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I'll consider Google alternatives when there is a better alternative. Until then I use the best technology. Do we really need these same posts every other week?

blazeWayne 6y ago
> I'll consider Google alternatives when there is a better alternative. Sure, you do you, nothing wrong with that. I'd rather use 'inferior' technology if that means better privacy standards.
- missedthecue 6y ago
  In what way does google invade your privacy that has made you worse off?
  - blazeWayne 6y ago
    >In what way does google invade your privacy that has made you worse off? This made me laugh. Let's talk about an example. Imagine the nicest house with all of the features possible. You get to live in the house and enjoy all benefits at not cost whatsoever. Only catch would be that the house would be made of transparent glass and everyone outside gets to see what you are doing at all times. Would you still choose to live in the house? Sure you might, I for one will not because it would make me extremely uncomfortable. It might not directly make me worse off but tracking my every move does not sit right with me. Using google's service is somewhat like that transparent house except whatever you do on web is tracked, profiled and used against your best interests.
    - newusr10121 6y ago
      That's a poor example. I think a closer comparison is that the house doesn't have transparent glass but rather sensors that can tell which room you're in, how much time you spend in a room etc. People may be fine with that in exchange for living for free in a nice house vs. living in a rundown shack without tracking.
    - missedthecue 6y ago
      Do you know my google search history?
- cryptbe 6y ago
  Google provides decent security/privacy controls, see my comment on how to turn them on [1]. If you have any specific concerns, I'd love to learn more and see if there's anything I can help. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383289 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383289
  - Nextgrid 6y ago
    This assumes Google is acting in good faith, and I find that hard to believe when Google's consent prompts are intentionally annoying and not GDPR compliant (for reasons outlined in another comment of mine: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25373600 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25373600) and they used dark patterns like intentionally disabling functionality such as saving specific locations when location history is disabled in Google Maps.
kmclean 6y ago
"Best" is a subjective measure. For a lot of people being tracked all around the internet is a non-starter. I would also argue that a lot of Google products have stagnated and are not the best on offer anymore. Hey and Protonmail for mail, Notion for docs/keep, and Sync for file syncing come to mind, but of course that's just me :)
- newusr10121 6y ago
  Not all Google products are best in class, but search and maps definitely are, along with a handful of others. Keep wouldn't make that list.
  - mnd999 6y ago
    As the parent poster states, it’s subjective. If your criteria is privacy then Google Maps and search are definitely not best in class.
  - Doctor_Fegg 6y ago
    Google Maps is best in class for POI search and driving directions. It certainly isn't for walking or cycling.
monoQ 6y ago
Every service needs early adopters, perhaps you are not one of them? Nothing wrong with that just as there's nothing wrong with wanting to try new services, more so when not happy with what's on offer.

blazeWayne 6y ago

> I'll consider Google alternatives when there is a better alternative. Sure, you do you, nothing wrong with that. I'd rather use 'inferior' technology if that means better privacy standards.

missedthecue 6y ago
In what way does google invade your privacy that has made you worse off?
- blazeWayne 6y ago
  >In what way does google invade your privacy that has made you worse off? This made me laugh. Let's talk about an example. Imagine the nicest house with all of the features possible. You get to live in the house and enjoy all benefits at not cost whatsoever. Only catch would be that the house would be made of transparent glass and everyone outside gets to see what you are doing at all times. Would you still choose to live in the house? Sure you might, I for one will not because it would make me extremely uncomfortable. It might not directly make me worse off but tracking my every move does not sit right with me. Using google's service is somewhat like that transparent house except whatever you do on web is tracked, profiled and used against your best interests.
  - newusr10121 6y ago
    That's a poor example. I think a closer comparison is that the house doesn't have transparent glass but rather sensors that can tell which room you're in, how much time you spend in a room etc. People may be fine with that in exchange for living for free in a nice house vs. living in a rundown shack without tracking.
  - missedthecue 6y ago
    Do you know my google search history?
cryptbe 6y ago
Google provides decent security/privacy controls, see my comment on how to turn them on [1]. If you have any specific concerns, I'd love to learn more and see if there's anything I can help. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383289 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25383289
- Nextgrid 6y ago
  This assumes Google is acting in good faith, and I find that hard to believe when Google's consent prompts are intentionally annoying and not GDPR compliant (for reasons outlined in another comment of mine: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25373600 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25373600) and they used dark patterns like intentionally disabling functionality such as saving specific locations when location history is disabled in Google Maps.

kmclean 6y ago

"Best" is a subjective measure. For a lot of people being tracked all around the internet is a non-starter. I would also argue that a lot of Google products have stagnated and are not the best on offer anymore. Hey and Protonmail for mail, Notion for docs/keep, and Sync for file syncing come to mind, but of course that's just me :)

newusr10121 6y ago
Not all Google products are best in class, but search and maps definitely are, along with a handful of others. Keep wouldn't make that list.
- mnd999 6y ago
  As the parent poster states, it’s subjective. If your criteria is privacy then Google Maps and search are definitely not best in class.
- Doctor_Fegg 6y ago
  Google Maps is best in class for POI search and driving directions. It certainly isn't for walking or cycling.

monoQ 6y ago

Every service needs early adopters, perhaps you are not one of them? Nothing wrong with that just as there's nothing wrong with wanting to try new services, more so when not happy with what's on offer.