Ad-Blocking in Apps is Piracy

I recently received some negative feedback on Mount Manager in the Android Market regarding my strict identification of ad-blocking applications.

The user said:

While I understand where the dev is coming from, the ad blocking restriction on this app is ridiculous. Ryan Conrad needs to understand that he is only encouraging piracy in his own app. Apps like this hurt the dev community for android.

This is not the first time that someone has complained about having to remove their ad-blocking software in order to use Mount Manager. Also keep in mind, this restriction is ONLY in place on the free version, if you purchase a license, you can use ad-blockers if you choose.

I feel very strongly against the use of ad-blocking, especially in applications. The ads that are displayed, potentially, generate revenue for the developer. If you have software that blocks these advertisements, you are preventing the developer to earn revenue, and thus committing piracy.

You probably completely disagree with me. You think ads in applications are annoying and get in the way and you never click on them any how, right?

Ok, well, Mount Manager, like many other applications, offers an ad free version, that also includes other features. But guess what, it isn’t free! I understand that you don’t want to see the ads, even if you never plan on clicking on them, and I offer a way for that to happen, while still allowing me, as the developer, to earn some revenue from the application. Remember back in the day, you had NetZero (it was actually free at one time), a free internet service provider. But guess what, they loaded advertisements up on your screen that were there while you were connected to their service. If you didn’t want to see the ads, guess what you had to do, that’s right, you had to pay for internet service.

So, that is my stance on ad-blocking applications for use with applications. I don’t expect it to change either. As long as I write applications, that display advertisements, I will have code that blocks the ad-blockers… I actually think it is sort of funny that people are mad that I have an “ad-blocker blocker”.

1Way Licensing by Atma Software

I will start this post by saying that I am, in no way, associated with 1Way or Atma Software. I just think it is a great product and more developers, especially independent ones, should know about this product.

1Way is an ActiveX Licensing component by Atma Software. The product offers a secure and flexible way to create time limited trial versions of your products at a very affordable price. License Keys (Serial Numbers) can be generated to unlock the product. It is also flexible enough to allow you to unlock “parts” of your application if you choose too.

It has basically “drop in” support for online validation for your licenses on your own website, which allows you to limit the number of computers that can use a particular serial number and track the serial usage.

256-bit AES encryption, SHA-256 hashes and data redundancy are used for all information that is saved.

Since it is an ActiveX component, it is easy to implement in almost any programming language. Including C#, VB.NET, C++, Java, PHP, Delphi, Python, just to name a few.

Some Features

• Registration can be permanent or they can expire
• Serial Numbers can be set to expire.
• Works on all versions of Windows
• Users cannot get a new trial period by reinstalling
• 1Way checks for changes in the System Date
• Trial periods can be extended and registrations changed via serials
• 1Way is entirely under your own control

You can purchase 1Way for a single individual, or a company with less then 3 employees for $39.00 USD, or a Commercial License, for a company employing more then 3 employees, for $89.00 USD.

You will not find a product that works this well, this flexible, and with the great support that Atma Software offers for anywhere near this price.