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Why I’m Worried About Google

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Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#251

Post by breakpointalpha »

gustavmarwin wrote: post #233
CosmicBagel wrote: post #192

For some reason this was also a breaking point for me. I've switched to Firefox and Duck Duck Go. It's a small thing, but boy do you start to feel like a second rate citizen fast. The state of extensions on Firefox is a mess. I can get the usual privacy extensions easily enough, but things like using media keys to control videos playing in the back ground. Or how in the phone app of Firefox you need to pull up the si…

To replace Google Keep, you definitely want to checkout https://standardnotes.org/ - Going back to Google Keep would make me feel like a second class citizen today... As for the Pixel it's ok, just switch to LineageOS, but you'll want F-Droid + Yalp, or F-Droid + Aptoide if you feel adventurous (awesome project but they are just getting started. Drive... I'd recommend Nextcloud, but then you need to choose a provider…

Standard Notes looks interesting, but isn't the root issue that these services tend to drift over time into places we don't like? Evernote, Apple Notes, etc.

Would it be better to just use something like Emacs org mode and store the data in .git?

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#253

Post by nobody271 »

CosmicBagel wrote: post #192

For some reason this was also a breaking point for me. I've switched to Firefox and Duck Duck Go. It's a small thing, but boy do you start to feel like a second rate citizen fast. The state of extensions on Firefox is a mess. I can get the usual privacy extensions easily enough, but things like using media keys to control videos playing in the back ground. Or how in the phone app of Firefox you need to pull up the si…

What do you do about your phone though?

Too bad Canonical dropped Ubuntu Touch. There are other debian-based contenders but I think Tizen is currently the only practical choice. Unfortunately Tizen's code has a terrible reputation.

So... as I type this to you Google is probably watching me. Yay.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#254

Post by _hl_ »

CaptainZapp wrote: post #40
robin_reala wrote: post #4

It’s the closing paragraph that’s the important bit: In the end, this is why I’m moving away from the Google ecosystem. If nothing else works, then at least I can vote with my feet—or my fingertips. Google have set their path, so it will take effort for them to deviate from it. The best way to show them that the effort is worthwhile is to affect their bottom line by reducing your use of their services. And maybe you’…

Firefox is fine and DuckDuckGo is good enough by now. Firefox has the added bonus that it doesn't implement a two tier cookie system. Of which one tier cannot be deleted. This, in combination with the new and improved "sign-in-convenience" convinced me that Google is exactly as dirty as any other tech company and should be avoided like the plague, wherever possible.

I recently switched to Firefox and DDG, and am pleasantly surprised and seriously impressed. Obviously, DDG is not as powerful as Google. But it has been more than good enough for me so far.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#255

Post by phmagic »

Google is a for-profit enterprise. Currently the company has optimized its products for what users want: reliability, security, ease of use. The (sad) fact is that users tend to undervalue their own privacy and data because a single person's data is not very valuable. They don't see the power of aggregate data.

The title is a little misleading because it's not Google who choosing this balance between privacy and convenience. We, the users, are making this choice. This is what concerns me.

If users choose privacy over convenience, Google would happily oblige. I'm confident of this seeing the way that the "organic" movement has taken hold.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#256

Post by casper345 »

I have an understanding on both sides. To keep our privacy is something we initially feel should be our decisions. However, besides companies buying Google services, most individuals do not pay for Google services. Chrome, Gmail, Google search, are monetarily free for us. We are paying with our information. If you use the service then you are saying yes to allow companies to enact these dark patterns, ethics aside. One could argue if the internet is a right, but that's another day

Although it would be helpful for some if Google laid it out transparently to individuals who do not have the technical slop to understand what they are "losing"

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#257

Post by user812 »

toastercat wrote: post #185
BeetleB wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that case you could use http://www.startpage.com - it's a wrapper around Google, and your information isn't shared with them.

I would use this if it weren't so darn slow. I've tried searx instances as well, but couldn't find one that functioned consistent to my liking.

Recently I deactivated Javascript on Startpage (with uBO) and surprisingly it suddenly loads fast.

Believe it or not they are injecting all kinds of ad related JS.

I am even questioning their sincerity, since the page is badly optimized for usage.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#258

Post by Einstalbert »

gustavmarwin wrote: post #233
CosmicBagel wrote: post #192

For some reason this was also a breaking point for me. I've switched to Firefox and Duck Duck Go. It's a small thing, but boy do you start to feel like a second rate citizen fast. The state of extensions on Firefox is a mess. I can get the usual privacy extensions easily enough, but things like using media keys to control videos playing in the back ground. Or how in the phone app of Firefox you need to pull up the si…

To replace Google Keep, you definitely want to checkout https://standardnotes.org/ - Going back to Google Keep would make me feel like a second class citizen today... As for the Pixel it's ok, just switch to LineageOS, but you'll want F-Droid + Yalp, or F-Droid + Aptoide if you feel adventurous (awesome project but they are just getting started. Drive... I'd recommend Nextcloud, but then you need to choose a provider…

Thank you for the recommendation for a Google Keep replacement, I've migrated over to standard notes.

Re: Why I’m Worried About Google

#259

Post by user812 »

move-on-by wrote: post #129
ekzy wrote: post #65

I've switched to Safari and DuckDuckGo last week. I can still search on google with the DuckDuckGo shortcut !g when the duck doesn't quack. I tried Firefox but it became too slow. Safari is actually pretty good, for me the main problem is that it reduced my productivity for web development (I need to get used to the safari devtools) and the lack of some browser extensions (redux devtools etc). For now, I keep switchi…

DDG's bang features are great. You might be interested in the !sp bang - which takes you to StartPage (a proxy for Google). This way you can still get the Google results without using google when DDG isn't cutting it.

I heard they still ping Google because they also have google ads on their site.
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