Looks like Kosmix 2.0. And that company's business model devolved into SEM-SEO arbitrage...
Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
351–360 of 477 posts
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#352Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe a compromise would be keeping the button to install the extension but add a link along the lines of "Don't want an extension?" that explains how you can use it without installing the extension and your reasons for the extension.
Thanks. THat's helpful feedback. We just added that below the extension button: Don't like extensions? Click here to make it your default manually instead.
Why would I set a search engine as default of which I have no idea if it is any good?
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#353Like many others here, you lost me at "install the extension". Hope you will come out with a real search engine instead of an install.
It's the only way to be a real search engine right now with a monopoly that blocks you from the navbar of your browser. Without that convenience, would you really try it for a few days and go back every time until you're convinced?
With that "convenience" being required, I'll never try it. Your guess what's more effective.
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#354Some feedback:
1. One time it didn’t complete the search input: I typed “math.ran”, tapped math.random in a popup, input didn’t update and remained as is (but results seemed fine). Couldn’t reproduce again, probably a race bug.
2. When I tap into the search input, the page zooms in a little (as it does by default for small inputs on iphone), which is annoying. iPhone SE 2020, portrait, recent iOS.
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#355Earlier quoted context omitted.
yea.. why? the truth is that most users have no other easily accessible way for them to switch away from a monopoly that sells them, their data and privacy to the highest bidder and requires all companies to pay a tax to exist in the online economy... if you are an expert, you can change your settings manually and hence not require the extension.
Respectfully: because nobody knows who the fuck you are, and your reasoning doesn't make sense. You want to offer a privacy focused search service, but the users need to install an extension because otherwise instead of just having a regular web frontend for the masses to try. Then it's too hard for lusers to switch; you created this problem for yourself. The more you respond, the more it looks like this is some poor…
I'm late to the comments, did something change?
There does seem to be a regular web front end, you.com. The link in the HN post was to a search for you.com on you.com. There's also a search bar at the top of that 'results' page.
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#356I installed the plugin and it instantly mucked up my chrome profiles. It felt very disconcerting and I instantly removed it. I imagine most users might not have multiple chrome profiles and so wouldn't notice, but for me it was an instant stop. What are you doing with profiles? Why does it need to be installed as a plugin?
That's a Chrome setting. We dont change anything in your profile. I guess folks here have a lot of reasonable doubts about extensions. I get it. I hate them also because many follow you around to all the sites you visit, etc. Surprisingly nobody mentioned all day that the ONLY permission this app has is to change your navbar setting. Chrome says that so clearly when you install it :) The reason to install it is to ha…
> Chrome says that so clearly when you install it :)
Sorry to be off-topic, but you should really learn how to better communicate with your potential customers.
The little smiley face and saying it's shown "so clearly" has an extremely patronizing tone that is no way to build trust. Be more humble.
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#357Earlier quoted context omitted.
Respectfully: because nobody knows who the fuck you are, and your reasoning doesn't make sense. You want to offer a privacy focused search service, but the users need to install an extension because otherwise instead of just having a regular web frontend for the masses to try. Then it's too hard for lusers to switch; you created this problem for yourself. The more you respond, the more it looks like this is some poor…
I get it. There are tons of sketchy extensions. We'll open source our extension so you can see the entire 33kB that's needed to make one settings change. Also, you can try it out in incognito mode or change those settings manually and hence give it a try :) But most people need the simplicity and convenience of a few clicks in order to give it a proper try.
bruh, i use a chromium-based browser which doesn't support extensions (or an incognito mode) as of this moment. i ain't installing chrome just for some stupid setting, just saying.
sounds like a severe case of tunnel vision...
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#358Just some random thoughts with subjective opinions:
- Too much whitespace in my opinion.
- Rows instead of columns feel a bit alien and are uncomfortable to use.
- Missing tooltips (E.g. the buttons with the arrows: Are this upvote/downvote buttons or buttons to change the order of the sections, this is not clear without clicking)
- Doesn't have a automatic dark mode (Well, it's a beta product, so I wouldn't expect it)
- Some images look wrong (Firefox 94, Fedora): https://imgur.com/a/bKdTYPj
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#359For goodness' sake, there's a middle ground for making your product sticky that doesn't need people to commit to stop using Google Search without trying your product once!
Let me repeat that - you're asking me to give up Google Search, one of the seven wonders of the online world! Yes, I know, you can still go to google.com. But based on your messaging you clearly understand that a search engine that isn't in the search bar is one that doesn't exist. And maybe you know beyond a doubt that your product is better, but you sure haven't earned that trust with the rest of us yet!
Here is the middle ground: Ask users to add you to their chrome://settings/searchEngines with a one-letter shortcut, so they can search with You by typing "y ". You're targeting technical users; we know how to work with hacks like that. There may even be a way to set this up programmatically.
I already have custom search engines set up for language study and Wolfram Alpha, and use them all the time. The evidence that this is effective is that Google seems to have intentionally crippled the keywords for competing search engines in its defaults, despite the known antitrust risks. This is an easy trial option, and if users start using your engine more, you can occasionally nudge them about making you their default.
I've just added you to my one-letter list, because a nice user shared a GET request that showed me your search results, and they seem interesting. And also monopolies are bad for the end user. But the very fact that you're making demands like this implies such a strange thinking about your relationship with users that I've got one foot out the door already.
(Edit: Okay, despite the above, after more tests via one letter shortcut your ideas about search actually do seem very decent. I guess this means Google really does have it too easy at the moment. If this is what ends up fixing your onboarding, remember me when you IPO, please and thank you)
Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs
#360I haven’t seen a more tone-deaf, smug, and patronizing CEO for a long while.
User-hostile UX, a baffling inability to process feedback and seemingly no interest in potential customers.
You should really think things through.