iAds

[Glenn]

They are on their way to an iOS device near you http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/apple-bringing-iads-to-europe-in-december-nobody-rejoices/

[Bill]

Another good reason for not getting a smart phone

[Rik]

We don't need smart phones, we need smart users.

[Glenn]

There are far more smart phones though 

[Rik]

True enough.

[Simon]

I don't quite get this, but surely they're not going to put ads all over your phone?  How is that legal?

[Rik]

Check the small print I should imagine, Simon. Interesting thought - do they charge you for the data used?

[Simon]

But surely, if someone has paid for their phone, they can't be pestered with ads?  What would happen if Microsoft placed ads all over user's Windows desktops?  It's a total infringement of privacy.   

[Rik]

I agree, I just wonder what's in the small print.

[Glenn]

Google already display ads on Androids (normally at the bottom of an app), I just ignore them.

[Lance]

I think iAds were announced back in June. The way they will work is by showing within the app (as ads do already) but some clever bits are that if you click on na ad it can take you full screen to show a video and do things such as have buttons to request further info. Once you've finished looking at the ad you go straight back to the app as if you had never left it.

[Simon]

With free apps I'd expect it, but not with paid for apps or within the OS, surely?

[Lance]

Its up to the app developer, Simon. I don't think you'd get ads within the os.

[Simon]

I simply won't use an app that displays ads.  This has really wound me up! 

[Glenn]

http://advertising.apple.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAd

[Lance]

Why let it wind you up? If an app doesn't use ads now, then its not likely to start any time soon and I doubt there are many paid for apps with ads anyway.

[Simon]

That's OK then.  The way I read it was that it would be all over the OS regardless.