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

#251

Post by gilrain » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:29 AM UTC

SquishyPanda23 wrote: post #129

danpalmer wrote: post #47

I block ads on the web because web advertising networks proved that they had no respect for user privacy, lacked security controls around their ad delivery, and were targeting using data that they probably shouldn’t have had access to. Podcasts do not suffer from this. It’s much harder to identify a user, the ads aren’t software, just audio, so security is better and there’s not much way to see who is listening to th…

Podcast ads suffer from the same issue as most other ads, which is that they're primarily lies intended to manipulate your emotions and influence you to act in ways that are against your self interest.

That is indeed an issue with advertising, but it's not the same issue as with most other ads; at least not the one most people object to, which is the privacy and security violations of comprehensive tracking of personal information delivered via exploitable, executable code.

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

#252

Post by paulcole » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:31 AM UTC

smcleod wrote: post #247

It has just about the ridiculous ToS I've ever seen, including stating that you can't post links to it! https://adskippro.com/terms.html

I thought it was funny that an unethical app even has a ToS in the first place. Like the guy robbing my house telling me I can’t pick his pocket.

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

#253

Post by adskipprod » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:35 AM UTC

OP here:

If you are already skipping the ads with the skip-forward button in your favorite app, you will love AdSkipPro. I use it every day driving back and forth to work, and I think it's great.

If you don't skip the ads, and you enjoy listening to them, you will of course continue to do so using your favorite podcast app. AdSkipPro will not be for you.

I don't think there will be any net difference to advertisers and the podcasting community. Those that skip will continue to skip, and those that don't won't.

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

#254

Post by _wp3r » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:38 AM UTC

This is simple fraud.

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

#255

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:39 AM UTC

pan69 wrote: post #43

nickthegreek wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So its ethical to manually skip the ads but not to automate the process?

Is it ethical not to look at a billboard when you're walking down the street? Is it ethical to mute the TV when commercials come up? I think it's just your choice, right?

[deleted]

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

#256

Post by kalleboo » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:39 AM UTC

tehwebguy wrote: post #245

criddell wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some podcast companies are inserting user targeted ads into the file.

At the point of download?

Yes.

Stuff like this https://podads.podbean.com

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

#257

Post by kalleboo » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:43 AM UTC

sircastor wrote: post #236

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…

And NPR was also all gung-ho about adding a whole tracking API into podcasts https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-extra/2018/12/11/675250553/...

But no major podcast apps have implemented it (because why the hell would they?)

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

#258

Post by CharlesW » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:45 AM UTC

danShumway wrote: post #174

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 believe users have the full right to filter content they listen to both manually (by skipping forward) and via automated means (by having a robot skip forward)[0]. 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 val…

> I believe users have the full right to filter content they listen to both manually (by skipping forward) and via automated means (by having a robot skip forward).

Cool, let's automate away creators' ability to make money by giving away free content. Sure, podcasting will die and be replaced by closed, DRM-encumbered audio platforms, but then I'll just steal that same content. And really, isn't killing an open medium better than manually skipping ads a couple times an hour?

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

#259

Post by gilrain » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:48 AM UTC

adskipprod wrote: post #240

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.

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

I would. As is, it seems pretty immoral.

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

#260

Post by gilrain » Thu, Dec 05, 2019, 2:51 AM UTC

adskipprod wrote: post #241

PascLeRasc wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come on, safety is a huge stretch. You built this because you want to profit off of other peoples' work.

"safety is a huge stretch" : Millions of people listen to podcasts while driving. It's probably the most common time to listen. People skip the ads. Are you sure that's a stretch?

Yeah, you're a real hero. /s