By 
A while back, I wrote about AirPush and how horrible it was for the future of free applications. It’s a model that has huge potential as far as generating revenue goes, but is such a sick way of advertising. In short, even if you exit an AirPush-enabled application, they may still show you ads in your notification bar. Imagine how many people see “You have a new email” and accidentally click on it, only to be taken to the market. I think it’s wrong to be able to do this, but unfortunately, there’s no law that says developers can’t.
I won’t go into my tirade – that was what the original post was for. But I am here to tell you that, should you ever accidentally download an application with AirPush and can’t figure out who the culprit is, there’s an app out there to help you. It’s called AirPush Detector and does exactly what it says.
You can’t disable the functionality in your application of choice, but it’ll make finding out who’s responsible a lot easier. It’s free and worth a download if you have one of these applications but can’t seem to find out who exactly is taking over your notification bar. Find it in the market here. [via AndroidForums.com]
[Update]: I didn’t know this tool existed, but now I do thanks to one of our great readers (thanks Mark!). AirPush Permanent Opt-Out is an official application from the folks at AirPush that lets folks opt-out of any advertisements. Meaning, yes, you can continue using that useful application you liked without AirPush ruining it for you. Go ahead and grab it in the Android market.
That would probably be “, there’s no law” not “now”, unless i missed something
(@ last line, first paragraph)
Yep. Typo.
I see no typo!!! Great article and great app!!!
I edited it. :)
I’m not sure Overlord is a fitting title for the Android guy. He isn’t a tyrannical oppressor who forces his will upon us. To quote the Princess Bride, ” You keep using that word, I don’t think it means what you think that it means”. I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right when I read it.
This comment is meant to be light-hearted. I’m not trying to offend anyone.
Ah, but I could have the same concerns with your argument. Who’s to say an overlord always has to be a tyrannical oppressor?
In fact, here’s the definition of an overlord:
“: a lord over other lords : a lord paramount
: an absolute or supreme ruler”
As per the Merriam-Webster files. Other dictionaries mention that an overlord is usually anyone of great power or authority. That doesn’t necessarily mean said person is a tyrant.
Overlord = good, when it comes to Android. :)
that is awesome. just a couple days ago i literally wiped out several apps i recently installed because i got some stupid random ad in my notification bar. the ad was completely irrelevant to anything i had on my phone so i had no idea where it came from and possibly ditched many ‘good’ apps. this is a fantastic app idea that i cannot wait to try. thanks!
I refuse to support any dev who incorporates airpush notifications into their apps. I will gladly pay for an app or click ads for a dev. But i definitely won’t support airpush notifications.
It’s great someone created this app.
I agree. Any app that I run into with this gets the developer on my personal black list of apps to never use.
As a both an app user and a developer I cannot stand push notification ads. I have been approached several times to implement such a service in my apps and I refuse.
Devs that use these tactics give all of us devs a bad name. I have had several emails from users of my apps mistakenly think that my app used these ads. up until now it’s been impossible for users to know for certain who is using their phone and their service as a free billboard.
And for that you are an awesome dev. :)
These Air Push SCUMBAGS are friggin SLICK!! They have put out this app in hopes that people download it because they are trying to get people to GET MORE ADS!!! Its simple. If you download the opt out app you are presented with 2 choices to opt out 1 of them in big letter says, “NO THANKS” Well one would think that you would click, “NO THANKS” meaning, “no thanks I dont want ads” BUT IN FACT by clicking on NO THANKS you are agreeing to have ads! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY when using their deceptive opt out app.
This has been my stance as well. Not only does it cause major amounts of concern in end users, but it causes heavy amounts of end-users leaving the app all together. Some ad revenue is much better than no ad revenue.
Google should step in and ban this platform. it’s very invasive.
AirPush will fail. It will take a little while, and some stupid devs will see their apps abandoned and their reputations destroyed, but eventually AirPush won’t be able to find any more suckers.
Man it’s a slow day for Android news.
Why do you keep saying that? I mean, believe me, it is. But what’s so bad about informing users about a very useful tool?
I don’t care how good an app is, if this is used on any app it will be removed. As a long time Android user and I hate to say this but if airpush becomes very popular as in most devs using it I will be moving back to an iphone.
Root+AdFree Android=Happyness
it doesn’t block airpushed ads though.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.airpush.optout&feature=more_from_developer
Um, what about this app? Can’t you opt out of Airpush with it?
Great find! Didn’t think that existed. Thanks for pointing it out!
These Air Push SCUMBAGS are friggin SLICK!!
They have put out this app in hopes that people download it because they are trying to get people to GET MORE ADS!!!
Its simple.
If you download the opt out app you are presented with 2 choices to opt out 1 of them in big letter says, “NO THANKS”
Well one would think that you would click, “NO THANKS” meaning, “no thanks I dont want ads” BUT IN FACT by clicking on NO THANKS you are agreeing to have ads!
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY when using their deceptive opt out app.
Thanks for the recommendations for the air push detector and air push opt out apps. But can anyone explain why the air push optout app requires permissions for internet access please.
Who cares….just opt-out and stop getting emotionally distressed. There’s better news out there.
The only app I’ve come across that uses airpush is JDisk benchmark. Imagine my surprise when I extracted the apk and couldn’t find that white star w orange circle. Luckily, airpush routes through the app so I knew which app to remove, and which Dev to publicly put on blast. A few already beat me to it but I wish the devs that use airpush would be given 10 days to fix it or be banned from the market for life
Hello,
If you recently received an
Airpush ad, this came from an application you downloaded
that is using our service. Airpush is an advertising network
created for Android developers to effectively monetize their
free applications.
If you do not wish to
support applications with Airpush you can permanently opt-out of receiving our ads
by downloading our opt-out app here https://market.android.com/details?id=com.airpush.optout
OR please visit out opt-out page:
http://www.airpush.com/optout using this will remove your
Android device from our network.
Thanks,
Airpush Support Team
Hello,If
you recently received an Airpush ad, this came from an application
you downloaded that is using our service. Airpush is an advertising
network created for Android developers to effectively monetize their
free applications.
If you do
not wish to support applications with Airpush you can permanently
opt-out of receiving our ads by downloading our opt-out app here
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.airpush.optout
OR please visit out opt-out page: http://www.airpush.com/optout
using this will remove your Android device from our network.
Thanks, Airpush Support Team