Today I finally had enough of Google and Chrome. I've already read that you can't really escape Google even if you want to. But I do have a choice of web browsers, and of search engines. What did it for me finally was what happened as I was attempting to do a Google search on the string, "modernism." I typed the word in the little rectangular box, with which we are all so familiar: m, o, d, e, r, n, and then, right in the box, and not in the list below, before I could finish with i-s-m, suddenly it looked as if I had typed "Modern Family." That's a TV show, I guess.
Mind you, this is not about the list of suggestions that appears below the search box as you type. This had taken over my typing and made my search request say "Modern Family."
This is B.S. I switched over to Safari, and the behavior was slightly different the first couple of times, but then it did it there, too.
I tried DuckDuckGo.com and everything worked AS IT SHOULD.
What is happening to Google? This is truly invasive and annoying. I have low expectations when it comes to the Internet and anything on it, but this is, finally, too much.
Since I have two Mac computers and an Apple iPad mini, I have started the switch to Safari. I know, I know--they all have their fans as well as their detractors. In the end, it really doesn't matter. When you compare these apps, looking at the lists of "PROS" and "CONS," the items amount to a matter of convenience or lack thereof, to a few extra mouse clicks here or there. It kind of comes down to what you're used to. Anyway, what are a few clicks of a mouse compared to, say, rolling a ladder along stack of books in a library with 20' ceilings, climbing said ladder and retrieving a moldy volume and then awkwardly descending said ladder? I'll take the mouse clicks every time, whether they be one or two or even a few in sequence.
Or, you know, maybe I'd take the ladder. I'm in no hurry--I'm going to die on the same date no matter what I do until then.
I tried that (typing modernism) and my experience was not the same as yours. That said - I have over the years, and even recently, tried other web browsers and search engines - I hate them all LOL I particularly hate Apple software - it's crap. Hardware/OS= good; everything else=crap. iPads? I use mine to read and play games - end of their usefulness (and I've had every model since they came on the market). Microsoft? Fab software (or apps howsomever they are called) but we all know how crap their OS is. But you have set me to thinking - Google drives me batshit - I think I'll spend the afternoon playing with Opera and give Duck,Duck,Go another try Maybe third time is the charm with DDG. Going into the rabbit hole...Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck. Let us know!
ReplyDeleteNew development. While trying to comment on my own blog post here, and using Safari, I found another annoying Google feature: that Google (Blogger) would not let me post as my Google self but only as anonymous. I noticed some people complain of the same thing on this blog.
I went to my Safari browser settings and unchecked two privacy settings: prevent cross-site tracking, and Hide IP address from trackers. Once I surrendered my privacy in this manner, Google then let me post as myself. This is what I mean. Google is the devil. I tell you, Grace, if I had the technical proficiency, I would install Linux and to hell with all this.
I'm having some odd problems with Opera, you have to really go into the settings and get rid of stuff you don't want - and I don't want SO much of it. It does have cool things. I did have to add Adblock plus even tho Opera has a built in ad blocker. Nothing works on the iPad - I can't even sign into my blog on it - but then, as I said I don't use the iPad for much more than reading and games.
DeleteThat's really interesting because it's happened to me (annoying), but when I type modern- I can go right to the ism, no problem. Even if I type modern with a space after, Modern Family is 5th on the list! Obviously, Google/Chrome knows I don't care about TV shows. But I do recall it happening in searches where I thought I typed what I wanted, and then suddenly some other phrase appears in the search bar. I am very much caught in the Google web of services, and they don't really annoy me, except for the search feature on Drive. Often it simply will not pull up stuff I know is there and I have to figure out convoluted ways to get to it. Forex, it won't give me person Jane Dough from her name, but if I use her email, she comes up WITH THAT NAME. WTF? So much annoy. The only thing more annoying was the Safari browser I had with my old MacBook. I hate Safari so much, I forced my iPhone to use all Google/Chrome things...
ReplyDeleteMe, Roy. I reset the privacy features even though I can no longer comment as myself. Anyway, what's interesting is how different people and different browsers get different responses from Google and Facebook, etc., proving the algorithms are driving things. I feel like to do a thorough search--should I ever feel like I need one--I would have to use several different browsers, delete cookies, unplug and plug in my fiber modem to get a new IP address, and repeat. Because I have searched for stuff I know I found previously, with no luck.
DeleteGo it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I type "modern", I get Moderna vax as the autofill result. I was sort of expecting to get "Modern Orthodoxy" because I search for a lot of Jewish related things (and I got Pfizer, but it would be particularly creepy if my search engine knew that). Search engine algorithm is...well, I don't know how to characterize it. It's not the privacy invasion that most distresses me, but it is unsettling.
ReplyDeleteI think most people regard it as just a little creepy, at the very least. There is one school of thought that finds it so alarming, it's recommended to cancel all accounts you have, period. In my case, here, it's plain annoying because it actually typed out what it wanted, not just in ghost letters, and I had to backspace over it to retype what I wanted.
DeleteIt's not doing it now at all. It may have been a glitch. I hope that's the case.
In the suggestions below the search box, typing "pf" gets me PF Chang's, a local Chinese restaurant, with Pfizer below that. That's heartening.
correction: P.F. Chang's is NOT a local Chinese restaurant. Apparently it's a huge operation that is nation-wide. I stand corrected. Also, wanted to note that now I am seeing PF Chang's ads on just about every page I go to in the mornings.
DeleteI've been to a PF Chang's once and it was a decent meal, but this was a long time ago.
Delete