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What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

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Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#141

> Alarmingly, Google now deploys hidden trackers on 76% of websites across the web to monitor your behavior Is this referring to Google Analytics? If so, I feel like "Google deploys" isn't quite fair compared to "Google's tracker is deployed " or something to that effect. But in any case, the phrasing is confusing enough to me to post here, since I want to know if it means something other than GA, which I understand…

This is the CEO of DDG deliberately spreading FUD to innocent people on platforms like Quora in my book. And he's a regular visitor there hijacking many threads promoting his business. I reported his out of place promotional answers once or twice, saying if the CEO of a company is spamming, will it not count as a spam (as opposed to normal people)? Quora didn't remove the answer, for some reason. This one is of cours…

I live in the UK and have DDG pointing at the UK. I'm currently in Kenya.

Searching for dishwasher on DDG gives Currys, John Lewis, Argos, appliancesdirect, and ao.com. All of those are UK based, exactly what I would expect

Searching google.co.uk gives Currys, BestBuy (which gives a choice between CA, US, MX), Lowes (US), Home Depot Canada, Home Depot U.S.

DDG is far better

When I search for Zoo on DDG, I get IMDB about a TV series, Chester Zoo (UK's most visited), London Zoo, and Wiki about the tv series. On Google.co.uk I get stuff about the TV series, Nairobi national park, and then stuff about Boston USA, Berlin, and Madrid.

DDG is far better.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#142
post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I moved to DDG, it took me more than a week to tune my searches for it. I was completely trained to the google interpreter and ddg works different. Now I use slightly different phrases, or ordering and it is great. I only use !g for very specific technical searches, like obscure errors.

Do you have some hints on effectively using DDG, based on that experience?

Just use it. There are no special tricks or hints needed, it is that good.

Biggest differences to me is that Google seems to handle natural questions like "how do i..." in a "smart" way whereas ddg seems to be more altavista like in that your keywords have higher weight rather than trying to outsmart you. Another difference is that Google is much better on local search thanks to its strong bonds with Google maps, like checking opening hours. For anything not maps related DDG has been my default for can't even remember how many years, over 5.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t get over ther branding. I know this is a terrible reason for not switching but I can’t stand their name or logo. If they were named something more modern and less annoying I’d consider. Call me shallow but branding is important if I’m going to use it every day.

How about something more like CompuGlobalHyperMegaNet?

Better.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the CEO of DDG deliberately spreading FUD to innocent people on platforms like Quora in my book. And he's a regular visitor there hijacking many threads promoting his business. I reported his out of place promotional answers once or twice, saying if the CEO of a company is spamming, will it not count as a spam (as opposed to normal people)? Quora didn't remove the answer, for some reason. This one is of cours…

I live in the UK and have DDG pointing at the UK. I'm currently in Kenya. Searching for dishwasher on DDG gives Currys, John Lewis, Argos, appliancesdirect, and ao.com. All of those are UK based, exactly what I would expect Searching google.co.uk gives Currys, BestBuy (which gives a choice between CA, US, MX), Lowes (US), Home Depot Canada, Home Depot U.S. DDG is far better When I search for Zoo on DDG, I get IMDB ab…

You have to select the country for it to show the UK results, I already wrote that (that is a kind of personalization, isn't it?). For the Zoo, I'm not sure, does everyone in UK search for and visit only that most visited one and not the one in their vicinity? Then we don't even have remotely same expectations from a Search. Do people also visit the most popular "Laptop repair store" in UK regardless of where they live? Google gives me results in my area, starting from the nearest one - of course, provided it has sufficient information about your City/Zip code etc. Let's not deny that it's extremely useful in abstract (keeping aside privacy based consequences).

P.S. : Had DDG been far better, they wouldn't need those Google Bangs that many users praising DDG keep finding themselves going back to.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#146
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lest we not forget that DDG plainly refuses any external auditors to verify their claims of user privacy, despite having received a large investment recently and employing about 50 people (or more now) in full time. In this case, DDG asks users to have "faith" that their privacy is indeed being respected.

Not defending DDG but it is ridiculuos to ask for a company for auditing to probe their claims. There is no legal enforcement for that. If DDG lies and they are discovered they will loose their user base. It is enough with that.

[dead]

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t get over ther branding. I know this is a terrible reason for not switching but I can’t stand their name or logo. If they were named something more modern and less annoying I’d consider. Call me shallow but branding is important if I’m going to use it every day.

It’s a duck with a bow tie. It’s adorable . Are you not human?

I guess I am not. Something about a duck in a bow tie doesn’t sit well with me.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using it for years (how many years I can't quite recall, but at least 4 or 5). Haven't looked back. If I really need Google results, I can always stick "!g " in front of the search.

You can stick !g or any of those at almost every place in the query. In fact, if it is at the end you can omit the space.

Yep. I always forget that, though, so I stick to the beginning as a force of habit.

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the CEO of DDG deliberately spreading FUD to innocent people on platforms like Quora in my book. And he's a regular visitor there hijacking many threads promoting his business. I reported his out of place promotional answers once or twice, saying if the CEO of a company is spamming, will it not count as a spam (as opposed to normal people)? Quora didn't remove the answer, for some reason. This one is of cours…

I live in the UK and have DDG pointing at the UK. I'm currently in Kenya. Searching for dishwasher on DDG gives Currys, John Lewis, Argos, appliancesdirect, and ao.com. All of those are UK based, exactly what I would expect Searching google.co.uk gives Currys, BestBuy (which gives a choice between CA, US, MX), Lowes (US), Home Depot Canada, Home Depot U.S. DDG is far better When I search for Zoo on DDG, I get IMDB ab…

not in my case. i let google collect everything they can, and the service offered by them is miles ahead of DDG.

dishwasher on google brings up argos, john lewis and a bunch of shops near me. on ddg it’s US only.

zoo brings up the nearest zoos around me as well as a bunch of other uk zoos. ddg is again US.

ddg doesn’t even know my location!

and this is, from my understanding, one of the reasons people are using ddg in the first place. and the reason i avoid going ddg. i need context aka state that’s already on their servers; instead of mentioning state each time (i’m in london and searching for vs just searching for)

Re: What is the revenue generation model for DuckDuckGo?

#150
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Offer a paid option such that consumers who want to pay for privacy / less ads / no ads can The problem is that the customers with disposable income to pay to see no ads are exactly the people that admen want to reach. So it's unlikely that any ad-supported company will offer this. It would be as good as admitting to their real customers that their inventory (i.e. us) was of "low quality".

If YouTube can offer a no ads model then it can't be impossible. Mind you, Google is likely doing other trickery. But certainly there's got to be alternatives to ad blockers, etc.

They’ll still be extensively tracking you
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