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De-Googleify Internet

degooglisons-internet.org

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81–90 of 266 posts

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#81

Post by pierre_d528 »

Ajedi32 wrote: post #27

> These services track us everywhere, while claiming to give us a better “user experience”. That's kind of the problem though; they usually _do_ offer a better user experience. If we want users to start using open source software rather than walled garden solutions from large companies, we're going to have to start building open source solutions which offer a comparable user experience to proprietary ones from large…

Well, Alan Kay and a couple of friends built an entire system in 2.8MB in 1998[1].

It is 2016 and "large companies" are still overrated.

People who think we cannot do better are ignorant and probably overrated.

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUud1gcbS9k

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#82

Post by pfranz »

nvk wrote: post #3

Just talking about search alternative; DuckDuckGo is my default search engine for over 2 years. It's incredibly good, the only caveat is you need to re-learn how to search. The same way you "changed yourself" initially for google.

I've used DDG for awhile and been using it as my default for at least a year. However, my pattern, still, is almost always "ddg.gg foo", skim, "ddg.gg foo !g"

I'll high-five other techies who I see using it, but I just can't recommend it for the average person without first warning them you'll give up accuracy and time for privacy.

Maybe I haven't relearned how to search?

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#83

Post by jlarocco »

tomphoolery wrote: post #52
syphilis2 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe this is true. But I also have found that sometimes the user experience is diminished when not "logged in" to encourage people to create accounts. Pinterest has a box that slowly covers up more of the screen as you scroll drown. Facebook has a login prompt box that stays at the bottom of the screen and occasionally expands as a reminder. Quora prevents internal redirects to new pages. With enough know-how th…

Is signing up for an account really that big of a deal to you?

The question you should be asking is whether letting me see Pintrest or Quora content (for example) without an account is really that big of a deal?

FWIW, I won't sign up for those two sites specifically because of the sleazy way they get their content show up in search results, but don't let people see the content without an account once they get there.

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#84

Post by jonathankoren »

mi100hael wrote: post #64
rm_-rf_slash wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My usual goto about "free" software and "free" service: "Free speech is not the same as free beer."

Sure, that's a common line. But the fact that such an explanation is necessary at all is a pretty strong indicator that the label "free" is a poor one.

I don't think RMS was being deliberately obtuse, I think he was just trying to be too clever by half, and making stupid puns. Think about it. The same guy that thought, "If we have 'free speech', why not 'free software'?" is the same guy that thought "Not 'copyright', 'copyleft'!", which doesn't even make any sense.

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#85

Post by brilliantcode »

It's unlikely to happen as the vast majority of the public simply does not care. There is a deep technological disconnect.

The only way to de-google-ify is to bring about mesh network that runs on our mobile devices or volunteer run nodes. Maybe you need to take the Skytrain to a remote part of the city to access specific information because there are no nodes there yet.

The centralized infrastructure created between telecom companies which inevitably under the control of you know who makes it very difficult to be truly decentralized and free ourselves from corporations that provide a better user experience. It's tougher to do on a decentralized platform but I fear that it will do little to sway herd behavior-vast majority of the population are clueless about the underlying technology and can't be bothered. That might change in the future but for now, it's the people who are unwilling to make a change, especially outside of HN and tech circles that is the big challenge.

A bigger campaign that really sells the value of de-google-ify is going to take lot of resources and earn the ire of Google who is unlikely to support their own demise.

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#86

Post by [deleted] »

Bombthecat wrote: post #38
nvk wrote: post #3

Just talking about search alternative; DuckDuckGo is my default search engine for over 2 years. It's incredibly good, the only caveat is you need to re-learn how to search. The same way you "changed yourself" initially for google.

Until Google pulls the plug because they are too famous. They don't have own infrastructure and own algorithms.

[deleted]

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#88

Post by vegabook »

mi100hael wrote: post #12

I like the idea of this project, but I have several nits/concerns: - De-Google-ify is a poor way of marketing these ideas. Your average web user loves Google because they are trendy and make everything so convenient. - The site enumerates the pitfalls of cloud-hosted solutions and then proceeds to link to their own cloud-hosted solutions with no explanation of why they're any safer, better, etc. And not limited to th…

Your average user does not love Google. They love accuracy. Yes, the result is the same (GOOG lockdown), but that does not mean there isn't concern about the homogenization of the Internet. Most non-coder people I know have become forcibly aware of the fact that a Google search sees a correlated ad barrage for the subsequent week. Thus if somebody can compete technically (hard, I know), then there is a very real opportunity here.

Going even further, arguably this is becoming a political issue. If that is the case, then there is a case to take some of Google's knowledge and socialize it. After all, the information from the network effects, may well belong to society, not to a private corporation.

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#89

Post by tyleraldrich »

anthony_romeo wrote: post #65
stuckagain wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It defies my experience to claim that DDG can have equivalent search quality to Google. For one thing Google search results include my own emails and docs, which DDG doesn't produce. I find that Google's personalization is key to quality, not counter to it. As an example search for "good espresso open now". The DDG results are entirely useless.

Generally yes. I default to DDG, but I when I don't find what I want I often just add the '!g' to the search. The only issue I have with Google search (aside from privacy concerns and the like) is the frequency to which the results don't actually contain any of the search terms I use. This functionality is fine for general use, but when I'm actually looking for something very specific the guesses Google makes often m…

Do you have any examples of queries which google doesn't return any results with the search terms used? I can't even remember the last time this has happened to me so I'm curious.

Re: De-Googleify Internet

#90

Post by myowncrapulence »

ssully wrote: post #69
myowncrapulence wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you even read the post? This is about avoiding tracking. And yes, signing up for accounts can be grueling. Try making a google account without submitting a blood sample.

A blood sample? The only fields they ask for that might be too much for someone is a phone number and prior email, and neither is required to make an account. I take my privacy very seriously and understand a lot of the apprehension about Google's tracking, but I think you are being a little ridiculous.

I've never been able to sign-up for a google account without entering a valid phone number. Even typing 555-5555 it will state it needs a valid phone number.
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