Google tosses ad blockers from Google Play
Bad news, Android users. Google has decided its time to crack down on all the ad-blocking apps in Google Play. Officially, the developers of apps that have gotten the boot are being told that they have violated section 4.4 of the Play Store developer agreement. Ad blockers interfere with and disrupt properties and services of third parties. In other words, they mess with the way other apps function and thats a no-no, says Google.
Its certainly possible that Google has been taking heat from high-profile app developers who are getting tired of seeing charts that show the profitability of their Android apps lagging way behind their iOS counterparts. But its impossible to ignore Googles own vested interest in kicking out ad-blockers. At its core, Google is an advertising company. The very ads that these apps are blocking are Googles lifeblood, and theyre the main reason the company is willing to give away Android for free. Every Android device sold increases Googles analytics and advertising reach a little bit more.
Androids open nature means that youll always be able to find an ad blocker somewhere. You wont find them lining the shelves of Googles own Play store, but as long as youre comfortable installing apps from unofficial sources (and you probably are if you were using root-only versions of apps like AdBlock Plus) youll never be totally out of luck. Unless, of course, Google decides to backtrack on non-Play app installs and sideloading at some point in the future.
http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/google-tosses-ad-blockers-from-google-play-20130314/