Disallow animated avatars and signatures


Recommended Posts

 

I believe most browsers also allow users to apply custom stylesheets to all pages, so extensions are not necessary. The following snippet works in IE11 on Windows 8, where ##### is the number of the member's avatar image. Mine would be 17075, I think. I suppose it would not be impossible to tweak it so that you block all avatars that are GIFs, but it can't, I think, discriminate between animated or not.

img[src*="av-#####"] {
 visibility: hidden !important;
}

 

The stylesheets is what causes massive memory usage

ad blockers, how to make your browser used 4+ times as much memory in the effort in the belief you're trying to save resources. 

actually no, using a simple regex text replacement, you can remove user signature easily.

 

example using proxomitron:

 

URL = "www.neowin.net/forum/topic/*"
Match = "<div class="signature"*</div>"
Replace = ""

I don't want to remove signatures or avatars, I want annoying animated ones gone. 

 

I use ad-block for avatars that are annoying. I've had Hum's avatar blocked since before I registered an account. I don't activate the general adblock for Neowin but I do specify the avatars that become an annoyance. We can't disallow something for thousands of users just because we aren't happy with the quality.

 

We are in an age of technology where we can customize and modify anything to our personal standards. This is a prime example of where such technological capabilities could be utilized. We just need to be thaumaturgic with our resources sometimes.

Sorry but if you don't like my blinking budman logo you can just FO!! ;)

Why is this topic of discussion? Here is what I do, I dislike signatures - they are turned off, simple as that. Did I go crying that should be banned for everyone? If I didn't like avatars - turn them off.. Block the ones you don't like with a proxy or software - if your worried about the resources adblocker or style sheets are using. Buy a faster freaking machine or more ram ;)

  • Like 3

Didn't even notice NW allowed them till this topic - Shows how much they must have been annoying me lol.

 

As others have said I would be surprised if 99% of Neowin didn't have adblock installed, just block images you don't like. 

and again, ad blocks cause browsers to have ridiculous memory usage because of their stylesheets. 

 

If you use Chrome - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/%C2%B5block/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en

 

I refuse to believe with whatever browser you are using you aren't using some sort of blocking :/ Even software wise (Admuncher?)

"and again, ad blocks cause browsers to have ridiculous memory usage because of their stylesheets. "

What are you on some box with 640K of ram or something?? What does it matter if my browser uses 500MB or 1GB when there is 12GB in the system?

So what do you think is a ridiculous amount of memory?

edit:

So I did a little test - simple enough I restarted FF with adblocker running, went to few of my fav sites

post-14624-0-14748800-1412685268.png

I then disabled adblock, and restarted FF and went to those same sites

post-14624-0-24971900-1412685452.png

Maybe 30MB difference -- clearly I need to turn that off, I mean 30 whole MB.. WTF???? ;)

"and again, ad blocks cause browsers to have ridiculous memory usage because of their stylesheets. "

What are you on some box with 640K of ram or something?? What does it matter if my browser uses 500MB or 1GB when there is 12GB in the system?

So what do you think is a ridiculous amount of memory?

edit:

So I did a little test - simple enough I restarted FF with adblocker running, went to few of my fav sites

attachicon.gifwithadblock.png

I then disabled adblock, and restarted FF and went to those same sites

attachicon.gifyeahsomuchhigher.png

Maybe 30MB difference -- clearly I need to turn that off, I mean 30 whole MB.. WTF???? ;)

 

Ad blocks cause browsers to chomp up 6+ gigs of memory, in any browser due to the way their stylesheets work.

 

I would have used a software solution, but the one I tried had a thirty day trial and caused issues with some pages where it delayed loading of pictures long enough for the site scripts to not show the pictures at all unless you repeatedly refreshed a few times.  and Im not really going to pay for an ad blocker. 

I have had adblock for ages now and have never seen it eat even over 1gig

 

if your browser is using 6gig RAM maybe something else needs looked at

"Ad blocks cause browsers to chomp up 6+ gigs of memory, in any browser due to the way their stylesheets work. "

Yeah clearly that is everyone use case :rolleyes: -- see my example.. That 30MB it used vs the 6GB your talking about - close enough ;)

I agree if your seeing 6 GB in browser usage you have something WRONG!!! I have left my browser running for days on end and never got anywhere close to 2GB, with lots and lots of tabs open..

If you are opening so many sites in tabs that it uses up 6GB, I wouldn't be blaming it on the style sheets that is for damn sure.. Why don't you just show us this usage via adblocker and your tabs and no adblocker and your tabs

Here I opened up ever single tab I could think of - 60 plus tabs!!

post-14624-0-41581700-1412689403.png

Adblocker enabled!! Got right around 1GB.. How much do you think it would be with ad blocker off??

Now I turned OFF adblocker and restarted firefox - it reopens all 60 some tabs..

post-14624-0-17271000-1412689885.png

OMG --- look at that I right around 1 GB - what maybe 30MB difference?? Yeah clearly your nuts to run an adblocker if your worried about saving resources ;) How many possible tabs could you be having open that your using 6GB?? Clearly that has to be productive.. If you have more open than what shows up on the top of your screen you should prob rethink what your doing.

And look at that cpu usage with all those freaking ads reloading all the time ;) Clearly the machine is more responsive with adblock on vs off

edit: What the hell is network doing there with adblockers OFF.. Great now prob got some driveby!! ;)

Topic seems to be going a bit oftopic, anyway: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gif-jam-animation-stopper/bclnijbemellankmoaafepibbboobalb?hl=en

This is one of the hundreds of gif blockers available for chrome firefox etc. If you really can't stand gif's consider using this :p

I have no problem with adblock .... my browser does not slow me down with adblock on. I also have very long list of the hosts file. My computer runs fast enough. Not a problem.

 

If you have that slowdown problem... like Budman said, get more ram or new computer. Remember, not all of the computers are same...  Some runs smoothly and fast, while others run slow.. Which some features do not work on some of the computers...  such as errors, BSOD, etc.

 

 

Stop complaining or whining...  if you don't like any of the animated gifs, block them with adblock image block feature, stylish, or ignore user. 

 

That simple.

 

Runs barely same RAM amount, no matter if the adblock is on or not.

 

You have been whining over the little stupid thing.

"Ad blocks cause browsers to chomp up 6+ gigs of memory, in any browser due to the way their stylesheets work. "

Yeah clearly that is everyone use case :rolleyes: -- see my example.. That 30MB it used vs the 6GB your talking about - close enough ;)

I agree if your seeing 6 GB in browser usage you have something WRONG!!! I have left my browser running for days on end and never got anywhere close to 2GB, with lots and lots of tabs open..

If you are opening so many sites in tabs that it uses up 6GB, I wouldn't be blaming it on the style sheets that is for damn sure.. Why don't you just show us this usage via adblocker and your tabs and no adblocker and your tabs

Here I opened up ever single tab I could think of - 60 plus tabs!!

attachicon.gif60plustabs.png

Adblocker enabled!! Got right around 1GB.. How much do you think it would be with ad blocker off??

Now I turned OFF adblocker and restarted firefox - it reopens all 60 some tabs..

attachicon.gif60plustabsadblockOFF1.png

OMG --- look at that I right around 1 GB - what maybe 30MB difference?? Yeah clearly your nuts to run an adblocker if your worried about saving resources ;) How many possible tabs could you be having open that your using 6GB?? Clearly that has to be productive.. If you have more open than what shows up on the top of your screen you should prob rethink what your doing.

And look at that cpu usage with all those freaking ads reloading all the time ;) Clearly the machine is more responsive with adblock on vs off

edit: What the hell is network doing there with adblockers OFF.. Great now prob got some driveby!! ;)

 

 

Maybe if you didn't act like you're so much better in your replied all the time.

 

 

Fact is ad blockers work by applying a giant stylesheet to every page you load, this causes webpages to use a lot more memory than they normally would, usually several times as much as just the webpage alone unless it's a very heavy webpage. 

 

But seeing as you're unable to accept any fault in your own hypothesises. 

 

post-69433-0-02353300-1412693637.jpg

This is a fairly recent opening of chrome with a recently restarted machine no other addons running constantly. 

 

This is how ad block works, unless you use ad muncher or similar.

I come to this site for its content, not to look at avatars. I personally have no problem with them, it sets people apart and helps put names to faces (avatars).

 

If Neowin wants to implement a feature to turn off avatars or animations, I have no problem. The more options the better I guess.

As far as I can tell, it's an odd limitation of IPB.

 

I believe there are ways to add this feature through an addon (forum backend side), but I don't know if it'd be worth the effort, given the problems it might create with the customization of the website. (e.g. how it looks on the news comments and other areas)

 

Wish I had more I could tell ya. I like blocking avatars too when I'm at work. Browser scripts/extensions seem to be about it.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • After I installed KB5095093, the volume on my ARM laptop won't go above 20%. It's stuck on the hearing protection level, which is pretty much useless if you want to listen to anything. I rolled back.
    • Amazon Prime Day slashes Samsung's newest Galaxy Watch Ultra by 45 percent by Karthik Mudaliar Samsung’s flagship Android smartwatch has received one of its steepest Prime Day cuts. Amazon has dropped the 2025 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra in Titanium Blue to $357.24, saving buyers around $292 from its $649.99 list price. That's a 45 percent discount (purchase link below). The 47mm Galaxy Watch Ultra uses a titanium casing and a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480 and peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It includes LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC, and dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS for more accurate outdoor route tracking. The 2025 model has 64GB of storage, a 590mAh battery, sapphire crystal glass, 10ATM water resistance, IP68 protection, and MIL-STD-810H durability testing. Its health and fitness tools include heart rate monitoring, sleep coaching, Energy Score, Running Coach, body composition analysis, temperature sensing, and ECG support, where available. This model is best suited to Android users who regularly run, hike, cycle, or train outdoors and want cellular access without carrying a phone. The larger battery, rugged construction, bright display, and dedicated Quick Button also make it a stronger option than Samsung’s regular Galaxy Watch models for extended workouts and demanding environments. Grab the Titanium Blue Galaxy Watch Ultra before the Prime Day price resets: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) [Sold and Shipped by Amazon] Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Google begins rolling out its post-Epic Play Store billing model next week by Karthik Mudaliar Google has confirmed that its redesigned Play Store billing and fee structure will take effect on June 30, 2026, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Economic Area. The changes will let eligible developers offer their own payment systems or send users to an external website for purchases, while separating Google’s platform service fee from the cost of using Google Play Billing. The rollout puts concrete dates and detailed rate cards behind the broader Android policy overhaul Google announced in March. That announcement followed a proposed settlement with Epic Games intended to resolve their long-running disputes over app distribution and payments, although the U.S. portion of the agreement still requires court approval. Under the new billing choice program, developers selling digital content or services can display an alternative payment option alongside Google Play Billing. They may also direct users to their own websites to complete a purchase. Developers can use Google’s standard payment-choice screen or design one that complies with the company’s user-interface rules. Choosing another payment processor does not eliminate Google’s cut altogether. The company will continue charging a service fee for transactions associated with apps distributed through Google Play, regardless of whether payment is handled by Google, an alternative provider, or a developer’s website. Google argues that this fee covers the value and infrastructure provided by Android and the Play Store. For developers earning up to $1 million annually, the service fee will generally be 10 percent. That rate also applies to auto-renewing subscriptions. When Google Play Billing is used in the U.S., U.K., or EEA, Google will add a separate 5 percent billing fee, and developers processing payments elsewhere will not pay that additional charge. This means Google’s familiar flat 30 percent commission is disappearing, but developers will not necessarily see a dramatic reduction on every transaction. An in-app purchase from an existing user processed through Google Play Billing can still reach a combined 30 percent. The biggest savings are likely to come from subscriptions, smaller developers covered by the $1 million tier, and companies able to move customers to their own payment infrastructure. Google is also offering lower rates through its Apps Experience and revamped Games Level Up programs. Apps and games that satisfy the company’s requirements can qualify for 15 percent service fees on new-install transactions and 20 percent on existing-install transactions. The criteria include performance and reliability standards, support for additional Android device categories, and selected platform features. Those program rates are scheduled to become available in the initial markets and Australia on September 30. For consumers, the immediate effect will depend on whether developers adopt alternative payments and pass any savings on through lower prices. For developers, however, June 30 begins a more flexible but considerably more complicated Play Store economy in which distribution, billing, install dates, revenue thresholds, and program participation can each affect Google’s final cut. Google is also separately developing a Registered App Stores program designed to simplify the installation of qualifying third-party stores. That initiative is expected to arrive with a major Android release later in 2026 and will launch outside the U.S. first. Google says the rest of the world will receive the changes by September 30, 2027, although billing rates for markets outside the US, UK, and EEA have not yet been announced.
    • 38% off a super insane price is still an INSANE price.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      Tom Schmidt earned a badge
      First Post
    • One Month Later
      D0nn13 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Rookie
      +ChiefOfNeo went up a rank
      Rookie
    • One Year In
      Tom Schmidt earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      464
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      177
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      124
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      81
    5. 5
      Xenon
      76
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!