Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#231

Post by bilekas » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 1:57 AM UTC

ilikehurdles wrote: post #193

iamdbtoo wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest issue here for me is that you're charging for this app. You're basically asking me to pay you for your hard work of removing ads from someone else's hard work of creating content.

You're welcome to pay someone else making the content, aren't you? And then throw this developer another $1.99 so that the other creator doesn't have to put in more hard work to make a special ad-free stream for you.

I would happily pay some of the non spotify / subscription based podcasts I enjoy, infact I do through patreon etc.

If the content provider offers it, and I want to give it, cool.

But paying for this, has nothing to do with the provider.. At all actually. All money goes to someone who filtered out Adverts, if you wanna have a better argument you could say : can't anyone do this: And yes, but its the time and effort that goes into it, maybe release it open source and free so others can build a network of methods to remove more ads and even support the content provider without them needing to invest in a 'special ad-free' streaming service.

Nobody is telling you not to use this, just their own reasons for not.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#232

Post by teddyh » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:01 AM UTC

mortenjorck wrote: post #170

rahuldottech wrote: post #12

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…

Ok. It seems to be nearly unanimous here that as clever as this app is, it’s on a fast track to a tragedy-of-the-commons situation in podcasting. Allow me to propose a pivot. Most listeners know in the first few seconds whether an ad falls into the “hey, that actually sounds interesting” category or the “no, I still don’t need a Squarespace/Casper/Mailchimp” category. Take a page from YouTube and play the first 3-5 s…

> play the first 3-5 seconds of the ad, and then give the user a big skip button

There is another medium which has a similar interaction model, and most people seem to really dislike those, i.e. in-game cut scenes with surprise quicktime events.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#233

Post by bilekas » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:02 AM UTC

adskipprod wrote: post #196

iamdbtoo wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest issue here for me is that you're charging for this app. You're basically asking me to pay you for your hard work of removing ads from someone else's hard work of creating content.

It's not removing the ads. The ads are still in there. It skips over them. I think that many people are already pressing the 30 second forward button to skip. This app skips for you automatically, at exactly the right place. It saves the user from having to do it manually.

It's an automation tool, and I would argue you were clever to do it that way because later maintenance is easier, but because of that... The real question is: Why are you charging for this ?

It really would have been an attractive project to play with. But it looks like you just wanted a 'snatch and grab'.

Again, well done: You did the work but I wont be participating.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#234

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:02 AM UTC

b3lvedere wrote: post #160

rahuldottech wrote: post #12

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…

I really hate ads. I skip or block all of them as much as possible. If i can automate that, i will. It is the main reason i do not use regular magazines, tv and radio.

You are the perfect user for AdSkipPro :)

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#235

Post by czr » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:03 AM UTC

typo: under supported podcasts, heavyweight is listed twice.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#236

Post by sircastor » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:09 AM UTC

rahuldottech wrote: post #12

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…

We're already headed this direction. Apple is capturing usage statistics, NPR One Captures usage statistics, Spotify is absolutely capturing this information. Advertisers have gotten a taste for blood with all the data they've gotten from the web, and they want it for podcasts.

Breakdown the ethics violation you see happening here. The way I read your argument, Podcast apps have an ethical obligation to ensure users can't easily should the ads.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#237

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:15 AM UTC

waxjar wrote: post #219

This submission is _advertising_ a paid app to... skip ads. Question for OP: how would you feel about a browser extension that automatically recognises submissions of this nature and hides them?

HN Rules: "Show HN is for something you've made that other people can play with. HN users can try it out, give you feedback, and ask questions in the thread."

I thought the whole purpose of Show HN is to show what you've created. Should there be restrictions on the types of things being created?

In your example, I think the browser extension would hide every submission on Show HN.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#238

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:16 AM UTC

aloukissas wrote: post #220

adskipprod wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree - thank you!

Just realized this is iOS-only. Any chance you've built this on react-native (which will make it trivial to port to Android)?

Not react-native, and the port to Android will not be trivial.

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#239

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:18 AM UTC

nkrisc wrote: post #54

The best way to skip ads in podcasts is to not listen to the podcasts if you don't like the ads. Or, you know, pay the creators.

OK, but do you read every ad on every web page you visit?

Re: Show HN: I built a podcast app that skips over the ads

#240

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:18 AM UTC

iamdbtoo wrote: post #142

adskipprod wrote: post #117

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.

The biggest issue here for me is that you're charging for this app. You're basically asking me to pay you for your hard work of removing ads from someone else's hard work of creating content.

If it was free, you would be fine with it?