@fiona For apps I try MacStories first, which is great because it often throws up a lot of other sources in the process. After that the likes of Micro.blog and Reddit are great because you're unlikely to come across ads and the like, and more likely to find enthusiasts of varying taste.

Finding apps for Windows has been difficult but DDG has served me well enough, whilst a few Apple-first developers have been turning their attention to Windows over the past few years which is also good.

For indie stuff I'd start with Indieseek and go from there. One of the big sources I have yet to really get into for a number of things is Stack Exchange.

There was another site that listed Apple (maybe just Mac?) software that uses open web tech but I can't remember it right now... sigh, yet more problems from not organising my bookmarks and my own posts.

@artkavanagh Much like with social networks, I think the best solution would be to have lots of smaller search engines covering varying degress of topics, all maintained and supported by lots of different people. Hopefully that will happen more as the result of a backlash against the monopolistic tech companies.