Free apps are the lifeblood of Android. Unfortunately, unruly advertising is ruining them — and Google isn't helping at all.

Ads are one of the ways to keep some websites and app developers afloat. They keep costs down and enable free content. Some of your favorite fan sites are likely ad-driven. But sometimes, too many can ...

I swapped five of my most-used Android apps for open-source alternatives, and the only thing I miss is the ads I left behind.