Today marks the conclusion of the trial partnership with DuckDuckGo, the Internet privacy company, to host some of the downloads you get from PortableApps.com. DuckDuckGo's popular search engine, tracker blocking extension, and mobile app are built around user privacy and security, so it was a natural fit. While the download hosting has worked well and been a hit with users, it unfortunately doesn't line up with DuckDuckGo's current product focus. So, we're announcing an end to the trial.
It's been a great experience working with the team at DuckDuckGo. In addition to their technical expertise, their commitment to privacy, security, and ethics made working together a breeze. I'm always happy to bring attention to services that respect your personal data and security, and can support the future of PortableApps.com development in a way that fits with our own values, so I'll certainly be looking for ways to work together again in the future.
Thanks again to DuckDuckGo for working with us on this project, and thanks to all of you for continuing to use PortableApps.com.
Happy portable app-ing!
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Comments
Going Back to Source Forge?
John,
You didn't mention what will be the solution for downloading the applications after DuckDuckGo?
Combination
We use a combination of SourceForge (open source), our own paid servers (open source and freeware), and publishers who host themselves.
Download Servers from Website
When downloading directly from the website, it appears there is now a preference for downloading from our own servers over SourceForge when available. I can't imagine that this is intentional, as it will greatly increase our server costs.
Testing It Out
I'm testing out whether a single interstitial ad before downloading with a redirect will be enough revenue to offset us hosting more in-house. It works the same as other download sites except just a single graphic ad. I may trying running an A/B with a brought to you by TunnelBear or similar, too. It'll be running for a while.
That's too bad
I hope they eventually reconsider. It seemed to be mutually beneficial. Seeing the DuckDuckGo stuff whenever I downloaded from PortableApps.com is what kind of nudged me from a "huh, look, a wannabe Google clone without the trackers" to actually giving it a try and setting it as my default search. It's been set for a while now and I've been sticking with it, so I can say it gained them at least one user!
I'm a convert
I have converted my browser to use the DDG search engine, as well as the DDG Firefox extension. They're an excellent organization imho. Thx John and the PA.c team for helping me make the decision.
End of Trial
:-((((((
While I had known DDG before, that "convert" comment shows, DDG certainly gained some users. But they do not live on ads (number of users), so there is not too much motivation to serve Portableapps with downloads.
I support their reconsidering.
(I had supported continuing "Firefly" also...)
Nooo :)
Too bad, portableapps and duckduckgo are both my goto places.
Well, you can't win always