• Willard Herman
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    5410 months ago

    Time to stop using Gmail and YouTube. I had already avoided go░gle search for months now.

    Over the last three or four months I had deleted all my FaceBook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram accounts. And this made me want to avoid go░gle search.

    • Flying Squid
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      1610 months ago

      DuckDuckGo is fine for some things, but if you want to do a search with a specific phrase in quotes, it doesn’t recognize it. I hate having to go back to Google for some searches, but sometimes it’s just better. I wish it wasn’t, but it is.

      DuckDuckGo’s image search also leaves a lot to be desired.

      • nudny ekscentryk
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        310 months ago

        I tried switching to DDG and then Qwant and sadly they both suck for some searches. For example neither could successfully find anything more specific than the home page on my country’s government websites. Perhaps Bing, but, again, it’s Microsoft?

      • @PurplePropagule
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        210 months ago

        I use duckduckgo but just throw in the google bang if I need specific functionality. Usually DDG is fine for me usually but it’s convenient to be able to switch quickly.

      • @[email protected]
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        110 months ago

        If you need Google search results but don’t want to use google try SearXng or Startpage

      • @[email protected]
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        -410 months ago

        You don’t need to do the quote thing in DDG. You can literally just search the quote, and maybe the domain it was hosted on. You will find what you’re looking for. DDG even has business profile widgets like google search does. I don’t even miss google search at all.

        • Flying Squid
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          610 months ago

          I don’t think you understand what I’m talking about. I’m talking about a search phrase that is partially in quotes for an exact match and partially not for an inexact match. Google handles that, DDG does not.

        • @[email protected]
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          710 months ago

          Funny how the term “tinfoil” persists even though it hasn’t been used in over 70 years.

            • @[email protected]
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              110 months ago

              “Aluminum” at least has 1 less syllable. But I usually just say “foil.” What else would I be talking about in that context?

              • Cosmic Cleric
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                10 months ago

                “Aluminum” at least has 1 less syllable. But I usually just say “foil.” What else would I be talking about in that context?

                a·lu·mi·num

                tin·foil

                (Sorry for the ‘ackshully’, but couldn’t resist.)

                  • Cosmic Cleric
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                    10 months ago

                    Didn’t even realize that was a word until I looked it up.

                    the chemical element of atomic number 13, a light silvery-gray metal.

                    Not sure how that relates in a conversation about tinfoil hats usage but sure why not.

                    I’m sure the composition of the devices has a significant performance impact on their effectiveness, worthy of discussion. :p

        • @[email protected]
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          210 months ago

          Nooo. Those might be tampered. They could be bugged. Or they could have holes in them. Or the tin might be fake. Make your own.

    • @[email protected]
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      510 months ago

      I had already stopped for googles slew of other issues. For email I recomebd proton mail

      • Hugh
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        310 months ago

        proton is very adequate to replace Gmail.

        • @[email protected]
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          110 months ago

          Oh most definitely. I’m still waiting for a desktop app on Linux for drive but I pay them abually and totally worth it for what I pay.

          They do have free email options for those who prefer

          • Polar
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            110 months ago

            Oh sweet summer child, you’ll be waiting a while. Pull up a chair. Let me tell you a story about how I’ve been waiting years, with an S, for the Android app remake that they keep pushing back.

            At least iOS users get to enjoy it…

          • @[email protected]
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            110 months ago

            Well, they aren’t even replying to whether the community-developed rclone backend breaks TOS, so don’t expect much… but yeah, i pay for Proton and they’re good for what they are.

    • @[email protected]
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      210 months ago

      Start your own email server!! Download all of your favorite channels! Sub to your fav youtubers patreons! If you need music, use Spotify until you amass a collection of digital/physical music! Use FireFox! Google does not need to have any grip on our digital lifestyles.