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Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

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Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#311

Post by mwambua »

bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

Yeah, it would be nice if it was easier to test... so that people could assess whether or not they like it. Instead, we get this hostile experience where we're forced to make it the default search engine before we know if we want to use it.

It's also concerning that they're throwing around "privacy" like a buzzword... but aren't sharing how they plan to monetize the platform in the future. That plus the dark patterns will make it a no-go for me.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#312

Post by bugfix »

richardsocher wrote: post #245
smoldesu wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's indeed unfortunate, I hope you reconsider.

yea. we'll revisit it from time to time. most people who REALLY dont want to install our extension probably won't do it after 2 searches either? and sadly, the 2tr$ monopoly that is Google made this the only way for us to provide the convenience of a navbar search right now? hopefully we can be a default option at some point or we'll have to build our own browser :)

Honestly, I won't install your extension because I don't know who you are. Having it as an option would be great. People here have seen _many_ stories about extensions being silently updated with malware.

I really hope you reconsider. So far I've got great results for the queries I ran in Incognito mode, but I will not install an extension just so I can change my search engine.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#313

Post by MartinMcGirk »

richardsocher wrote: post #260
somenewaccount1 wrote: post #135

I 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…

Not to flog a dead horse here, but your argument is that without the extension people will try it a couple of times and then forget about you.com, and go back to default.

But your target demographic is here telling you that with the extension requirement, they will try it zero times, because they don't want to change their default to a service they haven't tried yet.

A better idea would be to unblock search, show results to everyone regardless of browser defaults, and push hard for the extension install on the search results page once people can see the value prop you're offering.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#314

Post by DangitBobby »

foerbert wrote: post #269
richardsocher wrote: post #236

Earlier 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.

Edit: I now believe the website was, in fact, changed. Original comment below, most individual bits still relevant aside from the overall conclusion that the pieces added up to accidental confusion. Apparently concluding HN folk were bad at understanding even poorly displayed tech was not wise. Who knew? I probably should have realized that was not a good bet. At this point I consider the apparent lack of understandi…

Regarding your feedback on the ads, I actually really like that feeling of expecting ads and finding something useful to be there instead.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#316

Post by pedalpete »

richardsocher wrote: post #225
pedalpete wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with your sentiment about being the default engine to break people free of google, but do you have evidence that the browser extension is the way to get people to do that? On the other side, you have a search bar on the page, so I'm not exactly sure what people are complaining about.

It is a 5 second install or uninstall. Tbh, the browser extension is the best method for now but it's clearly not where we want to stay. Even after you install it and make a search from the navbar, Google will encourage you to change it back to Google and make the default button change the setting back. We hope to eventually be an option in the default search engines list. Eventually, maybe antitrust will encourage b…

I think the mob has spoken Richard. You can't force people to install the extension, and I think devs are both more likely to work with browser extensions, and less likely to install them.

You've clearly put a lot of great work into the tech. I suggest you sit down with a marketing person to help you figure out how to get people using it. NOT HOW TO GET IT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. Those are two different things. If the best thing your marketing person can come up with is to have a browser extension, get a better marketing person.

Start small and expand. Perhaps your browser extension is your start small. If so, then it just isn't for me, and that's ok. Maybe you've got a plan of how you grow.

As an example, look at DDG. They started small, and grew, and grew, and grew. They didn't need an extension to do it.

Of course you want everyone to use it, and you want everyone to use it today. But that's not the choice.

I sincerely hope you find your 1,000 true fans, and that those fans can lead you to 1,000,000,000x more.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#318

Post by jjulius »

bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

He's also gaslighting a crowd of folk that he absolutely had to know will know better[1], and then asks us to trust that his product will respect privacy.

If you're starting a relationship of trust off with such a ballsy, blatant lie, then nothing you say can be trusted going forward.

[1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29169565

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#320

Post by freediver »

I know you had a bad day today Richard Socher. I am sorry for that.

Reading through these comments must have hurt, and in some strange "The Egg" [1] way hurt me too. I felt as everyone that left a bad comment, and I felt as you, receiving all this. And all that after finally releasing the beta of your product, having worked very hard for that.

I am impressed by your stoic attitude and not caving in under all this pressure (this was probably as far as 'blood baths' on HN go). Truly remarkable, even though you obviously made a product marketing mistake here.

I encourage you to keep going and carefully read all the advice you got here today, for free. This time, let it all in. The cause is still good, the execution is clearly suboptimal. It's on you to get there.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI

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