SilverWav's Journal

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Posts Tagged ‘Adblock Plus

Picture walk through: How to Download the new Adblock Browser Beta (app is hidden from normal users)

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The app is hidden from normal users as its a beta.

To download the app you MUST enrol on the Play Store beta program for Adblock Browser as detailed below:

1 – Join the Adblock Plus’ Google+ community page.

2 – Click https://goo.gl/Yv2x5q,  (select “Become a Tester” when asked).
This is a shortcut to: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/org.adblockplus.browser

Screenshot 2015-08-21 at 19.15.06 - Display 2

3 – Use the download it on Google Play link in the web page (see previous screenshot).

This opens up the hidden install page, click install and you are done!

Screenshot 2015-08-21 at 19.28.05

Written by SilverWav

August 21, 2015 at 6:35 pm

A simple alternative to Hacktheweb, aardvark, platypus or Tampermonkey.

with 7 comments

Because I hate ugly distracting cruft on websites. :-)

History:

I loved Platypus but moved on to Aardvark when it died, then created Hacktheweb to enable aardvark to save scripts to Stylish (recreating most of the platypus functionality with out the risks).

But while creating extensions can be a lot of fun, maintaining them… not so much.

Each time Stylish changes you need to update Hacktheweb to match. Tried that for a few years and… meh. So instead I just used Hacktheweb with the old 1.4.1.1 Stylish.

Also Hacktheweb was created on Firefox and I have moved to Chrome…

The Binding Flash of Inspiration:

But I had a revelation… Adblock Plus! Never really considered it after ruling it out a while ago (no widthify, no stylish, and I had hid the ABP button so out of sight out of mind).

But looking at it in this new light (looking for Simple, Quick and Good Enough, rather than Perfect).

The Benefits for me are:

No extra extensions, I am using ABP already, so no extra trust needed. Also backed by a big name developer.

ABP block element is quick and easy to use, as is transferring filters.

The Result:

Fantastic clean, distraction free, easy reading of my favourite web sites… without having to build and maintain my own extension.

Looks like a plan :-)

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[25.07.2020] Update:

So yes life moves on :-)

All in on Apple these days, bought a 12.9 IPad Pro Dec 2017 and it’s the best computer I have owned.

I also purchased a stand, a Magic Keyboard and a Trackpad.

Now I have installed @AdGuard and it is just about perfect for my iPad & iPhone.

I found that I can block a part of a web site – like a header or sidebar that’s annoying me – so we have a winner.

Via a post at Macworld: macworld.co.uk/how-to/iosapps…

RSS Note:

I was using RSS but I have just moved over to TweetDeck.

Life moves on!

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[07.04.2018] Update:

So 1st, check out the comments for a couple of extensions that others have recommended.

Next, on Windows I’m still using ABP & the block element function, because I trust them and use it as an Adblocker anyway.

Next, on IPad I have moved over to Safari on iPad solely because of Automatic Reader View.

It loads the page then Reader View kicks in, and I get just the text and main images, no ads no cruft. I use the iPad 2017 with a Logitech slim folio case, basically a 9.5in laptop with touch.

Any edge cases that the Reader View cant cope with I save to Pocket.

Too busy in RL so this is the best life hack to the web readability problems that I have ATM.

Cheers.

Written by SilverWav

July 21, 2015 at 3:09 pm

The Best Chrome Extensions For An Ex Firefox User (9 month later)

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Extensions:

Adblock Plus  1.5.4

Blocks all annoying ads on the web: video ads on YouTube, Facebook ads, banners and much more. Visit website

Close tab on context menu 0.2

A simple extension that add a ‘close tab’ context menu entry. Visit website

Create Link  0.2.9

Copy current page URL to clipboard in various formats. Visit website

Double Click Closes Tab 1.0.9

Double left/right or triple left clicks on WEBPAGE (not tab) to close tab. Reopen tab by shiftKey + DC/TC. Visit website

Force Background Tab 2.0.4

Force New Tab Running In Background Visit website

Netflix Rate 1.3.18

Add IMDB and Rotten Tomato ratings to the Netflix webpage. Visit website

PageZipper 1.3
A free bookmarklet which automatically merges all the ‘Next’ pages into one page Visit website

Pocket (formerly Read It Later) 1.5.6
Pocket Extension for Google Chrome – The best way to save articles, videos and more Visit website

Readability Redux 1.3.4

Readability for Chrome. Now fully customizable! Visit website

Scroll To Top Button 6.2.4

Adds a scroll to top or bottom button. Visit website

Stylebot 2.1

Change the appearance of websites instantly. Visit website

I use this to generate CSS code then create a style at http://userstyles.org/users/98352 for use in Stylish 1.2

I find Stylebots use of a form and click’n’pick selection easy to use, but prefer saving to Stylish.

Main thing you have to change in the CSS is adding “!important” to things.

Stylish 1.0

Restyle the web with Stylish, a user styles manager. Stylish lets you easily install themes and skins for Google, Facebook, YouTube, Orkut, and many, many other sites. Visit website

The best :-) see http://userstyles.org/users/98352.

Having the styles on the web makes it easy to add then on any Chrome browser, at home or work.

URL Pinner 0.6.15
Auto pin your websites via URL and keep them sorted! Visit website

Set “RegExmode” to “.*” then all tabs are pinned.

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Notes:

RSS: I now use Feedly via the web, no need for an extension.

Font Size: Chrome’s Built In Page Zoom and Minimum Font Size mean that there is no need for an extension.

Not perfect but with the occasional Stylish hack, workable.

Notes: The Best Chrome Extensions For An Ex Firefox User.

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Note that this post has been updated here.

Extensions:

Adblock Plus 1.3.1

Blocks all annoying ads on the web: video ads on YouTube, Facebook ads, banners and much more. Visit website

Chrome Downloads Button 0.0.1

Provides quick icon access to your Chrome downloads. Visit website

Chrome History Button 0.0.1

Provides quick icon access to your Chrome history. Visit website

Chrome Options Button 0.0.1

Provides quick icon access to your Chrome options or settings. Visit website

Close tab on context menu 0.2

A simple extension that add a ‘close tab’ context menu entry. Visit website

Create Link 0.1.1

Copy current page URL to clipboard in various formats. Visit website

Double Click Closes Tab 1.0.6

Close tab by double. Optional: an icon to either duplicate or close current tab; disable closing the last tab of the last window. Visit website

Evernote Web Clipper 5.9.1

Use the Evernote extension to save things you see on the web into your Evernote account. It even lets you search through your notes. Visit website

Font Size Decrease 1.0.0.8

With one click on the button the font size on the current page will decrease. Visit website

Font Size Increase 1.0.0.8

With one click on the button the font size on the current page will increase. Visit website

Forecastfox 2.0.10

Get international weather forecasts with this highly customizable extension Visit website

Go Extensions 0.1

Quick access to the Extensions Control Panel directly from the toolbar Visit website

Pocket (formerly Read It Later) 1.1.3

Pocket Extension for Google Chrome – The best way to save articles, videos and more Visit website

Readability Redux 1.3.4

Readability for Chrome. Now fully customizable! Visit website

RSS Live Links 1.9.0.0

Your RSS/Atom feeds as bookmarks and a whole lot more Visit website

This is fantastic as it lets you:

  • Adds different RSS feeds in a drop-down list and click to see the RSS Articles.
  • Checks the articles every x mins (I have mine set to 10 mins).
  • Killer feature: Hover over an item for a Tool-tip showing the first few lines of the article.

RSS Subscription Extension (by Google) 2.2.0
Adds one-click subscription to your toolbar. Visit website

Scroll To Top Button 6.1.9

Adds a scroll to top or bottom button. Visit website

Sidewise Tree Style Tabs 2012.11.23.0

A dockable sidebar for Chrome featuring vertical Tree Style Tabs, Tab Hibernation, and much more. Visit website

Stylebot 1.7.3.1

Adapt the web’s appearance Visit website

Stylish 1.0

Restyle the web with Stylish, a user styles manager. Stylish lets you easily install themes and skins for Google, Facebook, YouTube, Orkut, and many, many other sites. Visit website

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Updated 24.8.2013: Simplified things and just go to the built in settings page instead of using extensions.

Notes: Chrome’s Built In Page Zoom and Minimum Font Size – No Need For An Extension? Probably.