Windows Mobile 10 Version

[StephaneM]

Hi,

I'm currently enjoying using Adguard version 5 on Windows 10 with the Edge browser. It works great.

I also installed Adguard for a family member on its Android phone, and thought that you should also offer an Adguard version on Windows 10 Mobile. From what I understand Adguard on Android is using a VPN connexion, you can very well do the same thing on Windows 10 Mobile (it might not be true on Windows Phone 8)

Have you any plans for Windows Mobile 10 ?

Best Regards,

 

[avatar]

We would love to, but Windows just does not provide anything like iOS or Android yet.

What's important about AG for Android is that VPN is local and embedded right on your device. This means, that your traffic does not go through our servers and we'd like to keep the same in Windows Mobile.

 

[StephaneM]

Hi,

What's important about AG for Android is that VPN is local and embedded right on your device.

Thanks for your response. I didn't know that the VPN server was running on the device. So it make sense that the same couldn't be used on Windows Phone.

Currently I'm using a local proxy when using WiFi (I do have a proxy server which simply disallow access to most ad server), so it doesn't work on cellular (well I could use VPN to access my proxy but it's unpractical).

It may be possible then to create a little proxy to run on Windows Phone (I know it's possible to create a little HTTP Web server on Windows Phone, since Windows Phone 8 with the use of socket). The question is : is such an application is able to work in the background (Windows phone application get suspended when not used by the user) maybe through the use of the socket broker and background task (anyway it seems complicated)

Best Regards,

 

[avatar]

Currently I'm using a local proxy when using WiFi (I do have a proxy server which simply disallow access to most ad server), so it doesn't work on cellular (well I could use VPN to access my proxy but it's unpractical).

Sometimes it's possible to set proxy server in APN settings (depends on your cell provider).

It may be possible then to create a little proxy to run on Windows Phone (I know it's possible to create a little HTTP Web server on Windows Phone, since Windows Phone 8 with the use of socket). The question is : is such an application is able to work in the background (Windows phone application get suspended when not used by the user) maybe through the use of the socket broker and background task (anyway it seems complicated)

I believe that running proxy in background is not a problem (yet I have not checked it).

 

[AnthonyB]

+1 on this. Definitely keen to seen adblocking brought to Windows 10 Mobile

 

[Paolo]

Sometimes it's possible to set proxy server in APN settings (depends on your cell provider).



I believe that running proxy in background is not a problem (yet I have not checked it).

Any news on developing an official Adguard Windows 10 Mobile app? That would be GREAT, and desperately needed for the platform right now.

You can port the iOS version through Microsoft "Project Islandwood" tools and then optimize it for W10M with the proper adjustment for example (time saving).

Plus, W10M Proxy/VPN work on phones same as PC if I recall correctly, and now starting from Windows 10 Mobile 14393.x (Anniversary Update RTM build) you can also set "Always background enabled" apps through Battery Saver, see link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/3053934/windows/the-windows-10-anniversary-updates-best-new-features.html#slide14

Please, consider porting it to Windows 10 Mobile too, I really look forward for this on my Lumia 950 XL .

Thanks!

-P

 

[avatar]

You can port the iOS version through Microsoft "Project Islandwood" tools and then optimize it for W10M with the proper adjustment for example (time saving).

Edge does not support Safari content blocking API, so there's no way we can simply port it

Plus, W10M Proxy/VPN work on phones same as PC if I recall correctly, and now starting from Windows 10 Mobile 14393.x (Anniversary Update RTM build) you can also set "Always background enabled" apps through Battery Saver, see link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/3053...ersary-updates-best-new-features.html#slide14

This is nice! I'll make another try and look what we can use for ad blocking after the anniversary update.

 

[Paolo]

This is nice! I'll make another try and look what we can use for ad blocking after the anniversary update.

Awesome.
Keep us posted!

Thank you very much

-P

 

[avatar]

I did some research and it seems to be possible after all.

We can do the same thing we do on Android. So, we can create a "virtual" local VPN server which will filter traffic system wide.

There is one problem though:

If your app is using this API and you wish to publish your app to the Microsoft Store, special permissions must be provisioned for your Microsoft developer account, or the VPN calls will fail at runtime. This permission is not needed if the application is side-loaded or installed through a different method.

 

[Paolo]

I did some research and it seems to be possible after all.

We can do the same thing we do on Android. So, we can create a "virtual" local VPN server which will filter traffic system wide.

There is one problem though:

Thanks again for trying avatar!

As you see, a lot of people have now high hopes to finally see some valid ad-blocker on Windows 10 Mobile too, including major Windows press websites:

Wmpoweruser -> http://mspoweruser.com/local-proxy-based-ad-blocker-adguard-may-produce-windows-10-mobile-version/
WinBeta -> http://www.winbeta.org/news/adguard-may-bring-local-vpn-based-ad-locker-windows-10-mobile
windowsphone (Reddit) -> https://www.reddit.com/r/windowsphone/comments/4uiynb/adguard_one_of_the_best_ad_blockers_for_edge_on/

You could have an huge success if you'll manage to release it on Windows Store mobile (basically, it will be the only one ad-blocker that will work on the platform for at least another year)

 

[vasily_bagirov]

We'd never thought there was insufficient demand for WinMobile version Purely technical reasons behind 'ignoring' that platform until now.

 

[Paolo]

We'd never thought there was insufficient demand for WinMobile version Purely technical reasons behind 'ignoring' that platform until now.

It would be great if all devs follow your example, thanks again

 

[Boo Berry]

We'd never thought there was insufficient demand for WinMobile version Purely technical reasons behind 'ignoring' that platform until now.

I don't know, personally I'd consider Windows Phone/Mobile a failure in general - Microsoft was too little too late to the overcrowded Mobile space where Apple and Google dominate. I would think investing in a Windows Mobile app at this point would be rather risky since the future of the platform is uncertain - the returns might not be enough to justify the R&D costs.

Almost every day I hear about another app developer dropping their Windows apps (yes, I know, some claim they're working on a UWP version, but I have doubts those would see the light of day)... and there's still no Google apps and there's no Amazon Prime Video app either. No Chrome, no Firefox or any other browsers except Edge which doesn't currently support extensions. Plus the Store is a horrible mess with countless fake apps, scams, etc. And apps, even on Windows 10, are very buggy and tend to sometimes close without reason when starting them. Even with the Anniversary Update I find it difficult to get the most simple of things to keep working, like live tiles on the start menu for the News and Weather apps.

I'd tread carefully with Windows Mobile, or else it might all be a waste, IMO.

 

[Paolo]

I don't know, personally I'd consider Windows Phone/Mobile a failure in general - Microsoft was too little too late to the Mobile space. I would think investing in a Windows Mobile app at this point would be rather risky since the future of the platform is uncertain - the returns might not be enough to justify the R&D costs.

Almost every day I hear about another app developer dropping their Windows apps (yes, I know, some claim they're working on a UWP version, but I have doubts those would see the light of day)... and there's still no Google apps and there's no Amazon Prime Video app either. No Chrome, no Firefox or any other browsers except Edge which doesn't currently support extensions. Plus the Store is a horrible mess with countless fake apps, scams, etc.

I'd tread carefully with Windows Mobile, or else it might all be a waste, IMO.

This is somewhat true due to falling phone marketshare (this due to Microsoft past errors and retrencing this year, preparing the Surface Phone next year), but I tend to disagree when talking of ROI...

This because this time Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile is almost exactly same OS, with almost exactly same Store, API and apps.
This means, for a devs perspective, that creating and publishing an UWP app for Windows 10 PC imply reaching 350+ million users right now and growing to forecasted 1 billion users in the next 2 years AND automatically do only minor UI adjustment to run and publish the same app on Windows 10 Mobile (+ Xbox One/S/Scorpio, + Hololens), and vice-versa.

Windows 10 Mobile may be 1% globally today, but considering the actual OS architecture and forecasted project, MS will never shut it down, it will always be improved and forked along with Windows 10 PC OS (regular cumulative updates every month, regular major upgrades every 6 months, like Anniversary Update), and it's only a matter of time for new mobile devices to spread (HP Elite X3, Surface Phone, new Xiaomi's, and others OEMs).

So better try to future proof apps reaching 350+ million users now with minimal mobile porting efforts than don't try at all.

P.S.
Google apps and Snapchat aren't still on the platform because of their CEOs fanboysm and obtuseness.
Amazon, PayPal and LinkedIn have retired WP8.1 because they're officially making new UWP apps for W10/W10M.
iOS and Android Stores are full of millions of crapware apps too. Android even viruses.

 

[Boo Berry]

Ultimately with Windows Phone it's a vicious cycle; Google (and other developers) likely won't release UWP versions of their apps because WM's market share is so low and the outlook is bleak (come on MS, why did you kill Project Astoria?!?), however this contributes to the dropping market share due to the lack of mainstream app support. I have no doubt Microsoft isn't giving up on WM, though in reality they probably should. And we shouldn't mention the whole Nokia disaster. IMO, I don't even think the Surface Phone will make a difference... of course, time will tell. Don't get me wrong, I really want WM to succeed and grow, but I honestly don't see it happening.

In the case of Apple and Google, they were forced (I guess you could call it that) to release their apps for competing platforms (Google apps on iOS, Apple Music on Android).

 

[Paolo]

Ultimately with Windows Phone it's a vicious cycle; Google (and other developers) likely won't release UWP versions of their apps because WM's market share is so low and the outlook is bleak (come on MS, why did you kill Project Astoria?!?) , however this contributes to the dropping market share due to the lack of mainstream app support. I have no doubt Microsoft isn't giving up on WM, though in reality they probably should. And we shouldn't mention the whole Nokia disaster. IMO, I don't even think the Surface Phone will make a difference... of course, time will tell.

In the case of Apple and Google, they were forced (I guess you could call it that) to release their apps for competing platforms (Google apps on iOS, Apple Music on Android).

Not exactly.
The whole point is that this is no more "Windows Phone OS", "Windows Phone OS" is already dead.

We're talking about "Windows 10 OS" now, that runs on phone too, and runs its apps on its Store on phones too.

Marketshare is now almost 400 million users as we speak...

 

[Boo Berry]

Marketshare is now almost 400 million users as we speak...

Which the majority is PCs, tablets, Surfaces and Xboxes.

Which brings up another thought, if Adguard for Android/iOS is ported as a UWP app capable of running on all platforms, why would anyone want to run it on a x86 platform versus the full Adguard for Windows? Would that even work on a PC running Windows 10?

 

[Paolo]

Which the majority is PCs, tablets, Surfaces and Xboxes.

Which brings up another thought, if Adguard for Android/iOS is ported as a UWP app capable of running on all platforms, why would anyone want to run it on a x86 platform versus the full Adguard for Windows? Would that even work on a PC running Windows 10?

Yes, the majority is there...for now.

Remember, Store is still the same now, so only a couple of UI and performance tweaks has to be done to extend an UWP app to phones too. So why not even try for additional marketshare (and, like I said, future proofing)?
An UWP version of Adguard for Mobile could easily work on PC's too, and on PC it could replace a possible Adguard Extension for Edge for example (and could be a practical "free trial" for a paid full Adguard Desktop with all features)

avatar and vasily would know all this much better than me anyway...

 

[Boo Berry]

If Windows RT was still a thing, a Adguard UWP app could be quite useful on it.

 

[Paolo]

If Windows RT was still a thing, a Adguard UWP app could be quite useful on it.

Windows 10 Mobile is the new "RT"