171–180 of 285 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Some people would prefer not to listen to podcasts at all, if they had to listen to ads.
Then they can do that. It's pretty simple to do. You just decide the transaction isn't worth it, and then not execute the transaction. I do it whenever I decide not to buy a Tesla. Edit: meant to say I regularly don't buy a Tesla, not regularly do. College student, definitely couldn't afford one
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Podcasts and podcast advertisers know we can skip them, they accept this. If they see a lot of users skip ALL of them, it isn't okay.
Some people would prefer not to listen to podcasts at all, if they had to listen to ads.
Would you mind sharing what approach did you use to trim the ads? Did you manually detect the ads and then trimmed the file or are you using an automatic (perhaps ML-based) approach?
It downloads the podcast, finds the ads, plays it, and skips over the ads. The ads are still in there. After it skips the ads, you could manually skip backwards and hear that they are still there.
Cool idea? Yes. Good idea? No. If we do stuff like this, the podcast industry will switch to a closed system which would require you to install proprietary apps to listen to stuff. Likely several different apps for different shows and companies. As it exists today, it's a very open system, with publicly accessible feeds and the ability to use any app. Don't ruin it. It's not hard to press the "skip forward 30 seconds…
The benefit of podcasts being an open system -- of them being raw MP3 files, is that users can manipulate and control the content they're being served. An open, ethical system that can only exist because users don't exercise their rights is of little value.
There are already segments of the industry that want to turn podcasting into a closed system (see Spotify), because as good as the current model is, it's still more profitable to turn podcasting into a top-down controlled system with gatekeepers. If business interests are currently what is keeping the ecosystem open, then I think we're doomed, because Netflix is always going to be the more profitable business model.
I made SponsorBlock (https://sponsor.ajay.app/), which is a similar premise for YouTube videos except free, open source, and with a publicly downloadable database. I posted about it on HN back in August.
I'd be curious if you'd be willing to do what I've done here and make it more open. When you are dealing with things like this (ad blocking), it gives you more of a responsibility to share.
Anyway, how do you do this? Is it a reporting system? Or is there some kind of algorithm you made?
And now suddenly (looking at a lot of the comments here) ad-blocking is about privacy? I simply don't want to see/hear crap, period.
"I want people to spend the equivalent of a full-time job researching content, writing shows, organizing guest appearances, producing high-quality audio, and marketing/distributing it to me. I'm prepared to pay exactly $0 for this, and I can't not be entertained for a 30-second sponsor spot."
Founder here: I think that many people already skip the ads using the 30 second skip forward button. I know I did before building this app. I'm also thinking about safety -- people driving their car and reaching for their phone to skip the ads.
Cool idea? Yes. Good idea? No. If we do stuff like this, the podcast industry will switch to a closed system which would require you to install proprietary apps to listen to stuff. Likely several different apps for different shows and companies. As it exists today, it's a very open system, with publicly accessible feeds and the ability to use any app. Don't ruin it. It's not hard to press the "skip forward 30 seconds…
Anecdotally, I listen to a podcast where they make money off merch and Patreon only. No need for advertising.
Let them read all the NordVPN and Dollar Shave Club ads they want. I'd rather put up with that than the wastage that goes into production of merch and swag.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Then they can do that. It's pretty simple to do. You just decide the transaction isn't worth it, and then not execute the transaction. I do it whenever I decide not to buy a Tesla. Edit: meant to say I regularly don't buy a Tesla, not regularly do. College student, definitely couldn't afford one
Transaction? I asked for an MP3 and you sent it. Transaction over.