy up to $300 million of HP shares. Samsung unveiled a new version of its Galaxy Tab A this week, featuring some spec improvements and, more significantly, S Pen support. But once again, Samsung found itself making headlines for all the wrong reasons as the saga of its fiery Galaxy Note7 flagship dragged on, dragging its share price down. Criticism has been growing over how the company has handled its recall of the device. It originally insisted that models sold in China weren't affected by the problem, before it recalled almost two thousand units there. In the US, confusion reigned over Samsung's 'voluntary recall', until finally - a few days after announcing that it was working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission - the CPSC announced a full official recall of the device. It said there had been at least 92 incidents involving the handset catching fire or exploding, including 55 in which property or vehicles were damaged, and 26 in which people were injured. And even in its home market of South Korea, the recall has been moving slowly, prompting Samsung to release a software update that will prevent the battery from charging above 60% in an effort to reduce overheating. Samsung says that it will begin selling the Note7 again later this month. It also revealed details of how to clearly identify the new batch of devices with safe batteries. After suspending sales of its flagship in 24 markets last month, citing overwhelming demand, OnePlus resumed sales of the 3 in those countries on Monday. But there was bad news for those in the UK hoping to buy LG's new flagship-class handset. The distinctive V20 - the world's first device to ship with Android 7.0 Nougat onboard - won't be sold there. After Google announced the start of its Android 7.0 rollout last month, Nougat is now making its way to devices on the low-cost Android One program... ...but owners of the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 LTE face a longer wait. Google says the update will be released for those devices "in the coming weeks". Meanwhile, the legendary HTC HD2 - which was originally released with Windows Mobile 6.5 - got an unofficial taste of Nougat this week. Developers have succeeded in bringing an astonishing array of operating systems to the device, years after it first launched, including Android Lollipop and Marshmallow, and even Windows RT (!!). Google published its latest official figures on Android device usage on Tuesday. Eleven months after its rollout began, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is now installed on just 18.7% of active devices, while 4.4 KitKat - which was released nearly three years ago - is on 27.7%. That's quite a contrast with Apple's mobile operating system. This week - a year after its release - iOS 9 had reached 88% of Apple's i-devices. On Monday, Apple released iOS 10 to some - but not all - of its mobile devices. However, things didn't go entirely to plan. Within hours of its release, Apple apologized to its customers after many complained of botched upgrades and problems installing the update. In the US, T-Mobile advised owners of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus and SE not to upgrade to iOS 10 at all, as the update was causing issues that prevented the devices from maintaining a stable connection to its network. That issue was resolved within a few hours. On Friday, Apple's new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus went on sale. After a week of pre-orders, the company revealed that its launch inventory of the 7 Plus was completely sold out, along with all iPhone 7 models in its new scratch-prone Jet Black color option. But some irate customers are now suing Apple, claiming the company screwed up with its iPhone Upgrade Program, preventing them from ordering their new devices. Still, those who managed to get an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus of their choice can look forward to an increase in battery capacity on both handsets. But how do the new iPhones cope with being dropped? The two devices were subjected to drop tests this week, while the iPhone 7 Plus was also subjected to the famously thorough iFixit teardown treatment. Earlier this month, the Microsoft Store pushed back its shipments of HP's new Windows 10 Mobile flagship, the Elite x3, by two weeks. But on Wednesday, it began shipping the device to those who pre-ordered it, although its store listing still shows the delayed September 26 release date for those who order today. In the UK, the Microsoft Store has begun selling Acer's Windows 10 Mobile flagship, the Liquid Jade Primo, in a bundle with a mouse, keyboard and dock, for £449. But considering the device was announced a year ago, and its specs aren't exactly fresh, that's a high price to pay - especially when the similar (and in some ways superior) Lumia 950 is available in the UK for £200 less. If you don't mind getting the device with an EU plug, you can get the Liquid Jade Primo in the UK for 25% below full price - but that's still a hefty premium over the Microsoft device. Lenovo's stylish, innovative Yoga Book - which features an illuminated touch-sensitive keyboard that can be deactivated to provide a surface on which to write and draw - is now available to pre-order in the UK. Offered with either Windows 10 or Android 6.0 Marshmallow, it's priced from £429.99. Microsoft announced details of new deals exclusively for those on the Windows Insider Program in the UK, offering up to £395 off a Surface Book and Xbox One S bundle. That's certainly a nice 'thank you' from the company to those who have been helping it to test Windows 10 - but even with the discounts, the cheapest bundle is over £1,300. It would be great to see Microsoft offer an alternative deal to thank those in its enthusiast community with more modest budgets. In the US, Microsoft is offering 15% off its Surface Pro 4 with Intel Core i5 and 128GB storage - a deal that's available to everyone, not just Insiders. Microsoft's Surface Hub is a magnificent machine - a giant touchscreen running a version of Windows 10, designed to boost workplace collaboration. But InFocus thinks it can do better - its new Mondopad Ultra also runs Windows 10, and has a 70-inch display with 4K resolution, with a wide range of other features. If you don't have a spare $13,999 to buy the Mondopad Ultra, you might be interested in another device that InFocus unveiled this week. The $299 Kangaroo Notebook looks like an ordinary notebook, but it's actually a 'laptop dock' that comes with two identical Windows 10 mini-PCs that slot into the device, and which can be swapped as needed. We've been fans of Dell's XPS 13 for a while now, and the latest upgrades to the device look set to make it even better. Dell has added the newest 7th-generation (Kaby Lake) Intel Core processors, extending its battery life up to as much as 22 hours - and it's still got that stunning InfinityEdge display too. Dell also introduced its new Latitude 13 3000, a competitively priced Windows 10 2-in-1 aimed primarily at business customers, featuring USB Type-C, and support for Windows Hello biometric authentication. Over the last eighteen months or so, we've seen many examples of Microsoft HoloLens being put to use in business scenarios, but most of these innovative uses have been limited experimental trials. But on Thursday, Microsoft announced a major partnership with industrial engineering giant thyssenkrupp, which will integrate use of the holographic headset into the day-to-day operations of the German company's 24,000 elevator service engineers around the world. Earlier this week, a credible report claimed that Microsoft may not be working on a new version of its Band wearable device, and that the company has disbanded (sorry) the team that was working on getting a version of Windows 10 to run on it. But further questions were raised on Thursday when, without explanation, Microsoft rebranded its Health app on Windows, iOS and Android as 'Microsoft Band'. It originally launched the Health app as a gateway to its health and fitness data platform. It's been a pretty big week for Windows 10 updates. On Monday, Microsoft released a bunch of cumulative updates: build 10240.17113 for version 1507 (the original Windows 10 release); build 10586.589 for version 1511 (the November Update); and build 14393.187 for version 1607 (the Anniversary Update). On Tuesday, it rolled out Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build 14393.187 to the Slow and Release Preview rings. And on Wednesday, Windows 10 Mobile build 14393.189 made its way to devices not on the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft also rolled out new Redstone 2 build 14926 from its Windows 10 Development Branch, introducing some handy new features. As ever, the new Insider Preview build also brought various fixes and known issues for PCs and for phones, although some Windows 10 Mobile users experienced some other serious issues with the new build. Coinciding with that release, Microsoft also published its Desktop App Converter to the Windows Store. Developed under the codename 'Project Centennial', and also referred to as the Desktop App Bridge, the tool enables developers to package their .NET and Win32 desktop applications as apps that can be listed in, and downloaded from, the Store. Microsoft began rolling out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update in August, but many PCs still haven't received the update. The company said that it expects the rollout to "take up to 3 months" to complete. VMware announced the launch of Horizon - its solution for accessing virtual desktops and hosted applications - on Windows 10 Mobile devices, including support for the PC-like Continuum feature. Microsoft boosted its productivity suite on Windows 10 on Friday with a new Office Insider preview, introducing a range of new features. Microsoft also launched Office Lens on Windows 10 PCs, tablets, phones and HoloLens on Thursday, as well as adding support for Office 365 and OneDrive for Business. Since its launch over two years ago, the app has become an indispensable tool for many users, allowing them to capture text for use in documents and emails simply by taking a photo. The sun set over Sunrise calendar on Tuesday, as Microsoft finally shut down the app following its acquisition last year. But Microsoft also updated its Outlook app on iOS and Android on the same day, introducing some new features that will be familiar to former Sunrise users. It also added support for Google Drive and Facebook photos on its web-based email service, Outlook.com. A new Skype for Linux alpha release made its way to users on Monday, with a revised layout for group calls and various bug fixes. On Thursday, Microsoft released an update to its Skype Preview app for Windows Insiders in the Fast ring, adding SMS and MMS support on both Windows 10 PCs and phones. It revealed further details about its plans on Friday, including some of the improvements that it's working on for the app. But there was sad news on Friday too, as it emerged that Microsoft is shutting down its Skype office in London, with the loss of up to 400 jobs. After a delay earlier this year, the long-awaited ReCore finally launched on Monday - and it's the first Xbox Play Anywhere title too, so it can be bought once and played on Xbox One consoles or Windows 10 PCs. There are now over 250 Xbox 360 games that can be played on the Xbox One, after Microsoft added three more titles to the backward compatibility list on Thursday. If you're not a fan of the white Xbox One S, you might be interested in these new color options. Microsoft introduced new Battlefield 1 bundles for its latest console, available in 'military green' or 'Storm Grey'. It's also launching a range of new Xbox One accessories, including controllers with distinctive color schemes, and a Special Edition headset. It emerged this week that an unfortunate error in 2013 led to Microsoft sending a pre-production prototype of its then-unannounced Xbox One console to a man who had ordered a new laptop from the company's store. Sony delivered a major update, version 4.00, to its PlayStation 4 this week, adding HDR support, a refreshed user interface, overhauled Quick Menu and Share Menu, a new-look User Profile, and more. Sony also unveiled a new Limited Deluxe Edition Final Fantasy XV Bundle of its PlayStation 4, featuring a unique design, along with various extras and downloadable content. PS3 and PS4 owners can look forward to the arrival of HBO Now on their consoles in the near future. HBO and Cinemax will also be added to Sony's PlayStation Vue platform. But those anticipating the release of South Park: The Fractured But Whole on PS4, Xbox One and PC in December now face a much longer wait, as Ubisoft announced that the game has been delayed until next year. Our odyssey around the world of technology is nearing its end as we approach New York City, where authorities launched a bold plan last year to replace over 7,500 pay phones with a network of connection points. Each of these street-side hubs offered free Wi-Fi, and built-in Android tablets providing information about the city, along with free web browsing. Unfortunately, the free browsing feature has now been removed after complaints that people have been using them to watch porn, including some reports of public masturbation. And finally, monkeys typing Shakespeare. Bonus content Before we wrap things up for another week, let me first highlight a few extra bits around the site that I hope you’ll enjoy reading. Rich Woods got his hands on the iPhone 7 Plus, publishing an unboxing video and sharing his first impressions of Apple's new flagship handset. Rich also reviewed the HP Pavilion x360 m3, a highly capable Windows 10 convertible device, which he says offers everything you need in an affordable package. And he also had a Flashback to the Zune HD, taking us on a trip down Memory Lane with some fond recollections of Microsoft's media player as it reached the seventh anniversary of its launch. If you're in the mood for some nostalgia, that's definitely worth a look. Stay tuned to Neowin in the days ahead for what’s sure to be another exciting week, filled with official news, exciting updates, and plenty of insights from around the world of technology. For now, though, there’s plenty more to read across the site – including loads of interesting discussions over on our forums. From all of us on the Neowin team, have a great weekend!

AdBlock and AdBlock Plus extensions show up in the Windows Store for Insiders by Rich Woods Ever since extensions for the Microsoft Edge browser showed up in Windows 10 for PCs build 14291, we've known that AdBlock and AdBlock Plus would be coming soon. Almost two months later, they're finally here. Of course, to get these ad-blocking extensions you need to be on the Windows Insider Program, and be on a version of Windows 10 for PCs that supports extensions in Microsoft Edge. The feature won't ship out to the general public until this summer when the Anniversary Update ships. The lack of extensions has so far been a significant handicap for Edge. Many power users consider a browser without support for extensions to not be a browser at all. You can download AdBlock right here and AdBlock Plus here. Editor's Note: If you use adblocking software we would greatly appreciate it if you whitelisted Neowin. Advertising enables us to continue the Neowin community. Neowin also offers subscriptions which remove advertising without the need for extra software. Source: Thurrott

The highly anticipated Edge extensions Adblock and Adblock Plus are now available to Windows 10 Insiders, via the Windows Store. Download: AdBlock | AdBlock Plus Source: https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/67008/adblock-adblock-plus-edge-extension-now-windows-store

Samsung's Android browser can now block ads by Timi Cantisano Ad blocking has become a big topic of conversation over the past couple of years, as some websites have overstepped the boundaries of civility, and instead decided to bombard Internet users with a naughty amount of ads. Not only do ads sometimes cause unwanted sadness, but they also sometimes make for a less than optimal browsing experience. Although Internet browsers for PCs have long had the means to block these unwanted nuisances, mobile browsers were still left open to fend for themselves when consuming content. While it did take some time, Apple first announced its intention to offer ad blocking in its latest iOS 9 update with many other platforms soon following. Now, it seems that Samsung has enabled ad blocking on its 'Samsung Internet' mobile browser. The update, which has arrived on Samsung devices running Google's latest Marshmallow update, will now have the ability to block content. Those on older versions of Android will have to wait a little while longer as Samsung will offer the feature on its "Lollipop" handsets in the coming months. If you don't feel like waiting, you can take advantage of the AdBlock Plus or the AdBlock Plus browser that is available for Android. With all that being said, we appreciate you, the reader, for visiting Neowin and for making it a part of your daily ritual, and hope that you can find it in your heart to put the site on your "whitelist". Source: The Verge

Source: The Verge

We all know who we are. Those (barely) technologically savvy people who know what Adblock and Adblock

Ad Muncher AnnouncementAfter being sold as shareware for 15 years, Ad Muncher is now free! http://www.murrayhurps.com/blog/ad-muncher-announcement

So I bought a Dell Venue 8 Pro this weekend (loving it so far). I was wondering what a good system wide adblock would be good to use. I'd like it to work on the metro side as well I'd prefer a free app but i'm not against paying if it's worth it

The 2013 version of the adblock - yay or nay poll. Raa will be happy since I abstained from making this a public poll. For me the answer is 'yes, on most websites'. There are several websites on my whitelist.