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Maybe a little off topic, but regarding Orion: Can someone explain to me why every search engine feel like they need to build their own browser, and by build I

Maybe a little off topic, but regarding Orion: Can someone explain to me why every search engine feel like they need to build their own browser, and by build I mean jiggle the handles on Chromium a bit? It seems pointless. I can sort of see why Microsoft would do it, but that's Microsoft wanting a modern browser for their operating system, not DuckDuckGo, Kagi or Ecosia wanting a browser for their search box. Why this is pretty much just a weird rant about Kagi, I do agree with the questioning of the investment in maintaining a browser.

JopV 3y ago
Orion is based on WebKit, not on Chromium. The Mac version of DuckDuckGo's browser is based on WebKit too.
- mrweasel 3y ago
  You're right, it doesn't negate the question though.
  - eipi10_hn 3y ago
    On iOS it is not simple to switch to other search engines on Safari that's not in their list: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38937619 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38937619 The thing is they can't control the stability of alternative methods on Safari. It's up to Apple.
    - eviks 3y ago
      But it is simple of Firefox on iOS, so if that's all you need there are existing browser alternatives
      - eipi10_hn 3y ago
        It's actually another hoop for users: - Safari + Kagi: you just need a default browser and a non-default search - Orion + Kagi: you just need a non-default browser and a default search - Firefox + Kagi: you need a non-default browser and a non-default search It might not look that much difference but in terms of thousands users, any reduction for users' steps to do, it is better.
themoonisachees 3y ago
Because controlling the browser means you control the default search engine, and that is valuable. If all it takes to do that is repackage chrome then so be it.
- eviks 3y ago
  But if you can convince users to switch a browser, can you not convince them to use your search engine by default with less of an effort?

JopV 3y ago

Orion is based on WebKit, not on Chromium. The Mac version of DuckDuckGo's browser is based on WebKit too.

mrweasel 3y ago
You're right, it doesn't negate the question though.
- eipi10_hn 3y ago
  On iOS it is not simple to switch to other search engines on Safari that's not in their list: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38937619 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38937619 The thing is they can't control the stability of alternative methods on Safari. It's up to Apple.
  - eviks 3y ago
    But it is simple of Firefox on iOS, so if that's all you need there are existing browser alternatives
    - eipi10_hn 3y ago
      It's actually another hoop for users: - Safari + Kagi: you just need a default browser and a non-default search - Orion + Kagi: you just need a non-default browser and a default search - Firefox + Kagi: you need a non-default browser and a non-default search It might not look that much difference but in terms of thousands users, any reduction for users' steps to do, it is better.

themoonisachees 3y ago

Because controlling the browser means you control the default search engine, and that is valuable. If all it takes to do that is repackage chrome then so be it.

eviks 3y ago
But if you can convince users to switch a browser, can you not convince them to use your search engine by default with less of an effort?