Category: Apps

Firefox mobile browser will automatically block ads

According to the founder of Mozilla, the app currently under development will stop advertising by default.

One of the founders of Mozilla, Brendan Eich, who is also the creator of JavaScript, has announced that there is a Firefox mobile browser in the works which will be called Brave and that will provide users with a browser that will block all ads by default.

In a recent blog post in which Brave, as a company, was launched, Eich described the reason for this product.

Eich explained that he feels that there is a “primal threat” that currently exists in the current internet situation as a result of the disruption of the typical free, ad-supported web. Therefore, he is hoping to create a type of Firefox mobile version called Brave that will offer “a solution designed to avert war and give users the fair deal they deserve for coming to the web to browse and contribute.”

He explained that the Firefox mobile Brave version will be a first step in a new direction for the internet.

Firefox Mobile - Mobile ad blockingIn Eich’s blog post, he explained that the development of this new browser is going to be accompanied by a “private cloud service with anonymous ads”. In this way, the Brave browsers will, by default, block all advertising including “initial signaling/analytics scripts that start the programmatic advertising ‘dirty pipe’, impression-tracking pixels, and ad-click confirmation signals.”

That said, the mobile browser isn’t meant to stand out exclusively because of its ad blocking features. Eich also pointed out that it is being designed to be a “browser-based ad-tech platform.” In this way, it will be removing all ads and, once they’re gone, Brave will place a small number of standard-sized spaces onto web pages through the use of a cloud robot. This will allow the browser to insert its own ads that will be targeted through the use of “browser-side intent signals phrased in standard vocabulary”. They won’t use either persistent cookies or user identification.

The hope is that this Brave Firefox mobile version will help to boost the privacy and speed of internet navigation over smartphones and tablets. This will because it will weed out data-consuming tracking software and ads. The claim from Brave is that this can create a load time that is up to four times better.

Samsung Pay rolls out in Spain

The mobile payments service has just stepped into the Spanish marketplace through CaixaBank.

Consumers in Spain now have a new opportunity to use mobile payments, as Samsung Pay has rolled out its service in the country, following a deal that has brought it its first support from financial services in the country in the form of ImaginBank, a subsidiary of CaixaBank.

This will make it possible for customers with certain models from the brand to pay using their smartphones.

As of yet, mobile payments have not been tremendously successful in the country. Some banks have already attempted to offer their support to Apple Pay, but when it actually came to enabling the service with their cards and point of service readers, they have appeared to be less motivated. Yet, Samsung Pay has managed to obtain the support of CaixaBank and it has become immediately effective.

A press release has confirmed the partnership between the bank and Samsung Pay for Spanish consumers.

Samsung Pay - Flag of SpainThe bank released the PR in order to reveal that it has become the “key partner” with Samsung in its mobile payments in terms of its “promotional campaign strategy.” In this strategy, there will be 700,000 consumers across the country who will have immediate access to this m-payments service.

The bank has expressed a considerable amount of enthusiasm, which is being seen as a nod to the potential that comes along with mobile payments platforms such as that with which it has just connected itself. When taking into consideration that the bank already owns its own mobile payments service called CaixaBank Pay, which launched last September, it is quite notable that it is as involved as it is in this second option, as well.

The bank stated that supporting Samsung Pay is a demonstration of its dedication to “developing its payment method innovation strategy with the aim of incorporating the latest global trends in its offer.” This is also being seen as a positive move for Samsung’s mobile wallet, which has been working hard to try to keep up in the race against its top rival, Apple Pay. The Apple wallet has also been spreading into new markets worldwide. It’s expected that the service will also be seen in the U.K and China, before long.