New study indicates that ads in apps cause 70% of battery drain

[tjk629]

I'm not surprised.

[bazar6]

I think it'd definitely be interesting to try this app with a rooted & ad-blocked phone, or even one that just had the data turned off, because the app is still trying to reach out to an ad server whether data is off or ad-blockers are in place. That'll help you narrow down the problem even more.

This same study could be used to tell you how much data an app can use to display an ad. WeatherBug (even tho not a great app to show the data consumption against because I'm sure the app itself uses quite a bit) continues to rotate the ads at the bottom of the app every 30 seconds +/-. I know it's not the same topic, but those with limited plans gotta think of everything (I'm unlimited, but my gf isn't)

[NoBloatware]

I'm not surprised.

Smartphone software's key functions are often:
1) display ads
2) spy on the user for "data mining"

What the app actually does is secondary for many devs. This is why I try to find apps that act responsibly. If it runs on boot for no good reason, doesn't stop running eventually after I'm done using it, or any other nonsense or battery waste then UNINSTALL.

As for adblockers, they stifle innovation. Great for the end user except cool apps and web sites that rely on ads get punished. Trust me, stuff is dying off because of adblock. Allow nonintrusive ads if you care to do a good thing.

[NoBloatware]

WeatherBug...continues to rotate the ads at the bottom of the app every 30 seconds +/-. I know it's not the same topic, but those with limited plans gotta think of everything (I'm unlimited, but my gf isn't)

How much bull are you willing to consume? Luckily, there seem to be enough decent developers out there that you can still do a whole lot very efficiently on a smartphone without having to pay one cent for software. The problem is finding the devs and the apps that are decent. I'm not sure how good of a nanny Apple is on this front, but Google is cheap daycare (to use the metaphor).

Once again, let me say: blocking non-intrusive ads strangles benevolent software developers.

[52brandon]

I'm not sure that blocking the ads would mean that the app your are using would stop trying to display them.. meaning it may not improve battery consumption.. i hope i'm wrong.. i barely use any apps that have ads anyway but its still ridicules that ads use more battery vs the app itself..

exactly my thoughts. Every adblocker I've used blocks the url from displaying, but the app still tries to do it...

[NoBloatware]

exactly my thoughts. Every adblocker I've used blocks the url from displaying, but the app still tries to do it...

And meanwhile the app is uploading your contact list, your current location, who knows what to an ad server so they can sell your info. This type of stuff is a disgrace. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and Richard Stallman is basically it. Enough wasted energy already. Let's get down to brass tacks.

[srothkin]

I'm not sure that blocking the ads would mean that the app your are using would stop trying to display them.. meaning it may not improve battery consumption.. i hope i'm wrong.. i barely use any apps that have ads anyway but its still ridicules that ads use more battery vs the app itself..

My guess is the bulk of the battery consumption for ads is in the data transmission (I think the radios use a lot more power for a given amount of usage than the CPU does). To the extent that an ad blocker prevents the app from using the radio (e.g. by remapping ad server domains to localhost), I would think that should help.

[52brandon]

And meanwhile the app is uploading your contact list, your current location, who knows what to an ad server so they can sell your info. This type of stuff is a disgrace. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and Richard Stallman is basically it. Enough wasted energy already. Let's get down to brass tacks.

I could see that. Is there no app that prevents that kind of info from being sent out? I can understand apps having to access certain parts of your info in order to work correctly, but I don't see any logical reason for them to need to, let alone even be allowed to export that kind of info

[captdroid]

My guess is the bulk of the battery consumption for ads is in the data transmission (I think the radios use a lot more power for a given amount of usage than the CPU does). To the extent that an ad blocker prevents the app from using the radio (e.g. by remapping ad server domains to localhost), I would think that should help.

yup +1

[loki993]

Ive honestly never had great luck with ad blockers. It seemed like half the time they didn't really work. I also never noticed a difference in battery life when using one, but id sure be willing to try again.