I need an "App Update Killer" app!

[Psychokitty]

Normally updating apps is regarded as a good thing, but in some cases, particularly with freebies, the big final "update" is nothing more than the inclusion of adware.
Now in an effort to keep this thread from turning into yet another pissing match with members who like to prance around on their high horse about supporting our app troops, I just want to say right off the bat that I've bought about 60 bucks in apps since I got my Droid. I have no problem what so ever paying for an app that's worth it. A higher price is certainly justified for apps written by persons who continue to improve upon them.
But I feel burned when an app that hasn't been updated for a long time suddenly shows up as having an available update & I download it only to find there have been no actual improvements, but rather the addition of an adware banner that takes up screen space, detracting from the app itself.
Luckily I do read the comments that have been left before updating, so I've been able to avoid downloading them for a few apps for which I know the above scenario to be true. But is there a way I can hide these apps so that the update notifier doesn't see them so I don't have wade through the list to pick out only the ones I do want to update? (The same updates that I have not downloaded keep populating the list.)

Thanks

 

[messenger13]

Three comments...

1 - Thanks for supporting the devs. Buying apps is cool. Donating to devs that don't even ask for donations is even cooler.

2 - If you were rooted, you could BLOCK all the ads and this would be a non-issue.

3 - Open the Market app > Menu button > Downloads > Menu button > Notifications > tap "Do not notify me" > OK

 

[kokiangel]

Thanks! An actual informative thread. Who knew?

 

[shademar]

Alternatively, get astro, and backup your apps. If any of them update in a way you don't like, restore the backup. In my experience, if you do so by putting the backed up apk file on your sd card and installing with the file manager, it'll install as an off-market version and never try to update again.

 

[Psychokitty]

Very cool! Thanks, guys.
I'll have to try that with Astro.
Joe, I am rooted, so how do I block ads? I have an app that shows current market commodity prices, but it has aware built in. I'm concerned that if I make such a global change, the app won't be able to retrieve the necessary info. What do you think?

 

[messenger13]

Joe, I am rooted, so how do I block ads? I have an app that shows current market commodity prices, but it has aware built in. I'm concerned that if I make such a global change, the app won't be able to retrieve the necessary info. What do you think?

There's an app called AdFree. When you run it the first time, you'll have to give it permission, normal. The second time, when it tries to update the hosts file, you'll get a Java error, normal again. Just hit the back button on your DROID and update the hosts file again.

I'm 99% sure you won't have an issue with your other app. If you do, an unistall of AdFree should fix it. If that doesn't, I'll walk you through deleting/editing the hosts file it updated. No big deal.

 

[shademar]

For what it's worth, adfree seems to block the banner ads in pandora for me without affecting the service. Not sure it will play so nice with everything.

 

[johnlgalt]

Good to know - I might try this adfree thing now that I be rooted....