• someguy3@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been trying to use DDG but honestly it sucks. I can’t imagine Apple switching to it, it would just make things worse for users, who commonly can’t figure out how to switch defaults. I think it’s just a negotiating point.

    • arthurpizza@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Google search has been fundamentally broken for at least two years. When the protests started on Reddit 90% of Google’s search results we’re broken.

      • Fedizen@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I found this too. After the reddit fiasco, I found DDG to have no downside. The search syntax is a little different (google’s is better) but the outputs arent radically different.

    • brewery@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      What difficulties are you finding with it and are you switching from Google? The results are as custom as Google given they haven’t scraped your life history so wondering if that’s it? I’ve been using DDG without any issues. About once every 6 months I struggle to find something so try the Google bang but have never found better results. In fact, I was shocked last time how crap the Google results were, just full of AI generated crap and SEO based crap.

      To be honest, DDG is also struggling with that now as it’s based on Bing. I have been trying a public searxg but not found it very good so far.

      • dantheclamman@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I love DDG and use it as my default, but there’s no doubt that its index is shallower and its semantic matching can’t compare to Google’s. I’m a biogeochemist and spend a lot of time coding in R. Google is just better at surfacing rare science articles/blogs and stackoverflow pages where my query doesn’t match exactly, but it is a relevant result. I use DDG for my personal searching and Google for professional searching

          • george@lemmy.org.il
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            1 year ago

            For me, it finds smaller websites that usually contain the information I need, but aren’t SEOd that well so they don’t appear on ad-driven search engines. Also the programming lens is great

        • 👁️👄👁️@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Hell no. Paying for something that’s the same as ddg. That’s a terrible idea, and the results aren’t any better, despite how much their marketing claims it to be and that smaller blogs show up more.

            • 👁️👄👁️@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              In this case you actually get more for free. Not to mention the paid service is a privacy nightmare since all of the searched are done through a logged in user. Which also means it’s incompatible with private browsing. But their marketing says “trust me bro”, while they’re selling you an overrated product. DDG even simply through a VPN is a million times more private then any logged in service. You need to assume if something is trackable, it will be tracked. Don’t follow marketing blindly.

      • someguy3@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Results suck, it can’t find anything. I really don’t think it’s related to lack of browsing history.

          • Clegko@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Not the same person, but DDG results just seem a little bit shittier than Google’s results. It’s nothing I can specifically put my finger on, outside of “I’m having more issues finding an answer for my query”.

            I also hate the basic layout of the page, but that’s not a DDG problem as such, just a personal opinion.

            • Polar@lemmy.ca
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              1 year ago

              I use DDG exclusively now, but I will say, despite the downvotes from these annoying ass FOSS users, DDG is worse.

              If I am having some very specific issue with my computer, I will be page 5 on DDG without an answer, but Google will have one page 1.

              Also Google Images is light years ahead DDG.

              It took a long time to adjust to DDG, but now I am fine with it.

              • Clegko@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                If I am having some very specific issue with my computer, I will be page 5 on DDG without an answer, but Google will have one page 1.

                This has always been my number one issue, too. I’m in IT and still struggle to use DDG (and Bing, tbf) for technical issues. The results are either only vaguely related to what I’m searching for, outdated as shit, or completely irrelevant. Automotive stuff is the same. I can be ass deep in DDG results and just be getting shit on top of shit. It’s frustrating, because I want to love DDG but it makes it so hard for my general use-case.

              • Clegko@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                While that is true, you shouldn’t need to do that. The site should just work properly without diving into the advanced stuff. It’s also WAY more annoying to use on mobile.

    • steltek@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      That didn’t stop them from plowing ahead with Apple Maps, even though its debut was total garbage.

      • Polar@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Debut and still is garbage.

        There’s a reason why Apple users have both installed.

        Does Apple Maps even have reviews?

        • LifeInOregon@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Anyone who thinks Apple Maps is garbage isn’t comparing A/B with Google Maps regularly. At least not in the areas I drive.

          Door Dash defaults to Google Maps for directions, and when I Dash and use Google the routing is always poor and seemingly unaware of construction, road blocks, and traffic jams. It also sometimes asks me to make turns in places that aren’t streets and recommends U Turns where they are illegal. I’ve encountered none of that with Apple Maps.

          • Kiosade@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            Apple tried to get me to turn into a dead-end, concrete wall once. Never used it again. But that was years ago, so if they’ve improved that’s great to hear! Google Maps plays this game where it tries to act as traffic control. It’ll only show options for paths I know to be super crappy to take at certain times of day, but won’t show an alternate (not so secret) path I KNOW to be better. I’ll start heading the alternate way and lo and behold, it cuts off 5 mins or whatever from the ETA. So stupid.

          • ImFresh3x@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            Sometimes I’m too lazy to copy and paste an address into Google maps, and use Apple Maps. Every time I regret it. And exactly the opposite of what you said apple fails to see road closures and detours. While missing so many other things google has had for 15 years.

      • supercriticalcheese@feddit.it
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        1 year ago

        You are not going to get a more constructive criticism from OP.

        I use mainly ddg but I have occasionally needed to switch to Google, but it’s happening less and less.

        But then again with Google you need to frequently add keywords such as discussions or Reddit to find something that in the word’s of OP doesn’t suck balls.

      • Tschuuuls@feddit.de
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        1 year ago

        Only thing I miss is Google shopping sometimes. That actually is really useful when you need a super obscure part that’s not available on ebay or Amazon and just sold on three random websites. Google shopping will show them and let you compare prices perfectly.

      • SnowdenHeroOfOurTime@unilem.org
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        1 year ago

        I have been trying to use it for years but it just literally has a lot of issues with pretty normal search queries that worked perfectly on Google 15 years ago.

        I want it to be good. But it’s not.

          • SnowdenHeroOfOurTime@unilem.org
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            1 year ago

            I’m aware Google has gotten worse. DDG is much worse imo but still use it daily hoping it will improve because fuck Google

    • 3v1n0@feddit.it
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      1 year ago

      Don’t agree.

      I switched from Google quite recently, as I knew it was hard…

      But now I’m mostly not using !g unless for few cache: searches or when I want use few features (sport results, without going to specific websites).

      You’ve to use some search syntax items more as + but otherwise it’s quite good and clear to read.