This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
I Switched to Bing
Dec
7
2017
I had Google setup as my default search engine for the Safari browser on my iPhone. I edited the link so that it disabled the autocomplete function, which gave a bunch of search suggestions as you were typing. I did not like that, mainly because my kids will use my phone from time to time and some of the suggestions were inappropriate. Plus I felt it was distracting and contributes to ADHD.
It was easy enough to disable – just add a string of “complete=0” to the URL and you’re good to go, just a plain search engine with no too-eager-to-please additional help popups. See my previous blog post on the topic of disabling Google autocomplete for details.
But Google changed something on Thanksgiving. I looked up something and noticed that Google was throwing possible search terms at me. “Is this what you meant to type?” “Maybe this?” “Look, a lot of people are searching for these words, would they interest you?”
No, Google, I am not interested in what other people are looking up. If I were interested, I would search for that.
At first I thought I opened the plain Google URL. So I made sure to use the special link. But no, the special link didn’t do anything anymore.
I poked around on the internet, but there were no suggestions. Changing the settings using the link at the bottom of Google didn’t do anything either.
I figured I might as well try Bing. Alas, Bing also wanted to tell me what other people liked searching for.
Lo and behold though, the Bing settings let me disable that. And it worked. I have set my default search engine on my iPhone to Bing.
Now when my kids want to look something up, I do not have to worry about hearing a question along the lines of “Dad, what does such-and-such mean?” Or even worse, not getting asked that question and having them click the Google suggestion.
I’m not a fan of Microsoft products, but I will gladly use Bing since it’s behaving like I want my search engine to behave.
Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it.
Job 4:12
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:47 am and has been carefully placed in the Technical category.
December 8th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Do you find the results to be as accurate as Google?
December 8th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
I haven’t checked accuracy. For what I’ve checked so far (how late is the local Menard’s open?, what is an arthropod?, etc.), it’s fine.
December 9th, 2017 at 7:36 pm
I remember when you told me about this thing called Google, sometime after high school. You said it was better than Alta Vista or Ask Jeeves. I felt like such a trend-setter when Google became such a huge thing; I was using it back when before it was “discovered.” I’m afraid I missed your blog post back then about how everyone should buy stock.
That’s the double-edged sword in technology updates: the desire to constantly do more and more for you is what it’s all about.
My limited experience with Bing tells me Google is better, but that was a while ago. I hope you have better luck.