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Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

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Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#51

Post by kareemsabri »

greenthrow wrote: post #5

This article does not support its clickbait headline with much in the way of facts. "Analysts estimate" that Apple's ad revenue could drastically increase. Insiders talk of a reorganization. There might be ads included in more apps. The headline makes a major assertion the body does not support.

I found it useful conjecture. It presents evidence and states the conclusions it draws, with appropriate disclaimers. Based on the facts, the conclusions are not unreasonable.

- Apple has kneecapped ads from competitors, this is acknowledged fact

- Apple services revenue has grown significantly since, which includes ad revenue, this is acknowledge fact (to the SEC no less)

- Apple does not disclose ad revenue as proportion of services revenue, but it's reasonable to think it would grow as well

Digital marketers have personally told me app install ads and the like on Facebook are no longer effective, so we'd expect those dollars to move to other areas.

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#52

Post by kergonath »

teekert wrote: post #14

They talk about Apple maps and I for one would like to be able to say I’m looking for a restaurant and see the logos pop up along my route. I’m just hoping Apple will keep their privacy focus. Ads and privacy do not need to be opposed ideas. Ie, my fav Dutch tech blog tweakers.net recently removed all tracking form their ads and serve them locally. I gladly turned off adblock for them and the site was still pleasant.…

> They talk about Apple maps and I for one would like to be able to say I’m looking for a restaurant and see the logos pop up along my route.

But then you don’t really want ads: you want information (facts about the local business near your position), ideally factual, impartial and unbiased. The fact that a lot of people seem to conflate both is actually a PR tour de force from advertising companies. Do you really want the prominence of local bars being a function of the tax they pay to advertisers?

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#53

Post by vorpalhex »

consumer451 wrote: post #48
MomoXenosaga wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least Android can't stop you from installing ad blockers.

I am able to use Firefox Focus to block ads in Safari on iOS. I’ve not had an Android for a while. What additional ad blocking features would I have on Android these days?

ublock origin on firefox

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#54

Post by parasubvert »

Havoc wrote: post #30

Sounds like they're copying google with their desire to get rid of cookies / FLOC etc. Strong privacy stance on privacy for others (and in media)...but very quiet on 1st party inhouse ability to connect the dots. I have a hard time seeing how this doesn't end in anti-trust tears for both of them

The anti-trust is a bit of an odd one. A few possibilities - do Google and Apple wind up controlling the online ad market? Or - does the ad market shrink because Apple exploits it less? (Killing an industry isn’t anti-competitive per se)

Another angle is that captive audiences will be steered to other Google or Apple products. But debatably this only becomes anti-trust worthy when Google and Apple will start to buy more businesses in non-core areas eg. To compete with Amazon as the everything store.

Microsoft is definitely doing this with gaming, buying up many huge game properties.

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#55

Post by mumblemumble »

consumer451 wrote: post #48
MomoXenosaga wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least Android can't stop you from installing ad blockers.

I am able to use Firefox Focus to block ads in Safari on iOS. I’ve not had an Android for a while. What additional ad blocking features would I have on Android these days?

I would guess that the argument is that, on Android, you always have the option of rooting your phone or installing an alternative OS. So Google is a bit more limited than Apple is in how hard they can clamp down.

Personally, I don't know that that's true. It may be easier for Apple to do it because the ecosystem is more vertically integrated. But that's a coordination problem, not a technical one. I don't think there's a single major player in the Android ecosystem who wouldn't be willing to go along with a plan to lock things down just as far as laws will allow.

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#56

Post by roflc0ptic »

pretext-1 wrote: post #49
MomoXenosaga wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least Android can't stop you from installing ad blockers.

iOS natively supports content blockers and Safari extensions.

Super misleading. You can block websites manually, but you can’t add an adblocker to Chrome - so if you want an ad free experience, then you’re forced to use safari, a historically subpar browser - but worse, it’s vendor lock in.

If this article is true, this is some terrifically anti competitive behavior

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#57

Post by justapassenger »

We sell you super expensive product, charge everyone 30% tax for anything you buy on it, put health monitoring devices on you (that you pay for), have directly your credit cards in the wallet (including custom one from us) and in the end capture more data that any other ads giant now.

And we’ll use that for ads. But it’s fine. It’s locally so it’s fine and you are not a product. All because we convinced people using our deep pockets that they should only care if data is on servers?

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#58

Post by pixl97 »

TakeBlaster16 wrote: post #37
mark_l_watson wrote: post #26

Well, after selling 2 billion iPhones, it makes sense that Apple needs to start making money in other ways, such as user services in Apple+ (which I think is a good deal, especially for the family plan). Just my opinion but I don't much mind some advertisements if I feel like they are not impacting my devices' security or my privacy. I am a huge fan of Apple's new Lockdown Mode - I have it enabled 99% of the time.

After the first sentence I thought this was parody, but after reading the rest I guess you're being genuine. Why is selling billions of thousand-dollar devices not enough? Can't they be satisfied with a successful business selling hardware at high markups to repeat customers? Why do they also need to expand into ads and destroy their hard-won reputation of being a premium brand, to milk those few extra cents per user…

Do markets not demand continual growth forever?

New phones are no longer a growth market. Everyone has one, and buying a $1200 phone every year is something less and less people are doing.

If Apple totally trashes their reputation, who are they going to flock to... Google? That is just jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#59

Post by doublepg23 »

mumblemumble wrote: post #55
consumer451 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am able to use Firefox Focus to block ads in Safari on iOS. I’ve not had an Android for a while. What additional ad blocking features would I have on Android these days?

I would guess that the argument is that, on Android, you always have the option of rooting your phone or installing an alternative OS. So Google is a bit more limited than Apple is in how hard they can clamp down. Personally, I don't know that that's true. It may be easier for Apple to do it because the ecosystem is more vertically integrated. But that's a coordination problem, not a technical one. I don't think ther…

Always? I was under the impression it’s taking a lot longer for phones to get rooted.

Re: Apple is building an ad empire as its iPhone privacy crackdown weakens rivals

#60

Post by alt227 »

teekert wrote: post #14

They talk about Apple maps and I for one would like to be able to say I’m looking for a restaurant and see the logos pop up along my route. I’m just hoping Apple will keep their privacy focus. Ads and privacy do not need to be opposed ideas. Ie, my fav Dutch tech blog tweakers.net recently removed all tracking form their ads and serve them locally. I gladly turned off adblock for them and the site was still pleasant.…

>They talk about Apple maps and I for one would like to be able to say I’m looking for a restaurant and see the logos pop up along my route.

How would you feel if only the logos of the highest paying corporations popped up? There might be the best Mom and Pop Restuarant that every existed on your route, but you're not going to see it for all the mcdonalds and subway logos they throw at you.

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