Probably they don’t do that because the experience would be confusing for 98% of users. Is there some search engine people actually use not in that list?
*IMO DDG is the only viable alternative to google in the apple search selection list
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kagi-search-for-safari/id16077...
I would like to set kagi as the iOS search engine so that it redirects queries directly to kagi in my default browser, rather than routing it through another search engine that a plug-in redirects to kagi for me.
I imagine the same basic request is what brave users are looking for. It’s a minor irritation but seems like it should be trivially solvable as an outside observer.
Apple already takes up a bunch of space in the URL bar with that stupid microphone icon for dictation that I've never used. Maybe they could put the button there.
The world would be a boring place.
(And you wouldn’t be allowed to visit HN)
Classic Apple deflection.
Yes, most people wouldn’t care or even understand that, and same with their search engine. It would confuse them if they got to it. And it isn’t worth keeping it open ended just to please the 1% of nerds, most of which would tinker once and move on.
So then it is good to tell non-tech people “you can trust the list”
I for one much prefer the apple approach for mainstream users. It gives them a solid set of defaults.
If there’s a search engine that’s better than what’s on that list, then we know how to add it and it will make it to the list eventually.
They (Safari on iOS) account for 48.6% of the mobile browser market (with Chrome taking 45.11%) according to statcounter. On the desktop, they drop to 15.5% with Chrome taking the lion's share at 61.79%.
It's such a relatively common feature of all but one browser. When you add a search engine, most of the time, it's enough to add in the "%s" string for your search keyword.. and figure out where it goes. For example, with Google it is www.google.com/search?q=%s.
> I for one much prefer the apple approach for mainstream users. It gives them a solid set of defaults.
Such a weird way to think. Is your view of society such that people are just dumb and need to be coddled?
You are mixing Librem 5 USA ($2000, shipped within 10 days) and Librem 5 ($1300, long queue due to missing CPUs).
> and then instead of having any of the apps I want
All apps I want are there. My daily driver now. Which ones are you missing? Android apps can also work with Waydroid.
Apart from that, there is Pinephone, slower and cheaper.
I am able to see the 50 things I can do every single day without having to think too hard and I am grateful for that.
I don’t care to know why the elevator I’m riding in is safe. I just care that it is. I don’t want to even have the option of tuning the torque on the elevator motor. Or to tune the right temperature on my cappuccino machine to ensure optimal frothing or whatever. Or to care that 103.5 FM in the radio isn’t exactly in the 103.50000000 MHz. I’m glad that someone made the choice for me so I can enjoy the end product and get on with my life.
I’m not trying to be some kind of Apple apologist.
My point is simply that this is an obscure setting and there might be decent reason and more downsides to not add it, rather than some nefarious anti-consumer move.
- Open any search page that follows the spec
- Search for anything (not always necessary)
- Open settings > search
- Select your search engine from the "recently visited" list
In Firefox you need to add a custom URL, which 99% of users won't know what to do with so they'll just ignore it. This allows for more customisation but it's also a higher bar to clear.
I don't think either implementations would drive away users. Worst case scenario, the procedure is too complicated for those using a popular custom search engine and Apple needs to make their default search provider list bigger.