Apps AirPush - A note to Devs

[mjschmidt]

Dear Devs,

I am an end user.

I COMPLETELY support Devs making money from their apps.

Please reread the sentence above.

Now, I have purchased apps, and I use free apps that have ads in them. I have purchased some apps after using the free app for a while.

It does NOT bother me to have ads in the apps I use.

I DO have a problem with the AirPush technology I have read about today.

A backlash has already started against AirPush, see the story on Phandroid for a cautionary tale about APNdroid and the negative rating it received (as well as being flagged as Malware).

AirPush Sends Ads to Your Notification Pane (And Why I Think It’s Horrible)

As an end user i can promise you the following if I install an app and find it uses AirPush:

I will...

1. Uninstall the app.
2. Give it a bad review.
3. Flag it as Malware,
and 4. NEVER buy that app or install apps from that developer again.

I assume I will get some flames from some of you, but I am the consumer, and well within my rights not only to refuse to use your AirPush-enabled app, but to criticize you for it.

I support your right to make money by selling apps, or having ads IN your app, but STAY OUT OF MY NOTIFICATION TRAY!

 

[airpush]

We understand you don't like Airpush ads, but what if a consumer OPTED IN to receive Airpush ads, in order to support an app they liked?
Shouldn't end-users have that option?

 

[JordiDroid]

mjschmidt, I agree.

Well, at least users should not be forced to have these kind of ads. In my opinion it is good way for showing ads, but the user should have the option to turn it off.

 

[mjschmidt]

We understand you don't like Airpush ads, but what if a consumer OPTED IN to receive Airpush ads, in order to support an app they liked?
Shouldn't end-users have that option?

@AirPush: Please define what you mean by "Opt In".

Do you mean that there will be a warning in the apps description in the market indicating that the app uses AirPush, AND explains that ads will appear in the notification tray? That would be fine with me, but trust me, people won't want it.

Do you mean that after they install an app that uses AirPush there will be a warning the first time they run it saying that it uses AirPush and what it does so they can choose to uninstall it, like I would?

Check this thread: http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/328149-airpush-do-you-want-ads-your-notification-tray.html

@AirPush: I DO NOT WANT ADS IN MY NOTIFICATION TRAY. I WILL NEVER INSTALL APPS THAT USE AIRPUSH. I WILL UNINSTALL ANY APP i HAVE THAT USES AIRPUSH. I WILL GIVE BAD REVIEWS TO APPS THAT USE AIRPUSH.

 

[gblyss]

Can I just say how sick I am of commercials and ads being shoved down my throat through billboards, TV, landline telephone and computer, now my cell phone, too? PALEASE, how can I remove? I should have the option since I freakin' pay for the cell phone service. Not to mention, the ads placed are absolute JUNK and completly USELESS! This is worse than SPAM in my email because there is no filter. I would really really like to know how to remove this because I am really frustrated

 

[jhl385]

Somehow I've been subjected to the Airpush ads. I don't download many apps and I'm not sure which app has subjected me to these ads. Like gblyss, how do I get them to stop??
Thanks,
John

 

[Arfan]

Somehow I've been subjected to the Airpush ads. I don't download many apps and I'm not sure which app has subjected me to these ads. Like gblyss, how do I get them to stop??
Thanks,
John

I suggest you contact Airpush and I am sure they would be able to tell you which app has the Airpush SDK installed. Just make sure you let them know what apps you have installed as well.

 

[NZ_Nitro]

they suck

 

[think01]

Can I just say how sick I am of commercials and ads being shoved down my throat through billboards, TV, landline telephone and computer, now my cell phone, too? PALEASE, how can I remove? I should have the option since I freakin' pay for the cell phone service. Not to mention, the ads placed are absolute JUNK and completly USELESS! This is worse than SPAM in my email because there is no filter. I would really really like to know how to remove this because I am really frustrated

It's very simple: buy the paid version. Nearly every free (ad-supported) app in the Android Market has the paid version.

Making apps is a very hard and time-consuming work: developers deserve their earning, and it makes possible to have new improved apps and games (actually, it's the only way: a developer who's not earning enough from his/her apps will change work/market quickly).

 

[Groov]

I made an account just for this thread. All I have to say is: **** this stupid Airpush VIRUS. If I had the money, I would sue this bullshit company for planting a virus on my phone that uses MY DATA PLAN to download THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS and put them on MY ****ING NOTIFICATION BAR. **** that company, I will tell everyone I know, post on my blog, my linkedin, facebook, to DDoS Airpush servers and to report them as virus makers. I will neotrace their IP and strangle them with piano wire. How do you like them apples? **** you

 

[steve]

There is a free app on the market to detect all airpush apps. Search the market for airpush detector.

I agree that airpush is a terrible ad setup. Also, please don't think all devs use this!

Steve

 

[discslinger]

To the Devs who use Airpush,

get a clue.

 

[Jakar217]

I made an account just for this thread. All I have to say is: **** this stupid Airpush VIRUS. If I had the money, I would sue this bullshit company for planting a virus on my phone that uses MY DATA PLAN to download THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS and put them on MY ****ING NOTIFICATION BAR. **** that company, I will tell everyone I know, post on my blog, my linkedin, facebook, to DDoS Airpush servers and to report them as virus makers. I will neotrace their IP and strangle them with piano wire. How do you like them apples? **** you

That's moronic. Airpush ads are frustrating - I agree. But the developer chooses to include Airpush in their apps, so it would be the developer who you would need to sue if anybody. But suing over it would be ridiculous. It uses a tiny amount of data to get the ads. You can opt out at Android Ad Network | Push Notification ad network | Mobile Ad network | Android app monetization

And to mention. I am a developer who does NOT use Airpush because I don't like the concept of it. But I spend 30+ hours of my time every week developing, and if I want to put ads in my application because most people aren't willing to get the paid version, that is my right. You are not obligated to download my app, and if you don't like the ads, you can uninstall.

And Google made Android. A manufacturer (like HTC) made your device. Your phone is based on Linux. Your wireless provider gives you your data access. I'm guessing you also have a home internet provider who gives you internet access through your Wifi. All of these people are also taking part in delivering the ads to your phone, so you should sue them, too.

And you should relax. Don't get so damned angry over the fact that you have a cell phone that does almost EVERYTHING a computer can. I get that Airpush ads are frustrating, but just clear the notification out!

 

[mjschmidt]

@Jakar217 I'd like to reiterate my support for Devs, and for their ability to earn money (even a living!) from apps.

There will always be people who complain about _any_ ads in an app, even a free one. Not much to do about that.

The AirPush issue, however, is not so much about ads, as it is about crossing a boundary most users consider too far, that being "pushing" things to a place on our devices where we do not expect, and do not want, these intrusions.

I expect to get junkmail in my mailbox (even though I don't like it) and I expect to receive flyers in my newspaper. Those are two legitimate avenues for advertisers to get their message into my home.

i would, however, be incredibly angry (righteously so) if advertisers started sneaking up to my house in the night and plastering ads up on my windows so I see them when I wake up. That's just too far.

So to be clear, it's not (at least for me) that it's ads, but that it shouldn't be showing up in my notification tray, or as a shortcut in my app drawer, or anywhere else that is not inside the app itself.

 

[stainlessray]

I do not, and will never support airpush of ads into my system note space. Keep them in the apps. Any developer I find who uses the method will go on my blacklist. I don't care how essential, useful, or fun the app is.

 

[stainlessray]

That's moronic. Airpush ads are frustrating - I agree. But the developer chooses to include Airpush in their apps, so it would be the developer who you would need to sue if anybody. But suing over it would be ridiculous. It uses a tiny amount of data to get the ads. You can opt out at Android Ad Network | Push Notification ad network | Mobile Ad network | Android app monetization

And to mention. I am a developer who does NOT use Airpush because I don't like the concept of it. But I spend 30+ hours of my time every week developing, and if I want to put ads in my application because most people aren't willing to get the paid version, that is my right. You are not obligated to download my app, and if you don't like the ads, you can uninstall.

And Google made Android. A manufacturer (like HTC) made your device. Your phone is based on Linux. Your wireless provider gives you your data access. I'm guessing you also have a home internet provider who gives you internet access through your Wifi. All of these people are also taking part in delivering the ads to your phone, so you should sue them, too.

And you should relax. Don't get so damned angry over the fact that you have a cell phone that does almost EVERYTHING a computer can. I get that Airpush ads are frustrating, but just clear the notification out!

I should not have to opt out. They should kindly ask me if I want it. Why should I have to visit site after site handing out technical information about my device to be excluded from this? Why won't they stop HIDING it so I can at least just remove the app without the need to remove apps that don't contain this crap in order to locate the offender? This is unacceptable. I'm reconsidering my love of android, solely based on this. So I won't need to sue. I'll talk with my money. And yes, I do BUY apps. My wife would say too many.

 

[jonathanrz]

My opinion as a dev:
If have a customer that prefer ads than AirPush, then I will release my app with ads and without AirPush.
If have a customer that prefer AirPush than ads, then I will release another version of my app with AirPush and without ads.
If have a customer that hates ads, but have the intension to pay me for my work, then I will release another version without ads or AirPush, but I will charge for it.
If have a customer that hates ads and don't intent to pay me for my work, then I will say to him search for a dev that do community work, because sorry, I need money.

My opinion as a customer:
If I use an App everyday, then I will pay for it.
If I use an App just sometimes, then I will take the free version with ads, NEVER WITH AIRPUSH.

 

[mjschmidt]

@jonathanrz: Seems completely reasonable, as long as the apps you release with AirPush make it clear in the description that it uses AirPush so that the "customer" can make an informed decision.

I completely support your right/ability to make money from your work. I will install free apps that have ads in the app, and I will pay for apps that are great apps that i use frequently. I will NEVER install an app, free or paid, that pushes anything to my notification tray, or which puts unwanted shortcuts on my desktop.

For everyone else:

New article on Phandroid about new app from Lookout that detects/identifies apps pushing ads to the notification tray.

Find those pesky Ad-pushing apps with Lookout

 

[yuriyts24]

I use both Admob and AirPush. Admob dont pay money.Airpush pay regularly.
I think nothing awful, if user clear push notification. Read developers opinions aboud Google Admob that is awful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mjschmidt]

I use both Admob and AirPush. Admob dont pay money.Airpush pay regularly.
I think nothing awful, if user clear push notification. Read developers opinions aboud Google Admob that is awful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is an intrusion in a place it doesn't belong. YOU may not think it's a problem to clear the notification, and it may be the easiest thing in the world, but that doesn't matter because we don't want it there.

Devs opinions on AdMob are not relevant to this discussion. If you put ads in my notification tray, or shortcuts on my desktop, I will give you a 1 Star rating and a bad review, and then I will uninstall.

Remember, we are the customers. We have the power to say no by choosing not to use your app.

 

[mjschmidt]

A new post about AirPush: Airpush ad network continues to grow *cough* SPAM on the Android platformAndroidGuys

Includes a link to the new(ish) Lookout app for detecting AirPush apps: https://market.android.com/details?...&utm_medium=AndroidGuys&utm_campaign=blogpost

Remember, Devs, if we find apps that use AirPush we will give them bad ratings and reviews, uninstall them, and post their names the lists on various forums.

 

[Matzah Man]

My opinion as a dev:
If have a customer that prefer ads than AirPush, then I will release my app with ads and without AirPush.
If have a customer that prefer AirPush than ads, then I will release another version of my app with AirPush and without ads.
If have a customer that hates ads, but have the intension to pay me for my work, then I will release another version without ads or AirPush, but I will charge for it.
If have a customer that hates ads and don't intent to pay me for my work, then I will say to him search for a dev that do community work, because sorry, I need money.

My opinion as a customer:
If I use an App everyday, then I will pay for it.
If I use an App just sometimes, then I will take the free version with ads, NEVER WITH AIRPUSH.

Very well said. I definitely support developers all the time by purchasing their apps. And I click on ads intentionally to support devs of apps I rarely use. But personally, if they force adware on me I will uninstall their BS app, criticize and never look at anything they make again.

 

[uwe]

AppBrain Ad Detector can identify apps which have push notifications and also warn after installing such an app.
(also it detects apps which can place ads in your bookmarks and as shortcuts on the home screen)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appspot.swisscodemonkeys.detector

 

[chrlswltrs]

I will...

1. Uninstall the app.
2. Give it a bad review.
3. Flag it as Malware,
and 4. NEVER buy that app or install apps from that developer again.

Same actions I take!

That being said, I ALWAYS buy the paid version of any apps I use if they are available. I hate ads. I use AdFree to get rid of ads when a paid version is not available. I fully support devs making money, but that does not mean I want to see ads. And any app that pushes ads to my notificacation tray is malware, period!!

 

[mjschmidt]

!!!UPDATE!!!

See this article on Phandroid:
Say goodbye to AirPush: you can now disable notifications in Android 4.1 Jelly Beans

If/when you get Jellybean, you will be able to say Good Bye to Airpush!