Now, the addition of a desktop version for the DuckDuckGo browser should come as no surprise. Especially since DuckDuckGo is easily one of the best browsers on mobile. And, in fact, DuckDuckGo has several new boasts it can make following growth this year. Not only has the company had 150-million downloads across all of its apps since 2018. It took the number one spot in terms of downloads in its “major markets” on Android. Coming in number two on iOS, just behind Chrome. Additionally, according to Mr. Weinberg, the company recently surveyed to discover as many as 9-percent of Americans use DuckDuckGo. And it’s averaging around 100-million searches per day. The new desktop browser, while still somewhat light on details aside from some images, will extend on that. Built from the ground up using OS-provided rendering engines, just as it does on Android and iOS. And with all of its best features coming over from mobile too. All while, according to the company, remaining “cleaner, way more private, and early tests have found it significantly faster” than Chrome.
What else has DuckDuckGo been working on for its browser experience?
Of course, DuckDuckGo has had much more in the works than just a desktop version of its browser. It’s also made big improvements over the year to search, tracker blocking, its mobile apps, and in terms of the introduction of new features. According to the company, that includes the introduction of a more modern, simplified search page. But it also includes a new translations “instant answer” feature, better definition and weather results, custom date range filtering, image filtering, and advanced search improvements. As well as better navigation and mapping results. And that stacks atop two major new features. Namely, Email Protection and App Tracking Protection. The latter two features are currently being built still in beta. But both are relatively straightforward, building on pre-load tracker blocking, private data clearing, and encryption already on offer. Email protection is a free-to-use email forwarding service. And effectively removes trackers in emails, using the email provider users already access. Conversely, App Tracking Protection — also in beta — is a new feature that blocks third-party trackers found in other apps. Either beta can be joined via the waitlist currently available right now in the DuckDuckGo mobile app.
