The much anticipated iOS9 was released last week along with ad-blocking app called, Crystal. The content blocker application disables or filters any unauthorized advertisements particularly on iOS devices, but it seems that some retailers and subscribers are having issues on it. The app is unable to fully render the e-commerce sites of various retail stores like Walmart, Sears and Lululemon.
According to Fortune, the issue was raised to Chris Mason, CEO of Branding Brand. He said in the report, "The experience for customers will be lessened." He explained that customers will not be able to complete online purchase due to missing content and broken links to the e-commerce site due to content blocker. Mason also said that retailers will have a data-blind mode on their end.
More so, Yahoo Finance said that the images of items for sale disappear when Crystal is enabled. This is what happens in Sears, Walgreens, Walmart, Lululemon, and other retail stores that have ad-online sites. Dean Murphy, creator of Crystal, responded about the issue and said that he can remove some e-commerce sites from the app's blacklist.
On the other hand, The Wall Street Journal stated that there are companies which utilize different technological tools to disguise its advertisements and bypass ad-blocking tools. According to the journal, Secret Media is working with ten publishers in the U.S. to deliver advertisements in such a way that ad-blocking apps cannot detect it.
Founder and Chief Executive Frederic Montagnon of Secret Media commented that he understands why consumers would like to block ads on their phones. As such, the CEO said in the journal, "Secret Media plans to only work with "premium" publishers who don't bombard users with large amounts of low-quality advertising."
Apple does not have anything to say at the moment regarding the effects of Crystal as a content block to iOS devices. Meanwhile, the online publishers are petitioning to remove its names from the blacklist.
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