There are a lot of great features in Google Maps, and a lot of them have absolutely nothing to do with navigation. One of those features is one you may not know about, or forgot was even possible — and it's designed to help you learn more about different areas throughout history. I am, of course, talking about Street View's "time travel" feature.

Everyone knows Street View is a great way to get a view of different spots from street level, but it is possible to give you a glimpse at history as well. In the past you stuck with the last load of Street View photos that Google's roving band of camera-laden cars had taken, but that changed a few years back when archived photos were added to Google Maps.

This essentially lets you travel back through time and see back into the past through the portal of Google Street view. I've found that this is a really great way to learn about the area around you, and just how much things have changed since Street View first launched. Here's how to time travel through Google Maps.

There you have it, that's how you time travel in Google Maps, and see different parts of the world throughout history. Or throughout the period that Street View has been active, at the very least. In this case, we can see that the Central London street that houses Future Publishing's London office (Westbourne Terrace) hasn't actually changed all that much over the past 18 years, but other locations may see much more impressive transformations. Which is the biggest benefit of using time travel in the first place.

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The USGA is making some big moves for its GHIN app in 2026, so I recently paid golf's governing body a visit at the absolutely stunning Winged Foot Golf Club to try out the new features, and I was absolutely blown away (by the course and the app).

To me, the coolest change is the new Rules AI feature, which is essentially like ChatGPT for golf rules. But there's also a whole new layout coming to the app, along with a boatload of new features designed to make keeping score and entering your post-round results more streamlined.

Do the best golf apps like Arccos, 18Birdies, and GolfShot need to be worried about the GHIN app replacing them? Time will tell, but the USGA is moving in the right direction towards making its app more useful than just a way to input your scores for your handicap.

Rules AI is exactly what you want it to be

When I arrived at Winged Foot, I had already tried the beta of GHIN's new layout and was impressed, but at the end of the day, it took its relatively barebones scoring app and brought it up to par with competitors like 18 Birdies, The Grint and the other big players in the space. And getting users who already pay for a subscription to those apps to switch will be an uphill climb, no matter how much the USGA shines up its interface.

“Our goal has always been to ensure the Rules are accessible and that golfers can find the information they need to play the game fairly, enjoyably and with confidence,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan.

“By combining our expansive historical data with modern AI technology, we are providing a bridge between tradition and innovation. Rules AI is designed to continue making the Rules of Golf easier to navigate and meet golfers where they are—on the course and on their mobile devices.”

But then they told me about Rules AI, and my entire perception of the situation changed. You mean to tell me that not only is the arbiter of golf rules building a more robust scorekeeping app, but the USGA is also making an AI you can ask rules questions to while on the course? That should put the other apps on notice.

Maybe I'm just an overly excited golfer and tech enthusiast who gets excited about something new.

That's what I thought before I tried it. Once I actually asked it a rules question and received a perfect response that explained the rule and how to deal with the rule, I was truly sold.

I asked what if my ball lands on "Frankenstein's fat foot" as an ode to Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, but it didn't like that question, saying it will only answer questions about golf. So I asked without the Happy reference and got a quick, rules-accurate answer.

The full answer is in the screenshot above, but the summary is that you can move the ball and where to move it depends on the situation.

Which means the rule in "Happy Gilmore" is inaccurate. But it's also a movie, so I suppose it doesn't need to follow the USGA rules to the letter.

App redesign

As mentioned, the actual reason we went to Winged Foot was to see the redesigned GHIN app, which is expected to be made available to the public in late summer of 2026.

It's a lot more streamlined than the original app, with heat maps showing green slopes and improved distances to bunkers and other hazards on the course.

These features exist in other apps, but what makes their coming to GHIN exciting is that in 2025, 2.91 million people posted a score in GHIN. That means they're already using the GHIN app to enter scores, so it seems logical that golfers could condense everything into a single app that does it all. And now that the GHIN app does it well, that could actually work.

Will it convince me to leave Arccos? Highly unlikely. After spending a round with it at Winged Foot, I like what it brings to the table, but for me, nothing will replace the insights and data Arccos offers with minimal effort on my part. Sure, GHIN lets you input how many putts you made and whether you hit the green in regulation or the fairway, but Arccos does that automatically.

Still, if you're on the fence about which golf app to use and you use GHIN for handicap data, it might be worth switching to it for all your golf needs once the update is released.

And if nothing else, you'll want to use the Rules AI feature if you plan to play any sort of competitive golf where rule questions may emerge.

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Waze is officially adding a feature that drivers have been asking about for ages. After several months of testing, the navigation app is starting to roll out traffic light icons to the general public. But you it doesn't appear to be universally available just yet.

The original testing was first spotted last December, with on-and-off reports over the past few months. Now, though, it seems as though traffic lights are showing up for a lot more people. Sadly, it seems the very nature of how Waze operates means their appearance on the map is a little inconsistent.

The thing you need to understand about Waze is that, unlike Google Maps, it doesn't rely on a huge archive of saved data. It's all about crowdsourced information, and it means the knowledge Waze has is only as good as what drivers have been reporting. That includes things like speed cameras and, I'm guessing, traffic lights.

I took a quick look at my local area, since I have a good understanding of where all the lights are already. The map was pretty empty, for the most part, but I did see a few places that featured the iconic three-light design of traffic lights. But nowhere near as many as there are in reality.

That makes me wonder how Waze is identifying traffic lights, and whether it's picking and choosing where to actually show them. My initial thoughts were that the lights would only appear on active routes, but it seems they are visible on the standard map.

There's also no option to report working traffic lights within the Waze app (only broken ones), and the official Map Editor doesn't seem to include them either. However, there may also be a chance that my low level has something to do with that

Knowing when traffic lights are coming up can be a big benefit if you're in an unfamiliar area. Being able to anticipate the fact you may need to stop means you can slow down smoothly and not destroy your gas mileage with harsh braking.

So keep an eye on Waze, because next time you drive, you may just get a helping hand anticipating the next set of lights.

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Exciting news alert: hot on the heels of our recent website relaunch, we've just released a slick new Tom's Guide app for iOS and Android — and we're inviting you to be one of the first to download it! The new app delivers our articles, videos, quizzes and more in an enhanced smartphone-friendly format that actually made me breathe a sigh of contentment when I got to test it.

Our team of developers have worked hard to bring you an interface that's cleaner, faster to load, and helps you find the content you're most interested in, quicker.

Why we think you'll love it:

• Clutter-free reading experience tailored for phone and tablet users
• Personalize your feed to just see what you're into
• Save articles to easily find again later
• Smart search tool helps you find things fast
• Download it on Google Play or Apple App Store

Here's a sneak preview of what you can find inside.

Slick article pages and save for later

Reading articles on the Tom's Guide app is just nicer than in my phone's browser. Our developers have streamlined the page furniture so you can get to the main event quicker, and have made elements like product boxes smaller, so you can expand them for more information when you're ready.

We guessed that reading the articles is the main thing you're here for, so we really wanted to make it easier for you to glean our advice/news/analysis as quickly as possible, with faster loading times and fewer interruptions.

Similarly, sometimes you'll come across an article on your commute that you know you'll want to refer back to at home later. In the app, just tap the bookmark icon on any article page to quickly add it to your Saved list. Keep it there for as long as you like or delete it when you're done — it's up to you.

Personalize your feed and find things with ease

I'll let you into a secret: there was talk of launching the app earlier, without this, but we were adamant that feed personalization was important. We cover a broad remit here at Tom's Guide — from phones to Fitbits, and graphics cards to gardening — and, with the best will in the world, we understand that you might not be equally as passionate about every single topic that we cover.

So with that in mind, in the Explore tab you can select the categories (and sub-categories) that you're interested in to see a more curated feed of our latest content. It's a work in progress, and future updates to the app will refine the settings, but I think it's a great start that will save you a lot of time.

You can also find what you're looking for using our smart-powered Search tool — which I've tested a few times and actually find more reliable than the one on our desktop site. Frontend developers of Tom's Guide, take note!

Each article is also appended with Recommended articles on similar topics, and Trending articles in that category of the website, to inspire your next read.

And of course, the Home tab is packed with the highlights from all of our main channels, including our all-important Savings Squad.

Commenting, video, Wordle and puzzles

Hundreds of thousands of you rely on our daily Wordle hints and enjoy playing our collection of puzzles and quizzes, so we've made sure they appear on the Home tab in the App. You should be prompted to sign in or sign up to become a free member of the Tom's Guide Club when you first open the app, so that you can save your score on our puzzles and access other membership benefits.

The app also has a carousel of our latest TikTok videos on the Home tab, as well as videos embedded in many of our article pages.

We love hearing from readers, and often publish 'Have Your Say' articles and Live Q&As that are explicitly designed to have you ask questions and share your thoughts on specific topics. But you can leave a comment on almost any of our articles on the site, so it was important to us that you can join in the conversation in the app as well.

As the screenshot above shows, you can leave the first comment on any story or see which conversations are hotting up already.

I've already mentioned that our developers aren't resting on their laurels; they're already working on the next iteration of the app, with ideas for better personalisation and exclusive membership features. What do you like about the new app, and what would you like to see next? Let us know in the comments below.

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If you've encountered any mobile ads over the past few months, you'll have seen services like Freecash — apps that promise real money (or gift cards) for playing games on your phone. Claims like that are immediately a red flag, and the fact that they explicitly say that "it's not a scam" only draws more suspicious.

Well, it turns out I was right to be skeptical. Not only has Freecash garnered a reputation for deceptive marketing, but Apple has also just pulled it from the App Store for harvesting user data. So remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The app was pulled on Monday, shortly after TechCrunch contacted Apple for comment, with Apple citing sections 3.1.2(a) and 2.3.1 of its App Store Review Guidelines. It didn't elaborate, but these specific guidelines forbid apps from scamming users, employing bait-and-switch tactics and utilizing misleading marketing. Freecash is still live and available to download on Google Play at the time of writing.

What we know about Freecash

Freecash has been subject to numerous reports over the past couple of months, highlighting the sketchy practices it employs.

A January report from Wired reveals that some of the Freecash ads, which promise money for watching TikTok videos, are totally bogus. Instead, it reveals that the app is built around users playing mobile games.

This deceptive marketing led to TikTok pulling offending ads from its platform. Freecash claimed that the misleading ads were created by third-party affiliates, and not the company itself. It also claimed that it was fully compliant with policies on the App Store and Google Play.

Well, seemingly not, because this isn't the first time it has been banned from Apple's App Store. TechCrunch notes that the app was first submitted in March 2024, but was pulled less than two months later. A few months later, a different App Store app, 256 Rewards Ltd, was rebranded as "Freecash" with the same functionality.

TechCrunch speculates that this was a way to circumvent Apple's initial ban and avoid Apple's app review system — though there's no evidence it definitely happened. This practice is against Apple's rules, and as reported in the Washington Post back in 2021, it's a common tactic used by malicious and scammy apps.

Wired found that users could earn monetary rewards by playing these games and completing challenges, but Freecash immediately started nudging them to spend real money to hit their targets faster. So there's another catch, and one that seemingly defeats the purpose of being paid to play mobile games.

Freecash's parent company, Berlin-based Almedia, has described the platform as a way to match game developers with users who are likely to install and spend, per a separate Malware Bytes report from January, and I'm guessing the promise of monetary rewards is a way to entice users who normally wouldn't be tempted by ordinary mobile games.

That same Malware Bytes report details how Freecash is used to harvest sensitive user data, including race, religion, sex life, health, orientation and even biometrics. That data can then be sold, and used for all sorts of purposes — including tailoring personalized adverts that try to entice you to spend even more money.

Bottom line

Freecash is far from the only app out there promising to pay users for doing simple tasks like playing games or scrolling TikTok in their downtime. I've never looked into it deeply, but I always knew that there had to be a catch involved — I just couldn't make up my mind what it was.

Data harvesting is the obvious one, and that's a tactic employed by countless companies all over the world — notably social media companies like Facebook. I've also seen ads for at least one app promising passive income paid in Bitcoin, and it felt pretty clear that the trade-off was that the app would end up using your phone's computing hardware to mine crypto.

While Almedia has denied allegations of driving artificial traffic or employing deceptive marketing, the evidence suggests Freecash is attempting to have its cake and eat it too.

The platform harvests user data through active use and encourages members to 'spend money to earn money' — a classic red flag. Furthermore, the ecosystem is supported by a network of misleading advertisements specifically designed to funnel users toward the service through questionable claims.

Needless to say, this should be a warning that you need to be careful about what apps you download. Even apps that aren't promising grand rewards could potentially be involved in some nefarious stuff behind the scenes — and the last thing you want is even more of your data landing in the hands of data brokers.

Meanwhile, if you do see an app in the App Store that may be a scam, report it to Apple on the reportaproblem.apple.com website. For any sketchy Google Play apps, you can use Google's tool to report the app or the developer.

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The line for airport security is bad at the best of times, but the recent government shutdown proved that there's always a chance things can get worse. The problem is that keeping tabs on TSA wait times isn't always easy, and there's no telling how bad the line is going to be until you actually reach the airport. Unless you happen to be flying with United, that is.

United has confirmed that it has added a bunch of updates to its official app, and the most notable is the ability to see estimated TSA wait times for the airline's major U.S. hubs. That includes Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

That way, you can see how bad the security line is likely to be before you set off for the airport. No more letting uncertainty get in the way of your travel plans, or convincing you that you should arrive at the airport several hours too early.

The estimates cover different security lanes, including TSA PreCheck and the standard security line, but only in terminals that serve United flights. So if you're flying a different airline from a different terminal, like Spirit out of LAX, then you're out of luck.

This feature is rolling out to the United mobile app right now. The feature is no use for anyone affected by the recent government shutdown, but at least the new wait time estimates are ready to go should a future shutdown affect the TSA in the same way.

Other United updates have landed

TSA wait times aren't the only thing United has added to its app recently. The airline is also adding support for Apple's "Share Item Location for AirTag," which makes it easier for airlines to find the location of lost luggage. Though this hinges on you actually having an AirTag in your bag, and not forgetting to change the batteries before you travel.

United isn't the only airline offering AirTag support, though. Major carriers around the world have gotten involved, including U.S. airlines like American, Delta and JetBlue.

The United app also includes real-time weather updates, complete with radar maps, automatic rebooking assistance, bag-tracking, and personalized information that make it easier to connect between flights. That (rather helpfully) includes turn-by-turn directions, estimated walk times, flight status updates and a heads-up if United will hold your flight to accommodate your super-tight connection.

And, of course, United has partnered up with Starlink Wi-Fi, which Tom's Guide recently got to test for ourselves.

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No matter what platform you use, or how long you use it for, the worst thing about it is almost always the advertising. It might be the worst piece of garbage in the world, but a free piece of garbage definitely beats one littered with ads. Unfortunately, Google Maps and Waze have been suffering from this particular blight for a while, and Apple Maps might finally join the party.

There have been reports that Apple has been considering putting ads in Apple Maps for a while, going back to at least last February. But according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple might even announce the change before the end of the month — with the first ads appearing in the summer. That doesn't give us much time to enjoy an ad-free Apple Maps experience.

Gurman says that this move is an attempt by Apple to generate more money from services. It's no huge surprise, since Apple has been pushing for more service-based revenue for several years, and Gurman notes that services now bring in 25% of Apple's revenue — up from 10% a decade ago. Earning ad revenue from Apple Maps probably seems like a no-brainer.

Sources speaking to Gurman claim the system will be similar to Google Maps, with retailers and brands bidding for ad slots that appear in search results. That means, whenever users search for a specific term (like "sushi"), the top result will be an ad from the highest bidder.

Ads are the absolute worst

Obviously, there isn't a single person out there who wants to be exposed to more advertising in their daily lives. Those of you who opt to use Apple Maps over Google Maps or one of the many other alternative navigation apps might be doing so simply because there's no advertising involved.

I'll admit that search result ads are not the worst way to do things, and there are a lot more intrusive options that Apple could eventually employ. Google, for instance, features sponsored locations on the main map interface — which are easily identifiable by the square map pin, rather than the circle. Waze has also been known to use full-screen ads that appear when your car is stationary.

It's previously been claimed that Apple will utilize AI to ensure any ads Apple Maps serves will be "relevant and useful." Though it doesn't change the fact that any advertising is automatically worse than none.

But as Gurman notes, Apple is facing a lot of service challenges — especially with the way it runs the app store. Not to mention the rise in AI-based search could put its multi-billion-dollar Google search deal at risk. So bringing in more ad revenue would help offset any losses in those areas and keep the shareholders happy.

So enjoy those ad-free trips while you still can. It doesn't sound like they'll be sticking around for much longer.

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When news broke that Nottingham and Derby councils in England had collaborated on a new transit app for both cities, combining the many (MANY) transit providers in the area and offering real-time tracking and in-app ticket purchasing, residents—especially my navigationally-challenged self—were pretty pleased.

Most transit companies' apps are, to put it politely, absolute steaming garbage. So, trying to navigate between them all to complete one relatively simple journey is maddening at the best of times.

However, given that English councils are notoriously cash-strapped at the moment, there were some raised eyebrows about the cost: A hefty £4 million ($5m) of taxpayer money. Considering Nottingham City Council effectively declared itself bankrupt in 2023 and Derby City Council recently hiked taxes by the maximum allowed, it's fair to wonder where exactly the money for Ride East Midlands, as the app is called, came from.

The answer, pitchfork-carriers will be pleased to hear, is the government. A £15m ($20m) grant from its Future Transport Zones (FTZ) programme covered the cost as part of a bigger scheme to improve mobility in the Midlands. This does mean the money still came out of the public's pocket, but the government does have a few more pennies to play with than your typical beleaguered city council.

Who's this app for?

In short, this app is for people like me: people who a) live in the cities of Nottingham or Derby, b) sometimes like going to places in those cities, and c) would prefer not to get hopelessly lost on the way.

Without assistance, I go in the wrong direction almost 100% of the time. Worse, I'm completely, totally certain that this time I've gone the right way. Then I find myself back where I started and my partner laughs at me.

I've gone the wrong way on the London tube, despite doing the same journey every day, and ended up at the wrong end of the line after the last train had left. I've gotten lost making the five-minute journey from my office to the lunch place around the corner. When we moved into our house, I got lost several times in the first week. It's not exactly a large place, but in my defence, the floor plan is absurd.

In short, I am this app's perfect customer: If it helps me get where I'm going without having a little cry, I will use it forever.

Why does Ride exist?

Understandably, people have questioned the need for so much money and council time to be used on yet another travel app. Google Maps launched in 2005, which is apparently 21 years ago (time flies) and fulfils most people's navigational needs for zero dollars (and access your data).

The idea for Ride East Midlands is sound, though. What do a bunch of Californian programmers know about getting around the dodgy end of England's 22nd largest city?

Judging by Google Maps' pronunciation of U.K. place names, absolutely nothing. Plus, there really are a ton of independent companies running the bus, train, tram, e-scooter, e-bike and car rental services here. Nobody wants to deal with all their separate ticket systems, timetables and schedules when they're running late for their mom's goldfish's birthday party.

In addition to the "one app to rule them all" approach, Ride East Midlands offers several tempting features that Maps doesn't:

• Track buses in real time
• Buy tickets for all travel operators without needing apps and accounts
• View the location and battery level of e-bikes and e-scooters
• Find and book rental cars
• Set preferences for operators, types of transport and how far you're willing to walk

These features make Ride more akin to apps like Citymapper, which is excellent but only works well in major cities, or TfL Go, which only works in London. It's kind of nice to feel like Nottingham and Derby are as worthy of a specific app as the big metropoles, even if it does come off a bit like a throw pillow that says "New York. Paris. Jacksonville."

Does it actually work?

I had a bunch of old tech I needed to sell to CeX, a national retailer that is best described as a kind of pawn shop that only sells used games and tech. It's slightly more glamorous than it sounds, and after looking up my nearest branch (Beeston), I asked both Ride and Google Maps to plot me a course.

Setting up

Instantly, I remember why public transport is considered such a hassle around here. To get to Beeston, which is 6.4 miles from my house, I have to go all the way to the city centre (5.1 miles) and then all the way back out (4.6 miles). In other words, I'm travelling 10 miles to go 6 miles. That's one way, and it doesn't account for the inevitable return trip.

In a car, this journey takes around 15 minutes, depending on traffic. On public transport, it will take one hour and one minute according to Google Maps or 57 minutes according to Ride. It seems that $5m might have been better spent improving routes through the city.

Setting up Ride, it asks me to sign in to something called "Trafi.com". I go to the URL and find it's an app to "connect and integrate all the mobility options — from public transport to micro-mobility into a single multi-modal journey planning platform."

If that looks and sounds familiar, it's because it's the same blasted app as Ride. That's plainly obvious if you superimpose the Ride homescreen next to their press image:

Oh. So this isn't a brand new, coded-from-scratch piece of tech — which would go some way to justifying the price tag. It's a white-labelled pre-existing app that they've fed data and branding into. That's much less impressive.

Worse still: According to Trafi's press release, licensing their app for Nottingham and Derby cost £2.6m (about $3.5m) of the £4m ($5m) budget. Oof.

The Nottingham and Derby version is on the Trafi website, but it looks like it was put up in a hurry. The URL ends in "/copy-of-brussels-floya" while the page title is Trafi: Floya app (Brussels). Floya is the version of the app you'd find in the Belgian capital city.

To make matters worse, the quote from Ride's programme manager is less than inspiring:

After grumbling about misleading marketing, I set my travel preferences in Ride. I go for the big three: bus, train and tram. I'll leave the e-scooters to the teenagers and the rental cars to people who can actually drive.

Setting off

Both apps inform me that I need to walk to a bus stop, get a bus to the train station, change over to a tram heading towards Beeston, then walk to CeX.

Ride and Maps agree on the bus I should take, but disagree on what time it'll arrive: Google says 4.13 p.m., Ride says 4.15 p.m., and the supposedly real-time tracker at the bus stop itself says 11 minutes (4.17 p.m.).

In the end, the bus came at 4.16 p.m., so they were all wrong, but I did get to watch it trundling along in real time on the Ride map.

While we wait, I try Ride's key feature: the ability to buy a bus ticket within the app. It immediately redirects me to the NCT bus operator's website, which wants me to make an account. Annoyingly, even though the app directed me to the website, the ticket I bought there did not appear in Ride.

Both of these things have apparently been fixed in the weeks since.

On the bus

Both apps offer a list of the 27 stops between here and the station, and allow you to watch yourself progress through them in real time. However, the Ride app kept randomly losing GPS signal, and often got stuck at a stop for ages before suddenly catching up. Google Maps, using the same phone, had no such issues.

Google also proved superior in that it counted down the stops and time remaining, so when I'd gone 8 stops, it said "Ride 19 stops (16 min)." All while Ride still said "27 stops, 24 min".

Maps also had a nice little nav ribbon that stayed on my notification bar, and a bigger one when I pulled down the notification shade with a journey progress bar. This is part of Android 16's Live Updates feature, and while still in its infancy, it's a very helpful feature to have.

Along the way, I found one of the stops had slightly changed its name, according to the location screen and announcement on the bus itself. Neither Google Maps nor Ride knew this, but Google does provide the official NCT bus stop codes, which Ride doesn't.

Google also knew the bus departed late and gave the new time, which Ride did not. Perhaps those Silicon Valley types know more about Nottingham than I gave them credit for.

Next leg

Having arrived at the (gray and rainy) Nottingham train station, Ride directed me to the tram stop. The route it chose was directly through the station building, which wasn't obvious to me at all, and left me looking for roads that didn't exist.

That said, my partner, who has a normal sense of direction, knew exactly what it meant, so your mileage may vary.

I succeeded in buying a ticket for NET (Nottingham Express Transit, the tram company) from within Ride as promised. Success! It even showed up on the tickets page.

At this point, Ride was telling me the tram would be here at 4.47 p.m., but wouldn't let me watch it on the map. Apparently, there's no real-time data for trams, which is disappointing. Maps said 4.47 p.m. too, but the sign at the tram stop said 5 minutes (4.50 p.m.).

At 4.47 p.m., Ride and Google Maps decided the tram had gone, and started showing me the next one. It arrived at exactly 4.50 p.m., suggesting the real-time tram boards have better data than the apps. Ride East Midlands admits it doesn't currently have tram data, but I assumed that was because there wasn't any. But if the departure boards have that information, why doesn't Ride?

Again, Google Maps knew the tram left late and at what time, Ride didn't. Worse, Ride was telling me several stops before the end of the journey that we'd arrive at 5.03 p.m. when it was already 5.04 p.m. It seems it was religiously adhering to the scheduled times and not accounting for delays. Google suggested we'd arrive at 5.09 p.m. and we got there at 5.10 p.m. Close enough, I guess.

Last leg

Time to walk to CeX, which Google says is 6 minutes and 0.2 miles away, Ride says 5 minutes and 405 meters (0.25 miles). Once again, Ride doesn't count down and still says 5 minutes when we get there, but it does show our progress in real time on the map. As does Google, which automatically updates to show we've arrived.

At the start of the trip, Google predicted we'd arrive at 5.09 p.m., Ride at 5.07 p.m. Our actual time of 5.16 p.m. isn't bad compared to those estimates, but once again, the American Google Maps beats out locally-made (well… locally branded) Ride for accuracy.

Once I'd traded in my tech, I asked Ride the way home, took one look at the giant list of instructions and ordered an Uber.

Since I didn't swipe through all the screens of the entire journey and press "finish," Ride was still running when I opened the app a week later. It was telling me to walk back to Beeston so I could start my journey home. that's definitely not happening.

Would I use Ride again?

I'm basically Ride's key customer. I live in Nottingham, can't navigate to save my life, and can't deal with all the transport apps. However, I'm not sure I'd use it again.

I'll keep it on my phone, and if I feel like Google Maps isn't doing a good enough job or I want to watch my bus in real time, I might open it. But for step-by-step navigation, it wasn't as good as the much more intuitive Google Maps.

I definitely don't want to sign up to all the operators' websites to buy tickets in the future, but you don't actually have to. You can make contactless payments on buses and buy tram tickets at the machines.

Ride just doesn't add enough to make it worth the glitches and information gaps, and as for being worth $5m—especially when it turned out to be developed by someone else—I personally don't believe that it's value for taxpayer money.

Like me trying to navigate, it's neither here nor there.

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I am a big fan of Lego, a fact that is plainly obvious to anyone who knows me, and I'm very much in the camp of build-and-display. I'm not creative enough to build my own sets, and playing with bricks is something that hasn't really interested me since I hit double-digits. Needless to say, I am not the target audience for Lego's new Smart Play system — powered by the Smart Brick.

As the name suggests, this is a hi-tech play feature, designed to add more interactivity to specific Lego sets — a fact that has caused a lot of controversy and furor among adult Lego fans. Since I was not the target audience, I initially settled in the camp of casual disinterest. I wasn't planning on buying a Smart Play set, but I also wasn't going to angrily scream into the social media void either.

But here I am, talking about Smart Play. Why, you might ask? Because I actually learned about the tech inside the brick, and I have to say I was fascinated by what I heard. I had to try this out for myself, and after getting hold of the Smart Play TIE Fighter, complete with everyone's favorite Sith Lord Darth Vader, I found myself very impressed with what Lego has developed.

I'm still not the target audience, and Smart Play sets still haven't earned a place on my Lego Store wishlist. But if I were a kid, this is the kind of thing I would love to play with. The best part for any parents out there is that it doesn't involve screens.

Hands-on with the Smart Brick

From a building perspective, there isn't much to discuss with the Smart Play TIE Fighter. It's a little more rudimentary than I would expect from a lot of other Star Wars sets, and has clearly been designed to be a little more appealing for kids and playtime rather than sitting on a shelf gathering dust.

It wasn't challenging for an adult, but it's not supposed to be, and I can definitely appreciate the fact Lego didn't employ a single sticker in the set — only printed parts. That's the kind of child-friendly design I can get behind.

The Brick itself operates with a form of near field communication, and it's got a surprising amount of range. I would have guessed that its position in the back of the TIE Fighter would be too far away from Darth Vader when he's sitting in the pilot's seat — but I was wrong. The Smart Brick can communicate over roughly an inch of dead space, which means it can connect to both the Vader figure and the TIE Fighter Smart tag at the same time.

Stick the Smart Brick in the back, and it'll fire up the TIE's engines and play some Vader-specific sound effects — all played through a synthesizer on the Smart Brick. I was not expecting a lot from this, all things considered, but suddenly hearing The Imperial March blast out of the Brick was a very nice surprise.

The same goes for the breathing effect, which, while not a full rendition of Vader's iconic rasp, was close enough.

There are even voice effects, though they aren't voice effects from the Star Wars movies. Instead, it's a kind of simulated speech that reminds me of Simlish, the language from the Sims video games, or the voice effects in the oldest Lego Star Wars games. Lego games were better before they added full voice casts, and I will die on that hill.

The Brick features a heck of a lot of internal sensors, which enhance that play experience. Moving the TIE Fighter around activates various sound effects to simulate movement, including a power-down noise when you put the ship back onto the ground.

Spin it around with Vader inside and you'll even hear him react accordingly. There's also a color sensor on the side, which adds different sounds depending on what color it senses. Nothing too complex, but in the case of the TIE Fighter red activates the weapons, blue simulates refuelling and green is repairs.

The red is, of course, the most important, which is why Lego added a trigger at the back of the ship that flicks red paddles in front of the light sensor. Flick the trigger, and you suddenly have Darth Vader trying to shoot down the rebels that keep trying to blow up the Death Star.

Lego's innovating, without resorting to apps and screens

One of the things that hit me as I was building the TIE Fighter is that Smart Play is quite different from a lot of the recent "innovation" Lego has done with its sets in recent years. Because it's a closed system that works independently of any other tech. There's no need to pair it to a smartphone app that might get discontinued in three or four years.

There is a Smart Play app, which links to your Bricks via Bluetooth, but this doesn't unlock any extra features or functionality. Not only does it not connect to your brick unless it's on the charging pad, the app only functions as a monitoring tool. It lets you check battery life, adjust volume and update firmware should that ever be necessary. Nothing else, beyond a list of FAQs that are also available on Lego's website.

There will come a day when Lego decides it's had enough with Smart Play. Whether it's one year from now or 10, retirement is inevitable. But that retirement doesn't mean Lego will be able to shut down Smart Bricks that have already been sold. They should still operate as normal until the Brick (or more likely the battery) wears out.

The Bricks already work straight out of the box, and they don't rely on any kind of connection to operate. Even if you don't have smart tiles or minifigures to pair it with, you can still use the Brick as a standalone play element using the built-in sensors. The only essential component is the charger — for obvious reasons.

Compare that to something like the Hidden Side theme, which used a companion app to add augmented reality elements to certain sets. The theme was discontinued in December 2020, and the companion app shut down in January 2023. The physical sets still existed, but the elements that made it unique are now gone forever.

Blending Lego and apps is a cool idea, but Smart Play shows how Lego doesn't necessarily have to go that route to utilize technology to enhance the play experience. Which keeps your kid's screen time down, and means they don't need to have a smartphone or tablet to get the most out of the expensive new set you just bought them.

The prices are a real downer

The elephant in the Smart Playroom is that these sets are rather expensive — even by Lego Star Wars standards. The Smart Play TIE Fighter is the cheapest "all-in-one" Smart Play set, and it costs $70. Also on sale is Luke Skywalker's X-Wing for $90 and the Emperor's throne room for $160.

For reference, the closest Lego set to the TIE Fighter on sale is the $65 TIE Bomber. Not only is it $5 cheaper than the Smart Play model, it's also larger and packs in more interesting minifigures. Sure, this set has the Smart Brick and charger, which won't come cheap, but it seems as though the Smart Play-compatible sets, which don't include those elements, carry a more premium price.

The Millennium Falcon Smart Playset is $100, whereas the mid-scale display Millennium Falcon is $85. It has no minifigures or play elements, but it is larger and more detailed despite costing $15 less. To make matters worse, the Smart Brick and charger aren't available to purchase separately. If you want to get the most out of your new compatible Lego set, you'll need to spend at least $70 for the TIE Fighter.

I understand these are tech elements that cost more to develop and produce than molded plastic bricks. But children famously don't have a lot of disposable income, and the price tags are going to impact how many parents are going to buy these for their kids.

I remember the crushing disappointment of being told a Lego set I wanted was too expensive for Santa to bring me, so I can empathize with any kids who are told they can't have a Smart Play set. Or, perhaps worst of all, get the set they want but without the essential Brick to make it worthwhile.

Bottom Line

I gotta say, I would have absolutely loved this Smart Play stuff as a kid. While part of the fun of playing is making your own sound effects, the way Lego has implemented more hi-tech features into its sets is quite astounding. There's no need to keep replenishing batteries, and the electronics are all contained within a single brick that can be used with other Lego sets.

Not only can you rip out the smart effects to try and use them elsewhere, that's an intended part of the design. The Smart Brick may be a little bigger than your standard 2x4 Lego brick, but it's still universally compatible with all your other Lego sets. You just need to make sure you have the right tags and minifigures to make it worthwhile — because the Brick doesn't do a whole lot by itself.

Lego just needs to sort out the price problem and try to make this a little more accessible. I get it, technology isn't cheap and neither are Star Wars sets. But the least it could do is make sure the Smart brick itself is available on its own, and not stuck between a $70-$160 paywall.

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Google just announced two big new Gemini features for Google Maps. In fact, Google claims that this will be the "biggest navigation upgrade in over a decade."

The first big change is a conversational feature called "Ask Maps", which is designed to let you ask Google Maps more complicated questions that it never could have handled before. The idea is that this enhances the discovery experience in a way that's faster and more convenient for you, since you don't have to go sifting through reviews or do your own research to find things out.

Examples offered by Google include declaring that your phone is dying, and you need to find a place to "charge it without having to wait in a long line for coffee." Or, something a little simpler, like asking about public tennis courts that have lights and are available to use tonight.

Anything you ask about will be answered conversationally, just like any other Gemini feature, alongside a customized map that helps you pick out your different options. Responses will include clear directions and ETAs, as well as insider tips from other Maps users.

The results are also personalized based on what Maps already knows about you — meaning Ask Maps shouldn't offer anything outrageously unsuitable. So, if you only eat at vegan restaurants, it's not going to direct you to a steakhouse, and things like that.

Ask Maps is rolling out to Android and iOS in both the U.S. and India right now.

Immersive Navigation

Next up is Immersive Navigation, which promises a "complete transformation of the navigation experience" thanks to new visuals and more intuitive directions. This is supposed to help you stay focused as you're driving, while still being informed about what's going on around you.

Google Maps is going to change to offer a 3D view of the world around the road, such as buildings and overpasses, while highlighting the crucial road details ahead of you — including lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights and stop signs. Those buildings are transparent too, so they shouldn't get in the way of the actual navigation.

Gemini actually powers this new "spatial understanding" of your route, as Google is calling it. Google Maps is basing its information on Street View and aerial photos to make Google Maps more visually appealing and informative.

But there's more to this than just looks, according to Google. You'll now be able to see more of your route, with smart zooms and transparent buildings helping to highlight difficult areas in advance.

More natural voice guidance

Voice guidance has also been updated to be a little more natural, rather than the flat, robotic GPS voices we've been hearing for the past 20+ years, and will highlight various visual cues to help you prepare for the next stage of navigation.

Google Maps will also ensure you know all the pros and cons of alternate routes before you take them. So if there's a different route with less traffic, but more physical distance involved, you can decide whether that's worthwhile. The same goes for any faster routes that may have things like tolls.

Other useful features coming as part of this update include real-time disruption alerts on your route, and the ability to preview your destination with Google Street View. Part of that also includes Maps highlighting building entrances, nearby parking and the side of the street you'll need to be on.

Immersive Navigation starts rolling out today to users in the U.S., including those with iOS, Android, CarPlay, Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.

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As the U.S. and Iran conflict rages on, oil prices are going up thanks to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. It means gas for your car is getting even more expensive, with the prices already creeping up.

The New York Times reported that gas prices have gone up every day for 11 straight days since Iran began retaliatory strikes against Israel and American allies in the Middle East.

Globally, war can be blamed for rising gas prices. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, gas prices hit an all-time high of $5.01 per gallon. According to AAA's fuel price tracker, this week the national average gas price hit $3.58 per gallon, which is $0.40 higher than the previous week and nearly a $1 more than February.

Paying more at the pump is inevitable, but there are still ways that you can try and find the cheapest gas near you. Here's how to use Google Maps to save money on gas.

How to use Google Maps to find cheap gas

It's a fairly straightforward process, but the information is in different places depending on if you're using the mobile app or browser version.

Here's how it goes on your phone.

How to use Google Maps to plan a more fuel-efficient route

Since 2022, Google has offered the ability to change your route based on different criteria. One of the available options is "eco-friendly" represented by a little green leaf icon.

The eco-friendly option is on by default, but you should leave it there because it will choose a more fuel-efficient path to help you save gas. Yes, sometimes the route is longer, but it means you'll stop less. Sometimes these routes are also more time-efficient, but you can swap to faster routes as needed.

Do you have any good strategies for finding cheap gas near you? Let us know in the comments.

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So I recently discovered something shocking about Google Maps on iPhone. While the app itself is more or less the same as the Android version, the same is not true for Google Maps on CarPlay. In fact, the whole experience couldn't be more different from what I've always assumed it would be like.

I'm primarily an Android user, and I only really use iPhones for work reasons and don't even have a SIM set up. So when I jump into my car, I've always got my Pixel 10 Pro plugged in with Android Auto up on the main infotainment screen. So imagine my shock when I finally opened up Google Maps on CarPlay and saw just how different it was from the Android version.

Foolishly, having used Google Maps on both Android and iPhone as a solo app, I assumed Google would offer a similar level of consistency in the car. But that's far from the case.

It's like travelling back in time

A brief look at Google Maps on Android Auto and you have all the makings of a modern navigation app. To borrow a phrase from Apple, it just works, and it's rather hard to describe the experience in any other way. You have a recreation of the standard Google Maps interface, albeit squashed into whatever-sized screen your car offers, alongside various features that operate as pop-ups on the main navigation screen.

Destination search, recent search history, a compass, incident reporting, zoom, quick settings — they're all usable and accounted for without covering up the entire map.

You can even use the touchscreen to move around the map, with the same gestures that are usable on your phone screen. The touch controls have been a little janky for me, but I've always assumed that's because my car is now 7 years old and never had a particularly good touchscreen to begin with.

Jumping over to CarPlay is almost like going back in time. The different features and menus cover up the entire screen, and the only movement around the map you can make is with a set of arrow keys. These are all fairly small details on their own, but combined Google Maps on CarPlay looks dated and old-fashioned.

It took me a few minutes to realize that the look of Google Maps on CarPlay looks a lot like Apple Maps with a Google skin. Which shouldn't be the case.

I will not make bold claims about how much more fully-featured Google Maps is on Android Auto. I've checked as best as I can, and the only thing I can see that Android Auto Google Maps has compared to CarPlay is the option to toggle on 3D buildings in the car. Or at least, that's the case in my region, and I can honestly say I don't think iPhone users are missing out on much there.

Still, I couldn't get over the fact that CarPlay Google Maps looks so dated compared to Android Auto. Considering how many people actually own iPhones, you'd think Google would be doing everything it could to try and compete with Apple Maps — which has a lot more system-level support as a result of it being an Apple app.

Google may not be able to integrate with Siri, but there must be something it can do, right? Well, at least part of the problem might be with Apple itself.

Apple has rules for CarPlay navigation apps

Considering Apple is known for implementing a bunch of rules app developers have to follow, I decided to check out the CarPlay developer's guide to see what was going on. It turns out, there are a lot of rules on what you can and can't do with a navigation app if you want it to be compatible with Apple's in-car software.

For starters, there's a rule that prevents developers from drawing "windows, alerts, panels, overlays, or user interface elements in the base view." Base view is the area with the actual map portion of the app. Naturally, Apple has limits on the number of buttons and icons that can appear on Base View, too, and it all may well preclude Google from using its overlay menus as it does on Android Auto.

It doesn't completely get Google off the hook for offering crappy menus, but it does explain why CarPlay doesn't offer the 1-to-1 Google Maps experience you'd find on Android Auto. And this explains why Waze follows a lot of the same rules, even if its unique art style helps it stand out more.

Apple also mandates the use of "panning mode" buttons because "drag gestures are not available in all vehicles." That was actually one of the things I was most confused about, and while I see some of the logic, I still can't understand why my car didn't let me move the map around with touch controls, because they're not prohibited. I guess I just have the wrong kind of screen. Thanks again, Nissan.

I'm not saying rules are bad. Driving is inherently dangerous, and Apple has a responsibility to ensure apps on its platform are safe and easy to use while you're driving. You can't plaster the map view with a bunch of windows and ads that will only serve to confuse the driver, and potentially cause problems.

The fact that Apple has rules in place to ensure a navigation app's voice prompts "work concurrently with the vehicle’s audio system" and " must provide turn-by-turn directions with upcoming maneuvers" makes me wonder what kind of nonsense app developers have tried to pull in the past. Because those are pretty basic and important features to have.

Plus, I'm sure there are plenty of ways Google Maps could work within the rules without making itself look like a terrible Apple Maps clone.

Bottom line

When your rules seemingly force all the competition to look more-or-less identical to your own app, I feel like you should take a step back and try to come up with a better system that allows for a bit more creative freedom. Then again, this is Apple we're talking about, so the odds of that happening are slim.

Google can definitely do a little bit more to make its CarPlay app look a little bit less, well, awful. I know my car's screen doesn't help, because it makes CarPlay look a little more blown-up and pixelated than it needs to be, but it doesn't change the fact that Google Maps just looks kinda bad. And if your app looks bad, why would people want to use it over the (arguably) more capable Apple Maps?

When people are declaring that an app is better on Android Auto, a platform with an awful lot of haters as it is, then you're definitely doing something wrong.

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One of the great things about modern navigation apps is that users are able to report any problems they see on the road. That feature gained traction with Waze, and the idea was that those reports help the app figure out whether it's going to negatively affect arrival time or not. So you're helping other drivers and they, in turn, help you.

Waze is far from the only app to offer it these days. Unsurprisingly, its cousin Google Maps also features incident reporting that works rather similarly. It wasn't always that way, but Google has made a lot of changes in recent years. Not only does it make the process a lot easier, but it also pools its reports in with those from Google-owned Waze.

The question is, which of these apps does the best? They seem very similar on the surface, but is that really the case? I decided to find out, testing the incident reporting process on mobile and using Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to simulate the driving experience.

Waze vs Google Maps: Incident Reporting on mobile

Simply opening up Google Maps and Waze on mobile shows a stark difference in the way you can report an incident. Waze has the report button front and center on the app screen, whereas Google Maps hides it until you actually start navigating. That's an easy few points for Waze, and lets passengers or pedestrians report road problems just as easily as drivers. This is true on Android and iPhone.

Waze also makes reporting incidents with your voice a lot easier than Google. The microphone button is prominently displayed at the top of the screen, and the settings menu has something called "Talk to report."

When this option is switched on, tapping the incident icon will automatically turn on the microphone so that you can tell Waze what's going on. However, I could only get this to work on Android, meaning iPhone users will have to do everything manually.

From what I can tell, Google Maps doesn't offer this feature, and attempting to ask Gemini to report an incident ends with the AI offering instructions on what to do. Hardly ideal.

Waze's reporting menu has more on offer, but it's readily apparent that a bunch of the options aren't road issues. It's just another way for users to contribute to Waze's crowdsourced system, by offering information like gas prices, weather, locations and more. At first glance, the number of incident options seems smaller than Google Maps — though this is rather deceptive.

Selecting one of these incidents actually opens up a second menu with more options. Traffic, for example, comes with the option for "heavy traffic" or "standstill," while Police includes general police presence, mobile cameras, hidden officers and police activity on the opposite side of the road.

With Google, what you see is what you get, with little room for nuance and additional context. Police means police, as an example, but there is a separate option to report a mobile speed camera too.

Waze vs Google Maps: Incident Reporting while driving

Incident reporting behind the wheel is a similar experience, though Google Maps on Android Auto has taken more measures to ensure that it's not distracting.

For instance, I was able to use voice commands to report problems without any particular issue. Once I figured out what the right commands were, obviously. I was able to do this with the voice control button on my steering wheel, and using the "Hey Google" wake-up word.

Waze functioned in much the same way. You could file reports with Google Gemini or Assistant, once you know the right combination of words. However, the automatic listening will also kick in if you tap the incident report on your display. While not totally hands-free, the fact that it automatically starts listening means there's one step less than Google Maps.

Once again, things don't work so smoothly with an iPhone. Using Google Maps on CarPlay features zero incident reporting options that I could see. And attempting to use voice commands led to Siri defaulting to Apple Maps. Waze fares a little better since the report button is visible on screen, letting you file reports by hand. But without the Talk to report feature, your options for doing it hands-free are just not there.

Waze offers fewer options while driving, but you still get the same selection of hazards to report across those same submenus. You're just missing smaller things like gas prices, which aren't exactly urgent.

It's worth noting that Waze doesn't give you the option to undo a report. Google Maps does give you about 5 seconds to change your mind before it actually sends the report. That's helpful if you're just trying to figure out how incident reporting works, but I'm not sure it makes much difference in the grand scheme of things.

However, the most important thing is that both apps make it easy to report without having to take your eyes off the road, or by letting whoever is riding shotgun do it on your car's infotainment screen.

Bottom line

if you're using Waze and Google Maps with an Android device, then your experience is going to be very similar. Both offer many of the same general incidents, and let you actually send those reports in ways that are (nearly) identical.

The fact that Waze offers a little more nuance to its reports and features the Talk to Report feature means that it's probably going to be more convenient in the long run. But you won't be missing much if you prefer to drive around with Google Maps over Waze.

The experience on iPhone is totally different, and the fact Waze offers the slightest bit of consistency on iOS gives it the edge over Google Maps. Honestly, as a long-time Android user, I didn't realize just how awful Google Maps looks on CarPlay compared to Android Auto. Google should probably do something about that in the near future. Otherwise, people will end up like Siri and just default to Apple Maps.

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Nearly 20% of smart glasses users have admitted to filming others without their consent, according to one study. With Meta adding to the creepiness by bringing facial recognition to its specs and the smart glasses space exploding with Samsung, Google and Apple all throwing their hats in the ring soon, one hobbyist app developer is fighting back.

Called “Nearby Glasses,” this Android app is able to notify people when someone nearby is wearing camera-equipped smart glasses. You can download it right now from the Play store or via GitHub, and being real, I’m disappointed but not surprised that this has to exist.

Because in the words of William Gibson, a pioneer of cyberpunk: “The street finds its own uses for things.” And it doesn’t matter what the “official” purpose of a gadget may be, the users will find their own ways to use it — be it practical, profitable or (unfortunately) subversive enough that we’re in a situation to make software like this needed.

While this app is useful in terms of identifying smart glasses near you, developer Yves Jeanrenaud makes it clear (and I will as well) that this doesn’t mean you should harass people for wearing them. It is a criminal offense. Do not harass people just for wearing smart glasses.

How ‘Nearby Glasses’ works

So how does the app spot smart glasses? It comes down to a combination of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and something called “advertising frames.” Every now and again, devices like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses will broadcast small packets of data that tell nearby devices “I am a Meta device,” so you know what to pair with.

This unique identifier is easy to pick up on, and with that, Jeanrenaud’s app can send you a push notification to warn you. On top of that, you can alter the detection distance depending on how widely you wish to scan.

Now, that’s not to say it’s completely reliable, and the developer does acknowledge this. Since it looks at a wide range of unique Bluetooth identifiers across Meta and Luxottica (the frame manufacturers for Meta and the upcoming Snap Specs), it can notify you of false positives of devices like the Meta Quest 3S or even smartwatches.

And that’s not to say this resistance will be thwarted in the future. If apps like this become popular, you may see manufacturers randomize Bluetooth signals to make them harder to identify. Or users themselves could just turn off the Bluetooth and use them as recording glasses, making them invisible to the app.

The price of progress

Honestly, while I appreciate the work of Jeanrenaud here, I’m sad that this even has to exist at all. It’s a heavy realization that we’ve reached a point where privacy isn’t a default state, but a service you have to actively run on your phone.

Smart glasses sales are spiking (that's only going to go higher when the big players enter the scene), cases of targeted harassment using smart glasses to record women without their knowledge are on the rise and there have been reported incidents of “surveillance voyeurism” in beauty salons and locker rooms.

As historian Edward Tenner noted, new tech often produces the exact opposite of its intent — smart glasses are meant to connect us to our world, yet they’ve created a new wall of suspicion between us and every stranger we pass.

And until companies prioritize society — making recording lights unhackable and veering away from the more dystopian developments like facial recognition and always-on AI features — apps like “Nearby Glasses” stop being a hobbyist project and start becoming an essential tool.

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Live location sharing can be incredibly useful, especially if you're headed somewhere and want to keep friends and family up to date on your progress. Unfortunately, Google Messages has always lacked this feature, only offering the option to send a single static location via Google Maps. But that might be about to change.

9to5Google has been diving into the code of the latest Google Messages beta, and found references to live location sharing hiding in the code. From the looks of things, this feature will be powered by Android's Find Hub, which already offers the ability to share your live location.

Presumably, the new feature will mimic that version of location sharing almost exactly. That means users should be able to share their location for an hour, one day, or until the user in question physically switches it off. Link-based sharing should also be available in the event that you need to share your whereabouts with someone who doesn't use Android or Google Messages.

That should help make things a lot more convenient. The last thing you need when you're trying to send a live location to someone is to keep switching between apps.

Convenience and security

Sharing your location is not something you want to be doing all the time, but it can be incredibly useful for both convenience and security.

Whether you're meeting someone or you want to ensure a parent's peace of mind when you're going out, real-time location sharing means they can keep tabs on you without constantly having to ask you where you are. Nor do you have to keep continually sending them location stamps.

It's a wonder why Google hasn't included this feature before, especially since the likes of Apple iMessage and WhatsApp all offer their own real-time location features. It's just not clear when Google will roll out the feature to Messages, though hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.

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There's a lot more to Google Maps than simply finding your way around. Google offers a wide range of features and plenty of information designed to help throughout your life. Unfortunately, the company has apparently decided that you're only allowed access to some of that information if you're signed in with a Google account.

If you choose to opt out of having a Google account, or at the very least logging into Google Maps with it, then you're going to end up looking at a stripped-down version. One that gives you directions, but cuts out a lot of other important things like reviews or location images.

Google Maps seems to be treating this as an error, noting that Maps itself might be having issues, while there could be interference from your network or a browser extension. However, the app then suggests that signing in with Google Maps might fix the issue. That's... suspicious, if you ask me.

Because it makes it look as though Google is trying to push people to stay signed in to Google Maps all the time. Hopefully, this isn't the case, because it would be a huge mistake on Google's part.

What's happening, exactly?

The simple explanation is that some users are seeing a very stripped-down view of Google Maps — missing many key features that were previously available. We're not talking things like recent search history or saved places, both of which only work when tied to a specific user. We're talking about very general, but crucially important, bits of Google Maps data.

User reviews, photos and videos of locations, crowd-level graphs, related locations and so on. Maps refers to this as a "limited view of Google Maps", and when prompted for more information, suggests various issues that could be affecting things. Network issues, rogue browser extensions and general issues with Google Maps itself.

Of course, it also claims these issues can be fixed by logging in, and some Reddit users have confirmed they had no issues after doing so.

It is not clear why this is happening or whether it is due to a recent change in Google Maps or a glitch. I have contacted Google for more information and will update this story when I hear back.

Interestingly, I'm not seeing the Limited View message on Google Maps when I'm not logged in. But I am seeing considerably less information than I do compared to a browser window where I am.

When I look at the Natural History Museum in London while not logged in, I get the absolute bare minimum of information. A general overview, address details, contact information and opening times, to name a few. Plus some ads, because this is a Google product we're talking about.

Being logged in is a very different story. Not only can I buy tickets to the museum, with Google Maps redirecting me to various third-party ticketing sites, but I can also see a heck of a lot more about the museum. Full-length reviews, instead of a single 4.6-star rating, useful web results, user-submitted images, and so on.

None of these things actually requires a Google account to work, unlike the "Save" and "Send to phone" options, which are heavily reliant on a Google account. And yet, the latter two are visible regardless of whether you're logged in or not.

Being logged in also means the About tab features a lot more useful information about amenities, parking and what else is on offer when you're logged in. If you're not logged in, you get a summary of the premises and a list of accessibility features. While I'm not sure if that's a legal requirement here in the U.K., it does feel like the kind of thing that could land Google in trouble if it weren't easily available.

Deliberately cutting access to this information would be stupid

Some of it isn't exactly hidden from view. Compared to apps like Waze or Apple Maps, Google Maps can look cluttered and a lot uglier than it really needs to be. So I can see the appeal of having a cleaner Google Maps interface at times.

That being said, straight-up removing this information from users without Google accounts is not the way Google can fix this problem. In fact, doing this deliberately would be the equivalent of Google cutting off its proverbial nose to spite its face.

There are very good reasons why Google Maps is one of the most popular navigation apps. There's the legacy brand recognition, sure, but there's also the fact that it offers solid and versatile directions regardless of how you're trying to get around. Then there is, of course, the fact that Google Maps has so much information available to users.

Not only can you find places easily and quickly, but you can also see a rundown of all the important information without having to jump into a different app. Opening hours, menus, parking lot information, it's all there and freely available. The trade-off is that Google shows you various kinds of ads throughout the Maps app, and the more people use Google Maps, the more money it can make from advertising.

That gives Google an incentive to make Google Maps as appealing as possible. And you know what's not appealing? Cutting off vital information because someone is using your service without logging into a Google account.

We're still not clear on why this change has happened and if it's a deliberate move by Google. But it is the kind of thing giant tech conglomerates would do, given half the chance. Users being logged in means they have access to even more personal data, and with it they can find new ways to make money — primarily by trying to sell better and more personalized ads.

Honestly, you can't fault people for trying to opt out of that if they can. And until now, Google has seemed pretty content to let them use the Maps app without having to log in first. I can see why it might prefer users to be logged in, but people are fickle and don't like being made to do something they already decided not to do.

The best way to make them log into Google Maps with an account is to make it worth their while. That means adding new reasons to make it appealing, not ripping away what they already have. To just pull that away without warning is not only a pretty bogus move, but it's also likely to push people away and onto another service. Which should be the last thing Google wants.

There's still a lot we don't know

Reddit users noticed the switch a few days ago. With no real change in the time since or any official comment from Google, I'm leaning toward the idea that this change was deliberate rather than the result of a glitch. Though I could be wrong, and this could just be something Google hasn't quite got round to fixing yet.

While Google has been known to make a bunch of stupid mistakes in the past — just look at the ads situation on YouTube — I hope that it has more sense in this instance. There's very little benefit in crippling Google Maps for unregistered users, and while it may convince more people to stay logged into a Google Account, it's just as likely to drive people away. There are plenty of alternatives to Google Maps, after all.

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Google Maps is one of the best navigation apps around. However, it can do more than just show you the quickest way to work, thanks to its Map Layers feature.

I used to only use the Map Layers option to change the look of the actual app, and as such, tended to ignore all the options at the bottom. However, these options, called Map Details, have a lot to offer.

There are seven different layers that you can use with the feature, including: Transit, Traffic, Biking, Street View, Air Quality, Wildfires, and Raised Buildings. Each one adds more details to the map. For example, the Map Detail Traffic option shows major roads with the current traffic, rather than you having to set a destination to see how bad traffic is only on your specific route.

Personally, I am a big fan of the Transit overlay, especially as I usually use Google Maps for public transport, and Waze when I am driving. These details show all the nearest train and bus stations more visibly than the basic map, which often forces you to zoom in to see certain stations. I also quite like the Biking option, which shows off some of the best cycling routes around you.

It’s not just routes that are included, as there is also the Air Quality option that can be a big help for those with breathing difficulties. Alternatively, you can select the Street View option, which shows you precisely which roads support the street view mode, which can be of help when looking to explore an address or location from a more realistic angle.

So, considering how helpful these options are, you might be wondering how to activate them? Well, look no further.

How to access Map Details

The world of navigation apps is an odd one, mainly because the two biggest competitors, Google Maps and Waze, are both owned by the same company. However, Waze is currently missing many of these Map details, and we would hope that Google adds at least the traffic option at some point soon.

In the meantime, let us know if you’ve been using Map Details at the moment, as well as any other hints and tricks you’ve found with Google Maps.

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If there’s one thing that can ruin a plan, it’s bad weather. From a bit of light rain to massive snowstorms, we rely on tracking the weather more than we might admit. And millions of Americans will be tracking Winter Storm Fern this weekend, as it's expected to impact 30 states.

However, the number of apps out there can make it difficult to find the best options. From the apps that come preinstalled on your phone to an app that comes directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it can be easy to get lost. However, I’ve gathered the top 5 apps that I’ve used on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

For the most part, most apps that show the weather will make use of similar data, but the difference is in how they use and what else each offers. So, let’s break down what makes these apps great.

Top 5 Weather apps

The Weather Channel

In the past, we used to rely on network weather channels to have any idea of what the coming days might bring. If you want an app that recreates that to some degree, while also using the same up-to-the-minute data, then The Weather Channel app is a solid choice. The interface for the app is slick and well-designed, while offering a host of handy widgets to help you customize precisely what you’re looking for.

There is one major issue with the app, namely that some of the features are locked behind paywalls, such as the Windstream maps and 72-hour timeline. The app also has a bit of an ad problem that can make it a pain to navigate at times, throwing up ads that are hard to close.

The Weather Channel: Apple and Google Play

CARROT Weather

Carrot weather is an app with a lot of personality, but what’s important is that it still details everything we would want to see from a weather app in 2026. When setting up the app, you can decide on its overall tone, from professional to downright homicidal, for a bit of humor. The app also features numerous different points of interest, such as precipitation, weather tracking, relevant news stories, and even information for users with specific health issues.

However, its biggest weakness is that you need a subscription to get access to more relevant information. It’s by no means unusable in its free version, but if you’re looking to use the global radar, then it’s going to cost you a bit.

CARROT Weather: Apple and Google Play

Weather & Radar - Forecast

Older users amongst you will probably remember the stellar Dark Skies app that, unfortunately, is now a thing of the past. However, if you’re looking for something similar, then I would handily recommend the Weather & Radar - Forecast app. While it might not be particularly flashy, it offers a user-friendly and reliable forecast, with options for hourly, daily reports, as well as 14-day forecasts.

The free version of the app gives you all the information that you really need, but you can pay to remove the ads, as they can feel a bit oppressive at times.

Weather & Radar - Forecast: Apple and Google Play

NOAA weather Radar Live

If you’re looking for the most up-to-date weather information, then why not head directly to the source? Most weather apps draw at least some of their data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, so downloading NOAA’s own app gives you up-to-date information, with the means to track storms via satellite images, as well as local weather conditions. The app also offers AI-based advice depending on the reports.

However, the app does require a subscription to access some of the more detailed features, such as hurricane tracking and 48-hour reports.

NOAA Radar: Appleand Google Play

AccuWeather

Arguably one of the simplest weather apps to use, AccuWeather uses weather data to help you manage allergies and be as safe as possible on the road. On top of that, it also offers news and even videos based on the upcoming weather conditions that give you more information. The App itself is simple to use, if a bit dated in appearance, and makes it easy to track several locations at once.

As with the other apps in this list, there are a lot of ads present, but for the most part, they are pretty easy to ignore. What isn’t so easy is the limited data range, which can make it hard to plan too far ahead.

Accuweather: Apple and Google Play

Honorable Mention

Apple Weather/Google Weather

Both Apple and Google’s built-in weather apps are designed to be quick and easy to use, but they’re not completely even, as both source their information from different places. The Apple weather app get’s it’s data from The Weather Channel, while Google's weather app uses its own advanced models for its data, namely WeatherNext 2.

While both apps are relatively similar in terms of reliability, I have found that Google’s version tends to be more accurate when it comes to predicting the weather. This has seemingly been improved by the introduction of Google AI.

However, both apps aren’t exactly detailed, and are instead designed to offer weather information at a quick glance rather than offering more options to users.

While these might be the top apps that we’ve used, there are as many out there as grains of sand. So, if you have a personal favorite, then put it down in the comments.

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Google Translate is one of the best tools available when you’re trying to communicate in a different language, and a newly discovered in-development feature could be an extra big help for anyone looking to be more deliberate with their translations.

Android Authority uncovered a hidden, unfinished option in a recent version of Google Translate to view alternative translation options. According to the report, this feature appeared while activating the new “Ask” and “Understand” buttons that Google is also working on, and that AA had previously reported on.

The screengrabs in the report show how tapping the new button offers alternative translations for your original statement, each showing a different intent. In the provided screenshots, you can see that the app offers three different options, each using a different wording to describe a business.

Some options also have explanations of why some phrases have been chosen, such as their relevance for doing business in that language. Different levels of formality or gender-specific language are also available, all of which could be a big help when talking to a variety of people, and offer users a lot more options for every social situation.

What else has changed for Google Translate?

This new reveal follows the recent news that Google was bringing its real-time translations powered by Gemini out as a beta version. While the Live Translate feature was originally exclusive to the Google Pixel Buds 2 and other Pixel Buds, the new beta is available on any pair of headphones, although they presumably require an in-built microphone.

Google also aims to help people use Google Translate as a language learning tool, with options to help you learn a new tongue or brush up on your basics. While it might not be at the same level as Duolingo, the potential to have it paired with the alternative suggestions could be a big help in developing more naturalistic conversation.

This potential addition is certainly one that we would look forward to, but there’s no indication when it will arrive. As Android Authority notes, the pieces all seem to be in place for the feature, so it all depends on when Google plans to release it.

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I watch a lot of YouTube, and I've always used the 2x playback speed setting for videos that don't need my full attention. But changing the speed requires opening the settings menu, which adds friction when I just want to quickly skim past intros or boring sections.

Last week, I accidentally discovered a gesture that changed everything. I tapped and held on the video screen during playback, and it immediately jumped to 2x speed. When I lifted my finger, it returned to normal. This simple gesture lets me speed through any part of a video instantly without opening menus. Here's how it works and why it's a game-changer.

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Maybe you picked up a one of the best iPhones over the holidays, either as a gift or as treat for yourself. Or maybe you've had the same iPhone for a while and just want to freshen things up at the start of a new year. Whatever the reason, nothing makes an iPhone feel like it's fresh out of the box like installing new offerings from the App Store.

By default, Apple's phones include a ton of built-in features that make them more than capable, everything from tracking your to-do lists to playing music and watching TV. But if you're looking to take things a step beyond what's preloaded on your phone, the App Store lets you take a step into an expansive — and at times overwhelming — world of third-party iPhone apps. Not only can these apps extend what you can do with your smartphone, but sometimes they do it even better than the vanilla default options.

So if you're looking to check out the wide world of apps, here are just seven that I would rather not do without.

CARROT Weather

Yes, Apple has its own weather app. And it's not bad. But like many of Apple's built-in offerings, it sticks to a one-size-fits-all approach. That's where CARROT Weather comes in.

This award-winning weather app is incredibly customizable, not only featuring tons of built-in themes, but also letting you choose exactly what information you want to prioritize or hide. For example, if you care about things like the current UV level or air quality than the current wind speed or phase of the moon, you can choose to feature those more prominently.

CARROT Weather also supports a variety of different weather sources to pull from, offers live activities for precipitation, and has several widget options. Plus, who can say no to its snarky robot personality? (Well, you can, if you don't care for it: like the app itself, the app's tone is fully customizable.)

Flighty

For globetrotters, there is simply no better tool than Flighty. This flight tracker extraordinaire keeps you up to date on your own flights, complete with live activities and up-to-the-moment notifications that often beat what you get from dedicated apps put out by various airlines. You can also share those details with friends and loved ones, even if they don't use the app, and track your friends' flights too.

Flighty can sync with your calendar or travel site TripIt, as well as let you import your flights by simply forwarding on your confirmation emails. While many of the best features require a $4.99/monthly Flighty Pro subscription, one of my favorite options is that you can pay for just a week's subscription if you only need it for a particular trip.

Fantastical

While Apple offers a perfectly serviceable built-in calendar app, Flexibits's Fantastical is the undisputed choice for power users. In addition to allowing you to manage a slew of different calendars with its calendar sets feature, Fantastical lets you integrate your to-do lists and sports several different ways to view your calendar. (I like the clever DayTicker interface that lets you swipe back and forth while showing an easy-to-read list of appointments).

The app also includes powerful natural language processing for adding events so you can just type "Dinner with Brian at 7pm at Sarma" — Fantastical will fill in all the appropriate fields for you.

For those with truly busy calendars, you can even create polls for meetings and let people schedule appointments with you based on openings in your schedule. The free version of Fantastical gives you access to basic features, though the most powerful are only available with a $4.75/monthly Flexibits Premium subscription.

Libby

We're all deluged with content these days: music to check out, podcasts to listen to, shows to watch. But sometimes it's nice to take a breather and, yes, read a book. Even better when that book is free!

That's when I turn to Libby: it's the app interface for your public library, letting you browse, reserve, and check out ebooks and audiobooks, all for free. Just sign in with your local library account and start browsing. You can even tag books you want to read later, or those you want to be notified about when they're available in the catalog.

Best of all, books can be read on your phone or on a linked e-reader if maybe it's time to put the phone down. Happy reading.

Dark Noise

Sometimes when you need to concentrate, or maybe just unplug from it all, nothings better than popping in your earbuds and piping in some background noise. While Apple offers a built-in accessibility feature called Background Sounds as well as ambient music in the Control Center, I prefer Charlie Chapman's Dark Noise.

Dark Noise features a substantial variety of audio, including basic white noise—and variants like pink, brown, and gray noise—along with nature sounds, urban soundscapes, and even appliances. You can mark certain sounds as favorites, set a timer for the sound to turn off, and use widgets or Siri Shortcuts.

My personal favorite feature is the ability to mix multiple sounds together to create my ideal background noise. (If you're wondering, it's Green Noise mixed with Airplane Interior.)

Television Time

I'm an inveterate watcher of television shows, but these days there are so many shows, it's hard to keep track of when they're on and what I've already watched. So I use the excellent Television Time from Maximilian Litteral.

Television Time lets you keep a catalog of shows that you follow, alerting you when they're coming back on the air and letting you mark the episodes you've already seen. There's a customizable interface — including the layout, color, and app icon — and a filterable and sortable list for all the shows you track. Best of all, you can set Television Time to hide details of episodes beyond what you've watched, just in case you're the kind of person who always ends up getting spoiled.

Star Walk 2

For the avid or introductory stargazers or for those, like me, who just find themselves looking up at the sky and wondering "What star is that?", Star Walk 2 is an indispensable resource.

The app's use of the iPhone's built-in sensors lets you hold your iPhone up to sky, moving it around to show you precisely what you're looking at. A handy red-tinted mode makes sure you don't blow out your night vision and Star Walk 2 has an extensive catalog of stars, planets, nebulae, and even manmade objects (not to mention the odd jolly old elf). Personally, I find Star Walk handy to see just what constellations are supposed to look like: how exactly is that supposed to be a swan?

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This year's iOS 26 update put the focus on a new interface for Apple's iPhone software as opposed to an infinite list of changes, but I do enjoy the majority of the enhancements that are there. Messages is a more capable texting tool, and there plenty to like about everything from Reminders to Photos as well. Even Apple Intelligence gets a boost, modest though it may be, with extended Visual Intelligence capabilities.

But one iOS 26 arrival feels like a missed opportunity, especially now that it's been three months since the full iOS 26 release. This year's software update added a brand new Games app to the iPhone that promised to breathe new life into mobile gaming. Thus far, for me at least, it's done nothing of the sort.

Meet iOS 26 Games

I previewed the Games app during the iOS 26 beta process this summer, but it's worth revisiting if you haven't given the app much thought since then. Games is designed to be the one-stop shop for all your gaming needs — you can access all the games on your phone through the app and even redownload ones you haven't played in a while. You can also see what your friends are up to, gaming-wise, and even challenge them to competitions.

Apple has an app tutorial you can read through the first time you launch Games, and it describes the Home tab as the place that "keeps you connected to the games you love." There's also tabs for your games library and your friends, both of which are pretty self-explanatory. Finally, Apple Arcade — Apple's $6.99/month game subscription service — gets its own tab, too.

That's very intentional because it seems like the primary purpose of the Games app is to push you toward subscribing to Apple Arcade. In addition to the dedicated Arcade tab, the Home tab lists top Apple Arcade games, and if you scroll down the page, you can see new arrivals and coming attractions for Arcade. If nothing launching the Games app means you'll never get to plead ignorance about Apple Arcade again.

Why Games doesn't deliver

During the iOS 26 beta process, it was hard to get a feel for how essential the Games app would be. Part of the focus seem to be alerting you to special events in the games you play — as I write this, the Asphalt Legends racing game is touting a holiday racing event — so that you remain engaged with your favorite titles. The app's Friends tab also provides a place where you can challenge your Game Center pals to beat your scores. Both of these features depend on apps supporting events and challenges, and that wasn't really a possibility when the Games app was still in beta.

And now that iOS 26 and the Games app are available for anyone with a supported iPhone to download, it still doesn't seem to be much a possibility, at least based on my experience.

The events are there for those times I wander into the Games Home tab and notice that they're taking place. But in the three months since iOS 26's arrival I have yet to received a challenge from any Game Center friend. This could be unique to my particular approach to gaming — I'm more of a casual gamer as opposed to a hardcore enthusiast, and it's extremely probable the pick 'em up/put 'em down nature of games I favor doesn't lend itself to the challenges Apple has in mind.

It's also possible my friends and I aren't playing the same games, a situation you'd think the Games app would try to remedy with its gaming recommendations. But on the iPhone's vertical screen, those suggested games aren't presented in the best format — titles can get cut off, leaving you to guess what games your friends actually like. You also don't get much in the way of descriptions unless you tap on the tile and do a bit of scrolling. And some of those titles may be Apple Arcade exclusives you can't even access without a monthly fee.

In other words, the Games app is all about discovery, so long as you're willing to take on the onus of discovering the games yourself.

Games outlook

The Games app would make me feel a lot better about gaming on my iPhone if I weren't so down on the state of mobile gaming to begin with. The holidays have afforded me a lot of down time to get reacquainted with some titles through the Games app, and what I've experienced — constant ads and sales pitches for micro-purchases with a few moments of unsatisfying gameplay squeezed in between — has been pretty off-putting.

Apple Arcade is meant to address much of that, with its promise of no adds or in-app purchases and a one-fee-covers-everything approach to pricing. But the recurring monthly cost makes me wonder if I'll find enough value in the subscription service.

Maybe I'll be persuaded to take the Apple Arcade plunge eventually, and that will make the Games app on my iPhone a more valuable resource. But right now, it feels like an app that's going to be relegated to folder on the far reaches of my home screen, rarely accessed on purpose.

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Reminders may not be the most glamorous app on your iPhone, but it could prove to be one of the more useful of Apple's built-in offerings, depending on how you use it. With Reminders, you can keep track of tasks, even tying them to times and locations so that you're always on top of what you need to do.

There's hardly a day that goes by that I'm not asking Siri to remind me of something I need to do, tapping into the Reminders app to create time-sensitive tasks. I'm guessing you've used that feature at some point, too.

But if that's the only way you're interacting with Reminders, you're not making the most of what's actually a very powerful tool. Here are seven Reminders features that I've found helpful for managing my many to-dos, some of which have been recently added to the app in iOS 26.

Create a shopping list

This may be my favorite Reminders trick, and I've talked it up so much, it's definitely no longer an iOS hidden feature. But you can create grocery lists in Apple's to-do app, and Reminders will automatically sort them into categories for easier shopping. In other words, that gallon of milk will be grouped with butter under dairy, while fruits and vegetables automatically appear under protest.

Just create a new list and select Groceries as the list type. Then just type in what you need to buy and Reminders will do the sorting for you. If Reminders misfiles something, it's easy enough to move that item to the proper part of your list.

Best of all, your grocery list is reusable. After you tick off items during one grocery store run, you can add new entries for your next errand, and they'll once again be sortable.

Mark tasks as complete from the iPhone home screen

You are likely aware of widgets that let you place little boxes containing the weather, your move goal status and other information on your home screen, saving you from having to launch an app just to look up something. And you might have guessed that Reminders has its own widgets, too. But you may not realize that there's an interactive Reminders widget that lets you mark off to-dos without ever venturing into the app.

You can find that widget the same way you add any widget to the iPhone home screen: tap and hold on the home screen, then press Edit in the upper left corner of the screen, followed by Add Widget from the pop-up menu. Scroll through the list of available widgets until you see the Reminders options, or search specifically for Reminders to jump straight to the app's widgets.

Available in three different sizes, the Reminders widget lists upcoming to-dos. Even better, there's a little circle next to each task that you'll be able to tap; once you do, the task disappears from the widget, confirming that you've taken care of business without ever having to dive into Reminders.

Create to-dos from the Calendar app

One of the most useful Reminders features doesn't even require you to fire up the app to create a to-do. Ever since iOS 18, you've been able to create tasks from within the Calendar app on your iPhone.

To create a to-do in the Calendars app, just tap the plus (+) button as you would if you were adding an event to your calendar. On the ensuing pop-up, though, select Reminder instead of Event, and then fill in your details. The to-do will then appear in your calendar, along with any tasks you've created in the Reminders app, giving you a full picture of your daily schedule.

Get a reminder when you're sending a text

While we're on the subject of Reminders interacting with other apps on your iPhone, you can set a reminder to appear the next time you text someone in the Messages app. Let's say there's something you want to ask someone the next time you speak to them — by tying that reminder to your Messages conversation, you can make sure that question gets asked instead of leaving things to chance.

When you create that reminder in the Reminders app, tap the Details button and scroll down to the Places & People section. Slide the When Messaging toggle on and select the contact you want to tie the reminder to. The next time you and that person text in Messages, the reminder you've just created will appear.

By the way, that reminder will also pop up if you send a text in a group conversation that involves your selected contact, which I think is a nice way to make sure you don't forget the task at hand.

Assign tasks to other people

Most of us likely use Reminders just to keep track of our own to-dos, but you can also put the app to work on group projects and family activities. You're able to share lists of to-dos with other people using the standard share sheet that's common throughout your iPhone's built-in apps.

But Reminders takes things one step further by letting you assign specific tasks on those lists to different people. Just tap on that task and then select the person icon from the menu appearing above the on-screen keyboard. When you select a person from the pop-up menu for that particular task, their face will appear next to that to-do and they'll get a notification when the task is due.

Mark a reminder as urgent

A new feature added in the recent iOS 26.2 update makes it very hard to overlook a reminder's due date. You can now mark a task as urgent in Reminders, which in turn will trigger an alarm that goes off when it's time to complete that to-do.

When you create a reminder, the Date & Time section now has a toggle for Urgent. When that's turned on, you can set the exact time you want an alert to go off, whether that's today or at some point in the future. At the appointed time, the alert sounds just like it would if you turned on an alarm in your iPhone's Clock app.

Create early reminders

Not everyone wants a reminder to appear at the exact moment it's due. If you prefer a little heads-up time, you can set an early reminder that appears ahead of when you absolutely, positively have to finish up a task.

I'm not just talking about setting a reminder in advance of the actual due date. What I mean is setting a reminder for when something's due as well as including a early reminder to let you know that a deadline is looming.

When you create a reminder and set the time that the task is due, tap on the Details button at the bottom of the screen and then select Early Reminder. You can then set an advance alert for anywhere from just 5 minutes before the due date to one month ahead of time. There's also a Custom option for setting your own early reminder.

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Google isn't afraid to kill features, services or even entire product lines at the drop of a hat. But this week the tech giant restored a feature within Google Maps it had killed off back in 2024. Just in time to hit the slopes.

Following a backlash from skiers and snowboarders, Google has announced it will re-introduce ski runs into Google Maps. Allowing anyone planning a winter sports vacation to find ski trials, lifts and lodges just as they used to.

“We heard from many people who missed having ski information on Google Maps, so we’re bringing ski lifts and trails back this winter,” Google said in a statement shared with ski website POWDER.

The response from Google came after a petition on Change.org from skiing enthusiast Donát Sugataghy reached nearly 3,000 signatures.

"The removal of ski lifts from Google Maps is more than an inconvenience — it disrupts the daily lives of mountain dwellers and hampers tourism, a significant economic driver in mountainous regions around the globe," Sugataghy wrote.

"Let’s collectively urge Google to recognize the value of mountain transport infrastructure as equivalent to other transportation systems and reinstate it on Google Maps. This is not only a concern for ski lovers and hikers but also for the benefit of local residents and economies."

As well as bringing back the missing information, Google has gone further by adding satellite and aerial imagery. Google Maps also hosts information provided by ski resorts themselves, such as chairlift drop-off locations or the end of a run. This kind of information can be crucial for skiers or snowboarders planning their trip.

However, not every resort is currently supported. The likes of Whistler, Park City and Palisades are included but, according to POWDER, you won't find information for Red Mountain Resort in British Columbia or Hoodoo Ski Area in Oregon.

Why did Google remove it in the first place?

Google removed the option to look up ski lifts and trails in October 2024 citing a lack of use from users.

A product manager for Google Maps posted in a thread in the app's help page that: "We launched ski runs on Maps as an experiment years ago as part of our ongoing work to provide people with helpful information.

"Over time, we’ve found that most users don’t turn to Google Maps for this type of information, and that they instead prefer to use maps directly from the individual ski resorts, since they’re seen as the most authoritative source of this information."

If you're planning to hit the powder yourself in the next couple of months, here are the 5 accessories you might want to take with you.

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A new report indicates that Waze may be working on an addition that aims to offer more information regarding local traffic, and it’s one that Google Maps has had for a while now.

Despite being used entirely for driving, the Waze app doesn’t offer many of the same features seen on Google Maps, including showing traffic lights to users. That could soon change as, according to a report from the publication Geektime, Waze is currently testing the feature for drivers in Israel.

According to the report, when using the app to navigate, users can see up to three of the nearest traffic lights at a time. However, if you’re driving around without a specific destination, then the app will show you all the traffic lights that are near you. This distinction is stated in the report to be an attempt to avoid having the screen get too cluttered at any one time, especially when Waze’s social icons are activated.

It is important to note that the addition is stated to still be in very early beta, with many of the traffic lights in Israel not currently being marked. So we can’t be certain when it could roll out to other users, or what form it could take in the end. We hope it's sooner rather than later, as this is a feature that could be a major help when it comes to personalizing route preferences.

As Geektime speculates, you might be able to choose a route with fewer traffic lights. Or you could receive info based on the number of lights in front of you, such as "Turn right at the second traffic light." This addition could result in more accurate arrival times as well.

Waze vs Google Maps: the eternal competition

The first thing to note when it comes to Google Maps vs Waze is that Waze is purely focused on users with a car. So, if you’re planning to take public transportation, then you’re better off with Google’s other app.

We asked Tom’s Guide readers what the strengths of Waze are compared to Google Maps. One of the most praised aspects are the social features that make traffic reports feel more trustworthy. For example, there's a fairly new “Conversational Reporting” feature that upgrades the existing voice controls for incident reporting by integrating Google Gemini, letting you do it more naturally.

Other users praise Waze’s capability to learn your driving habits and the option to quickly pull up the upcoming direction sequence for your journey.

Of course, Google Maps is no slouch, especially after the addition of four massive new features back in November that integrate Gemini into the app as well as help to EV drivers. Meanwhile, Waze recently added an offline mode that helps you to keep on track when you’re out of signal areas.

From my point of view, I tend to think of Waze as the better driving tool, and this new addition for traffic lights only enhances that. Let us know in the comments what you think and which app you find yourself using more.

Google Maps has a new parking tool that automatically detects where you parked your vehicle and saves that location, plus you can highlight your parking spot with a custom icon.

The feature was recently announced by Rio Akasaka, Senior Product Manager for Google Maps, on LinkedIn (spotted by 9to5Google). According to Akasaka, the new tool lets the navigation app know when you’ve parked, automatically saves that location, and then removes it when you start driving again.

Unfortunately, for Google Maps fans, this feature is only available on the best iPhones, and it’s not clear when or if an Android version will launch.

Saving your parking spot in Maps isn’t a new feature. You could already do so manually by tapping your location on the map and then hitting Saved Parking. The icon marking the spot stays for 48 hours or goes away when you start driving.

Android has a similar feature, but the icon will only go away if you remove it. This is the first time the tool has been automatic.

“To help you find where you left your car, Maps automatically saves your parking location. It stays saved for 48 hours unless you remove it or start driving,” a Google support page says.

You do need to be in your car and connected via USB, Bluetooth or CarPlay for the feature to work. “Once you're done driving, there's a little pin waiting for you when you open Google Maps next-- a personal parking Maps valet, just for you,” Akasaka says.

According to Aksaka, the automatic parking spot saving started rolling out a month ago. The new feature, coupled with the tool, are Google’s new custom car icons, which can be used to customize how you mark your parking spot. Previously, the icon was just a “P”.

Some of the options at launch include a colorful array of vehicles from a purple sedan to a red 4x4 truck. Google has had custom car icons in Maps since at least 2020, and earlier this year, eight new car shapes and colorways were added. That update also extended the feature to Android Auto and CarPlay.

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I have a problem — people keep wanting to talk to me when all I want to do is blow off some steam by playing a game on my iPhone.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm some serious gamer needing to shut down the outside world so that I can devote my full energy to an immersive RPG or first-person shooter. These are casual games in the most literal sense — little puzzlers I play in bursts of a few minutes at a time whenever I need a break from the hard business of being me.

The games I favor may be low-stakes, but they certainly require some degree of concentration and attention — two things I can't provide when notifications from Slack and Messages flash up at the top of my iPhone's display when I'm trying to beat a timer. My games may not be life or death, but neither are most of these notifications; instead, they're usually something that can wait the minute or two that I'm getting my gaming on.

In an ideal world, my iPhone would block these kind of things automatically. Some phones have a gaming mode that automatically silences distractions when you launch a game, but that's not a part of Apple's iOS software.

A Game mode of sorts debuted with iOS 18, but it was more about optimizing gaming performance. Launch a game in the current iOS 26, and you can access a Game Overlay panel to adjust volume and display brightness. But if you want distraction-free gaming, you're going to have to take matters into your own hands, as I did using the built-in Focus Mode feature of iOS plus Apple's own Shortcuts app.

Setting up a Gaming Focus Mode in iOS 26

Focus mode has been part of the iPhone's bag of tricks since 2021. You can set up modes for specific settings like work, play and more to disable potentially distracting apps and silence unnecessary alerts so that you can concentrate on the matter at hand. Apple even has some preset Focus modes — including one for gaming — to help you take advantage of the feature.

Creating a Focus Mode shortcut

As it stands, I can now launch my Focus mode from the iPhone's Control Center and enjoy uninterrupted gaming. But I still want the process to be a little more automated with that Focus mode turning on whenever I launch certain games and, ideally, switching off once I'm done gaming. For that, I've turned to the Shortcuts app.

Shortcuts is built into iOS 26, and you can use it to automate routines, from the very sophisticated to the simple one I've got in mind.

To get started, I tapped the Plus button and began my shortcut with the opening of a specific app — in this case, the Zookeeper match-3-style game. I've then instructed the shortcut to turn on the gaming focus when the app launches, asking me at each launch when to disable the Focus mode. ("Event Ends" seems to cover when I close out the app, which works for my purposes.) I'm still fine-tuning the last part of the shortcut, but everything seems to work for now.

So how do I launch all this? A home screen widget featuring frequently used Shortcuts lets me tap the name of select games to enjoy a little distraction-free gaming session.

It may not be the most elegant way to game without notifications interrupting my flow, but it's what I was able to assemble quickly with the tools at hand. And it's allowed me to get a little bit more enjoyment out of some iPhone apps I turn to all the time.

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Google Maps is rolling out four new features that are meant to save time and find activities over the coming holiday season and more. They include Gemini integration, an EV charger locator, trending activities and helpful review tools for your favorite businesses.

Some of these features are rolling out now for Android and iOS devices globally, while others are specific to the United States or Android Auto only. Additionally, this is a gradual rollout, meaning that you might not have access immediately. Give it a day or two to see if these new features have become available and if not, you can always try updating the app. Here’s what each of those Google Maps features do and where they’ll be available.

Integrated Gemini

Using Gemini, Maps will help you research places like restaurants, hotels and concert venues but there will also be new “know before you go” tips. Gemini enables the navigation app to use reviews and other relevant information online to provide you with insights, like secret menu items, parking suggestions and more. Tapping the tips brings up even more information.

Gemini’s insider tips are rolling out now for Android and iOS but only in the U.S at the moment.

Updated Explorer tab

The Explorer tab in Maps has also been updated to “help you find your next move.” You can swipe up to see trending and popular activities along with restaurants and sights that are nearby.

It’s meant to give you quick last-minute inspiration for places to go while you’re out and about. The updated tab will also provide curated lists from sites like Lonely Planet, OpenTable, and Viator, alongside local influencer picks to help you discover new spots.

This feature is rolling out “this month” globally for Android and iOS devices.

EV charger update

Google Maps has had an EV charger locator tool since 2022 and last year, it got an upgrade to help electric vehicle drivers find out-of-the-way chargers. This new update goes even further though.

Now Maps will tell you how many chargers are “likely to be available upon your arrival” when you search “EV chargers” in Maps. Like the hidden chargers tool from last year, this new update utilizes AI to analyze historical and real-time charger availability to predict how many chargers will be free. Think of it like how Maps can tell you how busy a particular restaurant will be at any given time of day.

The EV charger predictor rolls out “next week” for Android Auto and cars with Google built-in. However, Google did not specify exactly when it will arrive. It appears this feature will also see a global rollout though.

Holiday reviews for local businesses

Google is finally adding some “holiday cheer” to reviews. You can be anonymous by choosing a profile picture and profile name with holiday-based titles like “Eager Elf” but if you use one of the nicknames, the review will still be tied to your Google account.

This seems ripe for Grinches, but Google claims that the company’s built-in AI-based protections will “monitor for suspicious and fake reviews.” According to the search giant, its system halts both fake reviews purchased by businesses and scam profiles based on “abuse patterns.”

This anonymous review system is rolling out globally for Android, iOS and desktop devices this month.

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Google Calendar has finally rolled out its most requested feature: the ability to schedule dedicated time blocks for tasks. Instead of creating fake meetings with yourself or juggling between multiple apps, you can now add tasks directly to your calendar with customizable settings.

This update means you can plan your workday more effectively and keep all your commitments in one place. Whether you're managing a busy work schedule or trying to carve out time for personal projects, this new feature gives you the tools to protect your time and stay on track.

Here's how to make the most of Google Calendar's task scheduling feature.

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Apple Maps and Google Maps have a lot in common, including AR modes to help users who want a more dynamic way of getting around than just staring at an arrow on a flat screen. But whose mode is better?

To test them out, I took a walk to a local Tube station and back, using Google Maps Live View on one leg of the journey, and Apple Maps Guide Me on the other. It wasn't exactly a difficult trip, but it showed me some key differences between these two apps — and allowed me to pick a favorite.

Read on for my impressions of Apple Maps Guide Me vs. Google Maps Live View.

Getting started

Opening up Live View or Guide Me is simple enough on both apps. There's a button both prior to commencing navigation and when you're in the regular en-route view that you can press to enter AR mode.

There is also a third method - simply lifting the phone to a vertical position. Apple tells you about this option, whereas Google does not. This may be a first-time user thing, as I have definitely used Live View before, and not Guide Me, but I appreciate the heads-up from Apple in this case.

Both apps will drop you back to the regular map view if you lower your phone to a horizontal position again. This seemed especially sensitive in Google Maps' case, giving you very little leeway if you need to drop your arm to get past a group of people, for example.

Apple Maps Guide Me vs Google Maps Live View: Directions

With the apps open, it's time to get moving. As the GIF above shows, any time you move past the virtual location of an arrow, Google Maps Live View will pop up another one. It means if you glance away for a moment, it won't take long to reorient yourself.

However, the rapid refreshing can lead to some weird effects. For instance, I ended up with an arrow at one point on my walk that seemed to direct me down a flight of stairs, simply because I'd faced that direction as the refresh order came in.

This would hopefully only cause momentary confusion, but anyone in a rush or under stress would not appreciate this kind of accidental misleading.

Apple Maps does not update its AR arrows anywhere near as frequently. Instead, it keeps you on track with pop-up prompts to point your phone back to the currently active arrow.

What's more confusing is the fact that Apple Maps places these arrows along roadways rather than the sidewalk. It means you're constantly having to look to the side if you want to double-check the name of the road or the direction you need to continue in.

Apple Maps Guide Me vs Google Maps Live View: Detail

I like how much more detail Apple Maps gives you when in Guide Me mode. In addition to the distance to the next change of direction, and the kind of turn you need to make, Apple Maps gives you more explicit written instructions, along with a rough diagram of how you'll move over or along the path or road. Apple Maps also displays the next direction in some instances to let you prepare as needed.

Meanwhile, Google Maps gives you distance, direction and a road name. That's it.

However, Apple's more static direction style can sometimes interfere with its otherwise generous amount of detail. The example above shows how approaching a direction ends up obscuring the start and end of the street name, which feels like sloppy design to me.

Apple Maps Guide Me vs Google Maps Live View: Safety

Both of these apps are smart enough to give you warnings about using their respective AR modes. Staring at your phone can lead to unfortunate accidents at the best of times, let alone when you're trying to navigate sidewalks full of people and roads full of vehicles.

Each time you come to a road crossing while navigating with Google Maps Live View, it pops up an overlay reminding you to check the road before you walk any further. This was sometimes a bit inaccurate, popping up well before an intersection or where there was no sign of one at all, but I'll forgive this in the name of being better safe than sorry.

Apple Maps Guide Me has a similar overlay about not checking directions while on the move. This only popped up three times during my walk, less than half of the number of interruptions that Google Maps made, and also without any clear trigger.

Apple Maps Guide Me vs Google Maps Live View: Destination marker

Google Maps produces this fun animated pin to show you've arrived. It felt just as excited as I was to have made my way to Edgware Road, a rather handsome 20th-century London Underground station.

Meanwhile, Apple Maps has a static red icon, one that's also a little low-res when you're close to the destination.

It's nowhere near as dynamic as the Google one, but given you're likely about to close the app to head into your destination anyway, maybe Apple's being smart by not putting in wasted effort.

Apple Maps Guide Me vs Google Maps Live View: Verdict

Perhaps it's due to my greater familiarity with Google Maps, but I do think that Live View is the better AR navigation mode, on balance. Still, I believe that Apple Maps Guide Me is a) pretty close in quality and b) has a few tricks that Google would be smart to implement.

Guide Me's more detailed written instructions and directional arrows give extra reassurance that you won't get lost, which I would certainly appreciate if I was walking around an area I was unfamiliar with. But Google's more rapid direction updates, with arrows that remain on the sidewalk rather than sit in the street, feel more useful to someone trying to get around than knowing the next instruction ahead of time. Plus its intersection warnings could be literal lifesavers for preoccupied walkers.

Apple isn't Google Maps' only rival. Waze is an ever-present threat for anyone trying to navigate in a car, and may even do the job better than Google. Plus there are several other Google Maps and Apple Maps alternatives should you find neither work for you. But when it comes to AR directions, Google Maps is the winner for me.

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Google recently released its November Pixel Drop update, which includes several new features for Pixel phones and some Android devices. One of the more interesting updates is so good that I might have to switch from an iPhone to a Pixel 10 just to use it.

The new Power-saving mode is meant to help save battery life by reducing the amount of visible features in the navigation map. This is partly done by making the app monochrome in a black-and-white scheme.

This new power-saving mode was discovered around Halloween in Google beta code, but it wasn't clear how close it was to launch. Now it has, but unfortunately the battery-saving feature is only available for Pixel 10 phones at the moment.

Based on the previously discovered code and what we've seen in the Pixel Drop, there doesn't seem to be an obvious technical reason Google can't make this power-saving mode available on older Pixels or other Android devices. It's possible Google is using the Pixel 10 series as a live test.

How Power Saving Mode works in Google Maps

Power saving mode reduces the amount of visible information in Google Maps. The most obvious alteration is the monochrome view.

In the updated view, you'll only see key information like the next turns and the path you need to follow. However, street names and icons are omitted. You will still have access to directions.

When using Maps, you can access power-saving mode by pressing the power button.

Earlier leaks suggested that the mode would only show users instructions based on cardinal directions like "head south" or "head north," which didn't seem terribly useful if you don't know the area. However, based on images provided by Google, it does look like even in power-saving mode Google Maps will display the next direction and the street you need to turn on next.

Questions remain

As I mentioned earlier, at time of publication the power-saving mode in Google Maps is only available on the Google Pixel 10. It's one of the few features from the November Pixel Drop that is only available on the newest Google phone, and it's not clear when or if the feature will come to other devices.

Additionally, it’s not clear from Google’s press release if the feature will support voice navigation or public transit directions. It's also not known if you can customize the monochrome color palette, or if you're limited to black and white.

Tom’s Guide has reached out to Google for clarification and we'll update this story with any meaningful new information!

Maybe its time to try a Pixel phone

With power-saving mode limited to only Pixel 10 phones including the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it may be time to try out a Google-made phone. Here's where you can pick up one today.

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Google Maps, one of the best navigation apps, could be getting a new power-saving mode for navigation that is extremely minimalist, with the goal of conserving battery. The potential battery saver was found in the 25.44.03.824313610 beta release by Android Authority as part of their APK breakdowns.

As a reminder, APK teardowns can find code that hints at a software feature. However, that doesn't mean the tool won't change between now and release or launch at all.

According to Android Authority, the latest beta release contains a few strings of code with some portions labeled "Power saving mode." According to the code, this mode can be activated by pressing the power button while the vehicle is in motion.

Apparently, this mode is separate from your phone's normal battery saver mode.

Once launched, it will only display key information, such as the next direction, and remove much of the standard Google Maps UI. It also appears that the Maps app loses all its color in favor of a more monochromatic black look.

Based on the images shared by AA, the directions are perhaps a bit too sparse, considering that they don't indicate the name of the next street you need to turn onto. That is likely, and hopefully, something that will be changed before an official release.

Power saving mode should support walking, driving, and biking directions so far. It's unclear whether public transit directions will be supported.

It's also unknown whether voice navigation will be available, but if it's built for power saving, it may be turned off by default.

There is one clear limitation so far: power saving mode is currently limited to portrait mode, and landscape mode is unavailable.

Again, this appears to be a work in progress, so Google could change things. Hopefully, this will be one that launches soon or receives more details in future Maps updates.

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I use Google Maps a lot, even when I don't actually need it. There's so much on offer in Google's navigation app, and so far I haven't been able to find an alternative that doesn't infuriate me when out on the road. But Google Maps is far from perfect, and as good as it is on the road, I've found it's absolutely useless off it.

I have two Labradors who need a lot of exercise and love to explore new areas. So I tend to do a lot of hiking and rambling through the nearby countryside to tire them out. Finding new footpaths and trails with Google Maps is a pretty miserable experience, because it has next to no information about them. So I've found a useful (and free) alternative in the form of Open Street Map.

Google Maps needs more hiking trails

The first thing I should mention is that I know Apple Maps launched its own hiking features last year, alongside iOS 18. But I'm primarily an Android user, and switching to an iPhone just to go hiking would be a huge pain in my proverbial neck. Unfortunately, that is one feature Google Maps doesn't have, and hasn't yet copied, which is finding new trails quite difficult.

Admittedly, I have spent a great deal of my time just following paths in the woods to see where they go. There are plenty of them, and as the winter months draw closer, they're a lot easier to spot and walk through. Considering I live in a country that lacks any large predators or particularly extreme weather, there's very little to lose by wandering around and seeing where you end up.

The most dangerous thing around, aside from the occasional gang of loud teenagers, is probably the wild blackberry bushes. Those barbs may not be lethal, but they are quite painful.

Still wandering down those random paths has led me to a dead end more times than I can count, and it's very frustrating to have to turn back and figure out where I went wrong. I've found it's always a good idea to have a rough indication of where to go, even if your map isn't quite accurate.

Since Google Maps can't help me with this, I've found OpenStreetMap to be a fairly useful alternative. Imperfect, but good enough.

OpenStreetMap is detailed, and free

I live in the U.K., and anyone who's ever gone on any kind of excursion into the country knows there's one map company that's a cut above the rest: Ordnance Survey. They are easily the most detailed and high-quality maps of the British Isles you can find, but there's a process to go through to get those maps on your phone.

There is a free version, but you have to go through the process of signing up, learning how everything works, and being pestered to subscribe to the more feature-rich premium version. Honestly, it's a process I can do without, and it's why I like OpenStreetMap so much. Along with the fact that it has maps for the entire planet, not just the U.K.

It is probably the closest thing we have to a Wikipedia for maps. It's open source, free to use, and built on user and community knowledge. Better still, the free use aspect means developers have been able to use their mapping data in their own navigation apps. So while OpenStreetMap itself may have a very boring map company interface, various apps have adapted it to be more familiar to the legions of Google Maps users around the world.

Personally, I've been a fan of OsmAnd (available on Android and iOS), which stores all its maps offline. It is not the kind of app I'd use when navigating by car, but it retains enough useful features to help me walk around the nearby countryside without issue. Aided by the fact that it has all the same off-road routes and trails as OpenStreetMap. It does still ask you to pay money, though, but at least it doesn't bombard you with ads if you don't.

And I've never had an issue with the walking trails the OpenStreetMap data has offered up. Aside from the time I mistook a power line for a public footpath, and got accosted by the manager of my local golf course. I won't be making that mistake again.

Bottom line

Maybe there are better ways for me to uncover new walking trails, without walking into a bunch of plants hell-bent on stabbing me. There really is no shortage of options if you need hiking apps, especially if you're over in the U.S. rather than the U.K. But your classic navigation apps aren't really among them, and that needs to change. Especially for Google, since Apple already jumped on this particular bandwagon last year.

But hey, you don't necessarily need to pay or relearn your map-reading skill to find places to walk — especially if you're just a casual walker like me. There's always OpenStreetMap to show where you need to go, and whether that trail you're on is actually going to get you where you need to go.

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While the majority of people will likely switch on their default navigation app, there's no shortage of other options out there for you to use. Just because your phone comes with Google Maps or Apple Maps doesn't necessarily mean you're beholden to them.

If you find yourself dissatisfied with what Google and Apple are offering, but aren't sure what other options are available, we have you covered. With a specific emphasis on driving and turn-by-turn navigation, we've hunted down some of the best Google Maps and Apple Maps alternatives available for you to download onto your phone. Some of which you may have heard of, and others that might surprise you.

Waze

You can't talk about alternative navigation apps without talking about Waze. While the app is owned and operated by Google, it remains distinct from Google Maps on account of its unique navigational style. Rather than sticking you onto a route and only warning you if traffic gets particularly bad, the focus is on making sure you get to your destination as quickly as possible. So if Waze can shave a few seconds off your ETA by sending you down a strange, winding route, you can be sure it will.

The main caveat with Waze is that it primarily runs on crowdsourced user data. This can be beneficial, and makes the app a lot faster to update than Google Maps, but it also means the available information is wholly dependent on other people submitting it.

Download: Waze for Android and iOS

TomTom

Arguably the king of GPS navigation in the days before smartphones, TomTom was quick to adapt with the times and launched its first mobile app quite early on. It may not be as popular as Google and Apple, but it still offers many of the same features. Not only are maps updated regularly, TomTom also has its own source of real-time traffic data that automatically adjusts your route to help avoid the worst of the congestion.

Other features include lane and intersection guidance, speed camera alerts, crowd-sourced hazard reports, and maps of everywhere you might want to go. It even has EV routing that is tailored to whatever model of electric car you have — helping you navigate without being stranded miles away from a charger. Oh, and it's completely free with no advertising or distractions. There isn't much more you can ask for.

Download: TomTom for Android and iOS

HERE WeGo

A name that will no doubt be familiar to anyone who used a Windows Phone or certain standalone GPS navigation devices. HERE WeGo has many of the same features that help it compete with the likes of Google and Apple Maps. Not only can it help you navigate from A to B, it also features offline support for over 200 countries, real-time traffic data, public transport support, and a database of various points of interest.

On top of that, the maps are pretty high quality, with a cleaner interface than you might expect from the likes of Google — which are very heavy on information overload. Plus, HERE WeGo will delete navigational timestamps when your journey is over, offering that little bit of extra privacy that you normally only see in Apple Maps. HERE WeGo is also free, but it does use personalized advertising.

Download: HERE WeGo for Android and iOS

MapQuest

MapQuest is still around, believe it or not, but it is only available for navigating in the U.S. and Canada, which is useless if you live in Europe or plan on leaving North America for your next vacation. But there's still a lot on offer with the turn-by-turn navigation. MapQuest offers real-time traffic information, a GPS-powered speedometer, and various planning tools to help you find the best possible route — and stops along the way.

You can tell MapQuest takes a lot of inspiration from Google and Apple. Not only does it help you find points of interest, it also syncs up with third party platforms to help you search for hotels, reserve tables, order food delivery and more. It even lets you compare the cost of gas prices in your area, and hooks you up with on-demand roadside assistance should you ever need it.

Download: MapQuest for Android and iOS

Maps.Me

Built on data from OpenStreetMap, the benefit to using Maps.Me is that you can continue to navigate if your phone suddenly goes offline. Which is especially beneficial if you're driving somewhere with a spotty cell signal.

Also included are travel guides, detailed maps of hiking trails and other points of interest, and continual updates from OpenStreetMap's community of contributors. Plus, the maps themselves have been made to be as clean and clutter-free as they can be — which is more than we can say for some other services.

Download: Maps.Me for Android and iOS

Sygic

Sygic was actually one of the first mobile navigation apps to hit the scene, which means they've got decades of experience to draw from. The main point of Sygic is the turn-by-turn GPS navigation, which includes live updates for both traffic and speed cameras/traps. But one of the great things here is that Sygic stores all of its maps for offline use, updating once a month for extra precision.

There's so many more features in here, too. Sygic offers support for heads-up displays and augmented reality, a built-in dash cam, sign recognition, local fuel prices and information about parking spots — with live updates on pricing and availability. Oh, and there's lane guidance, which is a feature I could never live without.

Download: Sygic for Android and iOS

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One of the great things about Google Maps is that you're not beholden to the directions you've set up. If you want to make a quick stop somewhere for lunch, gas, or something else entirely, you can do that — and have the app help you figure out where you need to go. But things might be changing for the worse.

Android Authority has uncovered the change in an updated version of the Google Maps Android app. Rather than showing potential stops on the map itself, Google Maps will instead be showing them as a list that pulls up from the bottom of the screen. Needless to say, I am not very happy about that change.

Part of the benefit of being able to add stops mid-drive is that you can see exactly where all your possibilities are on the map. Which means you can see exactly where they are, and use your own judgement on how much of a hassle it'll be to get there. Google also shows you a star rating and how many minutes it thinks will be added to your drive for each location.

The new list format looks very much like a cut-down version of your search results. You get all the same information as the map interface, plus an estimated price range and the ability to call the place.

But it's not quite the same, is it? There's a difference between seeing an estimated detour time and actually being able to visualize its location in your head.

Admittedly, the extra filters could be rather useful. Rather than simply looking for stops near your current location, Google Maps will let you sort between three options: Near you, halfway through the trip, and when you're closing in on your destination.

These filters also seem to be coming to Google Maps on Android Auto as well, so you have the option to use them while driving. I would hope that they work with Gemini voice commands for better ease of use, but there's no confirmation of that just yet.

The good news for people like me is that the changes haven't gone live yet — to the point where some of the buttons apparently don't work. That means it is still a work in progress, and should give Google Maps' developers time to tweak how the new Add Stop system works. Hopefully, that also means that the map interface won't be taken away from us.

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If there's one thing that we love about Google Maps, it's that it is constantly looking to improve. One such apparent addition might not look like much, but it could be a real timesaver while out and about.

The change in question was first shared in a screenshot sent to Android Authority via Discord user winner00. The image features the Google Maps UI, but with the addition of a travel time on the Home chip that sits under the search bar. Not only that, it appears that the time on the chip is color-coded similarly to the navigation time, meaning it could take into account delays present on your journey.

At a glance, I can see how useful such a feature would be, as it would make it easier to plot out your plans at a glance, without needing to constantly set the navigation. It would help to save time, plus it's much less disruptive if you're, say, out with friends and just want to check how long to get home.

I would hope that, as part of this feature, we will be able to set what travel time appears with the Home chip. For instance, will I be able to set it to show the time when using public transport, or while walking? For many people, only seeing the estimated travel time for driving will just be more noise on the app that they won't notice.

Unfortunately, we don't know what version of Google Maps, or which device, the screenshot was taken from. So we can't definitively say that this will be a change coming soon. Android Authority reportedly didn't see the feature on its devices, while I didn't see it on either my iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Google Maps has seen some other impressive changes recently

While we might not see our home journey estimates any time soon, Google Maps has seen plenty of updates in recent months.

One good example is the “Your recent places” section. This new addition reportedly aims to make it easier to find locations that you have visited or searched in the past, as well as offering new ways to organize them.

On top of that change, we also saw Google Maps get a small visual update on Android devices thanks to Android 16’s Material Expressive 3. While the actual maps don’t look all that different, it’s much more noticeable when you open up the carousel. Unlike with the other versions of the app, the Material 3 Expressive version has the key features, like Direction, Start and Ask(Gemini) pinned to the bottom of the menu.

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As someone who only passed my driver's test in 2009, long after the proliferation of GPS navigation, I do wonder how people managed to drive to any unfamiliar destination in the not-so-distant past — or at least, not without going everywhere accompanied by a passenger who was competent at reading a paper map.

Turn-by-turn navigation has grown to be so invaluable that it's hard to imagine life without it. In fact, it's rare that I leave home without Google Maps up on my car's screen. That's not necessarily because I don't know where I'm going, but rather, because there are plenty of benefits to using Google Maps (or Apple Maps and Waze if you prefer) than simply figuring out which direction you need to be heading.

Here's what an app like Google Maps can do for you, even if you know how to get from Point A to Point B.

Avoiding the worst traffic

I can't remember the last time I actually listened to the radio in my car, let alone the local stations, so the idea of listening to traffic alerts is pretty foreign to me. Not that they were always that useful to begin with — there is only so much time radio stations can devote to that, which is not nearly enough to cover every minor piece of congestion.

Mapping apps don't have that issue. Not only are they monitoring users for any sign of traffic or issues on the road, they're able to pass on that information to others right away. I can't tell you how many times I've been driving around, only to be alerted by my phone that the route I'm following isn't the best one.

I could save time and possibly even distance by changing course just a little bit, and I wouldn't know that without Google Maps up and running.

Admittedly, Google Maps may not be the best option for this, at least not on shorter trips. Waze has that reputation for taking every available option to get you to your destination as fast as possible, even if it means going some weird route off the usual beaten path. (This Waze vs. Google Maps field test goes into greater details on the apps' relative strengths and weaknesses.)

That sais, I often find blindly following those suggested detours can land me in trouble. If I'm not careful, I have known Waze to send me down bus-only roads — and the last thing I need is a ticket because I shaved 30 seconds off my trip.

Knowing when I'm going to get there

While seeing traffic while you're driving is one thing, the ability to know roughly when you're going to arrive at your destination is arguably more important. Whether you're planning ahead of time when you should leave or want to let the people waiting on the other end of your journey when to expect you, an estimated time of arrival can be invaluable. And it's right there in Google Maps.

One of the things I appreciate about Google Maps is that the ETA actually changes color, using the same colors as traffic lights, mdepending on the severity of traffic along your route. For that reason, I can see at a glance just how bad the traffic is on any particular drive and adjust my expectations for the trip accordingly.

Better still, being able to see that there's traffic before I leave means I may be able to figure out a better route. So long as I know the area well enough, there are combinations of roadways that Google might not think to send me down — essentially prompting me to channel my inner Waze.

Even if it doesn't get me there faster, the ability to keep moving instead of sitting in gridlock is going make driving a heck of a lot less frustrating.

Actually knowing which lanes to use

One of the things I can struggle with, even if I know where I'm going, is making sure I'm in the correct lane to actually make the correct turn or merge. I doubt I'm the only one who thinks the people in charge of planning and building roads are some of the biggest idiots on the planet — even by local government standards.

My local area has some of the most bizarre road layouts I've had the misfortune of driving on, and I know for a fact that they're fairly tame in comparison to other parts of the U.K. It's almost like the Highways Agency had a quota of roundabouts they needed to build, and decided to mash them altogether with the worst possible signage about which lanes actually go where.

Thankfully, all three big navigation apps offer lane assist features, which tell you exactly where you need to be. Highway splitting off into two different roads? You'll know what lanes won't send you 20 miles off course. Awkward series of roundabouts coming up? No need to eyeball if, or rely on inadequate signage —Google, Apple and Waze will tell you where you need to be.

I'll admit, I don't always pay attention to the Lane Guidance feature when I'm driving. The downside of having Google Maps navigation switched on when you don't need it is that you instinctively tune it out when you think you know where you're going.

Still, that feature has saved my skin plenty of times when I'm heading up to some kind of junction and there are more lanes than my brain really knows how to process. And that wouldn't happen without having Maps open, pretty much all the time.

Road hazards and speed traps

There's one thing none of us needs when we're driving around, and that's having to contend with the police and any other potential hazards that exist on public roads. And I don't mean Sting's band, though I'm not exactly a fan of them, either.

The ability to get Hazard Alerts was typically more in Waze's wheelhouse, but recently it's become more widespread. Even a simple trip to the dentist has Google Maps warning me about possible construction and police activity on the road ahead. This is very useful information to have for a variety of reasons.

I generally don't commit crimes while I'm driving, aside from some casual speeding when it's safe to do so. But knowing that there may be a patrol car hiding in wait a mile ahead means I can make sure I don't seem particularly suspicious. Flying casual, as Han Solo might put it.

Likewise, being alerted to other hazards means I could potentially be more proactive about which route I take. Just a couple of weeks ago, one of the roads near me ended up being closed off by police as they dealt with someone in crisis. Getting an alert about that ahead of time could have been the difference between sitting in standstill traffic until the situation was resolved and being able to find a route home.

Without navigation switched on, I wouldn't have any clue as to what was potentially happening on the road ahead.

Bottom line

Could I manage driving without Google Maps? If I'm staying close to home, then I can definitely handle it without many issues. Should I try to go much further afield, traveling without the help of Google Maps would all depend on how much planning time I have, since you can't just drop me off in the middle of nowhere and expect me to magically know where I'm going.

But just because I can do something doesn't mean I will. Google Maps (or the navigation app of your choice) is freely available and gives you a bunch of extra advantages even if you already know where you're going. Better still, Google Maps has been designed and optimized to avoid eating through too much of your data allowance.

So with that in mind, the question isn't why would I drive around with Google Maps on all the time — rather, it's why wouldn't I?

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Waze has begun rolling out a feature it first announced a year ago, which aims to make it even easier to report potential road hazards. However, some issues appear to affect how other features of the app work.

The feature, Conversational Report, was first announced back in October 2024, but so far has only been available in beta. However, reports on the r/Waze sub-Reddit reveal that the feature has started rolling out to some users.

So far, reports indicate this is only appearing on iPhones in the U.S., with no information on when other devices might have access. I checked the Waze app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and didn't see the feature, so U.K. users might be waiting a while.

Conversational Report should be worth the wait, though, as it allows users to use voice commands to report road hazards on their journey, instead of a touch screen. This offers, in concept at least, a more seamless experience while driving and allows the driver to focus on the road instead of their phone. However, it looks like not everyone is happy with the addition as it currently stands.

What are the problems with Conversational Report?

While the new feature certainly appears to be convenient, some issues have Waze users pulling out their hair. For instance, users have reported that Conversational Report doesn’t resume media playback after use, with one reportedly having to disconnect CarPlay completely, then reconnect to get the music playing again.

Meanwhile, other users' reports have revealed bugs and errors that go a step further and make media playback non-functional. However, with the slow rollout, it might take some time before Google deals with the problem. Thankfully, Waze has a lot of other features to offer drivers in the meantime.

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One of your future DoorDash orders may not be delivered by a human, as the company announces its first-ever robot at the annual "Dash Forward" event (via NRN). DoorDash is far from the only food delivery company to have an interest in handing delivery duties to robots, though it seems that this one is designed to be a little more than a self-driving cooler.

DoorDash claims that its first delivery robot can “travel seamlessly across bike lanes, roads, and sidewalks” at up to 20 miles per hour. It also seems to have some anthropomorphic design features, which make the robot look like it has a face.

The fact that it also has "basic speech capabilities" makes me wonder whether DoorDash has deliberately designed its robot to look like it was pulled straight out of a cartoon for young kids. Hopefully, that doesn't mean I'm going to be expected to tip it (tips are strictly for humans only).

DoorDash also confirmed that Dot will feature a screen with the name of the next customer. Not that this is going to stop people from trying to steal food from an unattended robot wherever possible.

And if you're sick and tired of food missing from your orders, DoorDash is implementing a new "SmartScale" that it believes will cut missing food claims by 30%. Basically, this is for restaurant employees, who use the scale to weigh and confirm that the order is all present and accounted for.

Currently, Dot is being tested in the Phoenix (AZ) metro area, and if things work out, it will no doubt spread to other cities. The SmartScale has been tested at Panera Bread, whose chief digital officer claims the tool is "easy to use and takes up virtually no counter space.” So expect that to start showing up elsewhere in the near future.

Wait, DoorDash is handling table reservations too?

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I stumbled across Google Maps' Area 51 Easter egg by accident while searching for unusual locations online. When you hover over the restricted military base in Nevada, a small UFO icon appears instead of the usual location marker.

It's a playful nod to the conspiracy theories surrounding the site, and it made me wonder what other hidden features Google has tucked away in its mapping service.

After spending ages exploring coordinates and satellite imagery, I discovered that Google Maps is filled with these kinds of surprises. Some are intentional Easter eggs created by Google's developers, while others are fascinating real-world locations that just happen to look unusual from above.

Here are five interesting Easter eggs I've found, along with the exact coordinates you need to discover them yourself.

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Google Messages has received some tweaks and changes over recent weeks, and now it's getting what could be the most significant adjustment: it now has the Material 3 Expressive design language on the main chat screen.

The main chat screen is where most users spend the most time while using the app, so before this update, it looked out of place compared to Android's latest design sensibilities.

Google used to offer colorful circles for Gallery, GIFs, Stickers, Magic Compse, Files and other functions in the Messages bar. Now, these have been dropped in favor of minimalistic pills. Based on the 9To5Google screenshots, the new icons exceed two rows (they are oblong instead of circular). I'm not sure I love having an extra row with only one icon in it, but it does look less cluttered overall.

Message threads now sit inside rounded-corner containers, keeping with the shape and design. There's an app bar that keeps your call and overflow shortcuts close by.

The expressive media picker is a bit different now, as well. There's a cool button that changes depending on the type of media you're working with.

Some may not consider this an upgrade, but solid backgrounds are replacing the vibrant wallpapers previously found in the app. Personally, I like the low-key look these offer, but that's a matter of taste.

The messages redesign has been a process for Google, with new changes rolling out steadily. It seems this visual overhaul might be the final step in the process, although you never know with Google, as there could still be some sort of surprise to come.

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Waze, the traffic and navigation app that rivals Google Maps, includes a built-in feature that displays real-time gas prices at nearby stations, helping you make informed decisions before you drive out of your way.

The app crowdsources gas price information from its user community, giving you access to current pricing data that's often more up-to-date than dedicated gas price apps. This means you can compare prices across multiple stations and choose the most affordable option along your route.

While the information relies on user reports and may not always be perfectly current, it provides a reliable starting point for finding cheaper fuel in your area. Here's how to use Waze to locate the cheapest gas stations near you.

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Those of you who remember driving before Google Maps, or any kind of GPS navigation, will know just how incredible a service it is. As long as you have a cell signal, it's now almost impossible to get lost or struggle to find where you need to go. But there's a lot more to Google Maps than simply getting from point A to point B.

Google Maps has a bunch of features hiding under the surface you may not know about. Some of them involve different ways to navigate, but others have absolutely nothing to do with travel at all. Some of them even help you avoid getting into your car in the first place.

I regularly find myself taking advantage of Google Maps features that have absolutely nothing to do with giving you directions — and here are 11 of my favorites.

While Google-owned Waze might be the king of incident reporting, you can still make roadborne problems known in Google Maps while you're driving. To get started you'll need to tap the Report button, which looks like a speech bubble with a "+" in the middle.

From there you'll have the option to report crashes, speed traps, traffic slowdowns, construction, Lane Closures, disabled vehicles or obstacles in the road plus the presence of any police activity. If enough people make similar reports, you'll see it start to show up on Google Maps for all passing drivers.

Report road hazards and crashes (Just like Waze)

One-handed gestures

Google Maps can seem difficult to navigate without two hands, but it is possible to control the interface without having to stop what you're doing — which is especially useful when you're driving.

You can zoom in by double-tapping the screen and moving your finger up and down. Or you can change the orientation by spinning your index finger and thumb together on the screen. Finally, if you feel the need to change your perspective, swipe up and down with two fingers together.

Help with parking

If you're struggling to find a parking lot that actually has space, you only need to turn to Google Maps for help. Not only can Google Maps tell you how much room certain parking lots have while you're navigating, you can also pre-book your parking ahead of time — just tap the Book icon and Google Maps will show you links to the services that can get your spot reserved.

Of course if you're likely to forget where you parked, there's a feature for that too. Simply press and hold the blue location icon on the map to force the Your Location menu to pop-up. Then tap the Save parking icon, and Google will drop a yellow pin pointing out roughly where you parked. Just remember that how exact it will be will depend on the GPS signal. The Pin will also only last 24 hours, unless you remove it sooner.

Share your location with others

You don't need to send people an ETA and then have to update them if circumstances change. You can use Google Maps to share your location, or your journey progress to keep them updated in real time.

This only works if you're in some kind of navigation, admittedly, but it's easy enough to do. Swipe up from the bottom of your phone and select Share trip progress. Then choose a contact or app to send the generated link to. Sharing will end when you arrive, but you can end things sooner by following the same steps and selecting Stop sharing.

Change your vehicle avatar

No need to have a boring default arrow on your Google Maps, especially now that Google has a whole range of alternatives for you to choose from. You need to start your navigation and tap the existing icon on screen. This will bring up the Driving Avatar menu with a bunch of different vehicle options to choose from — some of which can even change color.

Ask Gemini for inspiration

Like just about every other thing Google offers, Gemini has come to Google Maps in a variety of different ways. The one I like the most is to ask the AI for inspiration, in case you're either in an unfamiliar area or just need something to do.

All you need to do is type a prompt into the search bar for Gemini to get going. Examples Google uses include "fun winter activity in Seattle" or "interactive date nights in SF." Really, though, the opportunities are endless, and there's nothing stopping you from asking for dinner suggestions, good places to hang out, or anything else you can think of.

Time travel in Street View

Google Street View gets updated pretty regularly, but the older photos don't get deleted. They're still accessible through a feature Google calls "time travel."

On mobile devices, simply load up Street View and tap See more dates at the bottom of your screen. This lets you see a whole list of Street View photos from the past, and navigate as though they were the most recent offerings. Things work in a similar manner on desktop, but the See More Dates option will be on the top left side of your screen.

Find a ride share

You don't even have to drive yourself around. Google Maps can help you summon either a ride share or, in some areas a taxi, to get you where you need to go. Simply start setting up your journey as normal, but instead of picking the car, walking, or the other options, scroll to the very end and choose the ride-hailing symbol. It's a figure with a raised hand and a suitcase.

This will show you which ride share and cab services are available, how far away they are and roughly how long the journey will take in current conditions.

However the booking isn't made in Google Maps, and you may need to download a third-party app. But if you have multiple ride share apps on your phone, this little tool will help you pick the most convenient service at any given time.

Order groceries

If you need some food in your pantry pronto, and don't want to do the shopping yourself then you can order some groceries through Google Maps too. It only works for select chains, such as Kroger (including Fry's, Ralphs and Marianos), Albertson's, ShopRite, and Stop & Shop.

Simply find the supermarket in question and tap Place an Order. Google Maps will then redirect you to a third party, either the grocery chain itself or a food delivery service like Uber Eats or Instacart, for you to carry out your purchase.

However if you do opt for a pickup, Google can inform the store about your ETA, which means your order should be ready soon after you arrive.

Find EV chargers for your car

Did you know that Google Maps has made it a lot simpler to find a place to charge your electric car? Not only can you search for nearby chargers from the search bar Google Maps can highlight compatible chargers while you're driving.

Google is capable of getting real-time information from chargers, so as you're driving by you'll be able see how many chargers are actually available for you to use.

Though it helps if Google knows what kind of car you have, and which chargers it's compatible with. So head into Settings > Your Vehicles > Select Electric and then choose the appropriate charger types.

Measure distances

You don't need to set up a navigation session to figure out how far away something is. You can just measure distance inside Google Maps, and not just in a single straight line either. Individual lines are measured as the crow flies, but you can chain them together to measure out much longer distances.

On mobile, Google will only tell you the total distance, not the distance between individual points, whereas desktop will show you both.

On mobile you do this by pressing and holding your finger against the map, then selecting Measure Distance on the pop-up menu. From there you navigate the screen as normal and press the blue Plus icon whenever you find a new spot to measure to. On a desktop right-click a spot and select Measure Distance. This will set your start point, and each subsequent click on the map sets a measurement line.

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Google recently announced a new feature for Google Photos called Remix that turns your photos into various cartoon art styles using generative AI. Now, after a little over a month of waiting, the feature has started rolling out to users gradually, so it could be available on your phone soon.

Google wrote a support post and blog post detailing how to use Remix and showing off the kinds of images it's capable of creating. Essentially, you feed Remix an image, and it lets you choose between a few different art styles to create a cartoon version of your photo. It seems somewhat limited now, with only four art styles, but it's easy to see it expanding into a more robust feature down the road.

What art styles are available?

Google is offering a total of four different art styles in Remix. While somewhat limited, those four art styles are some of the most popular looks.

Currently, the styles available are:

• 3D animation
• Anime
• Sketch
• Comic book

"Have you ever wondered what you, your friends and family or even your pets would look like as anime, comics, sketches or 3D animations? With Remix in Google Photos, pick a photo from your gallery and choose your favorite style to easily transform pictures right in your gallery into these kinds of images in seconds to share with your friends and family," said Google in a blog post.

A nice benefit of using Google's Remix over ChatGPT or Gemini is that it's freely available in the Google Photos app — you don't need to sign up for another subscription just to turn yourself and your loved ones into funky cartoons.

How to use Remix

Google's blog post detailed how to use the app, and it's quite streamlined. Here's the basics:

• Open Google Photos
• Tap Create New
• Tap Remix
• Select a style
• Tap Choose photo
• Tap Generate
• Tap Save or Share

When is Remix available?

Please note that this feature is still rolling out, so you may not see it yet in your Google Photos account. If it's not showing up for you yet, just wait a bit longer. In fact, Google says it'll roll out in the U.S. on Android and iOS in the next few weeks, though there are reports that some users are seeing it now.

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With the public beta for iOS 26 now available, more people are testing the new features coming to the iPhone—and it turns out there are some hidden iOS 26 tools that Apple didn't even announce.

One that should make your Apple Maps experience better is the addition of natural language search via Apple Intelligence, one of the better AI tools coming to your iPhone.

Spotted by 9to5Mac, Maps will get a new "Search the Way You Talk" option in Apple Maps that lets you use natural language for searches like 'Find cafes with free Wi-Fi.'"

Testing natural language in Apple Maps

We did some testing of natural language search in Apple Maps and found that currently, it's a bit hit or miss.

In one search we tried, "Parks with playgrounds" and Apple Maps did provide suggestions like "parks with a good rating" or "parks with boat ramps."

However, not every test worked cleanly. Typing "24-hour diner" brings up results. But trying "all-night diner" brings back no results. So your natural language will vary.

There are somethings that Apple may not have in its Maps data. Attempting "parks with restrooms" turned up zero results.

From our testing, there are more natural search terms but as with everything in these betas, it is a work in progress.

Unannounced but an improvement

Apple never announced this feature was coming but apparently it's available now for beta testers. It may have even launched with the first iOS 26 public beta, and not the current iteration.

I did check on an iPhone 16 Pro that has not been in the beta program, and could not find the natural language search there, so I do believe this is currently only an iOS 26 beta feature.

Apple added natural language search to other iOS apps like Photos with iOS 18 and the introduction of Apple Intelligence. We tested it out then and were surprised by the results.

"This is a much better approach to finding photos," my colleague Tom's Guide editor Philip Michaels wrote. Though he did caution that it too still felt like a work in progress.

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Google Keep has been around for over 13 years, but shockingly it's been missing a very basic feature this entire time — an in-note search function. Which, considering Keep is one of the best note taking apps you can get on Android, is pretty bizarre.

Keep does have a search bar, which lets you find specific keywords from your main stack of notes. But what the app lacks is a true Ctrl+F-type option that lets you jump to specific points in those notes.

Thankfully, as spotted in the code by Android Authority, Google may finally be about to fix that issue.

The team were able to find and activate a new "Find in note" functionality, accessible from the 3-dot menu. While the feature doesn't actually work without crashing the app at present, this will eventually let you find specific parts of individual notes — rather than the whole app.

How useful this will be is all dependent on what you use Keep for, though. If you're like me then you probably only use the app for small notes that can be skim-read without issue. Honestly, the majority of my Keep usage is grocery lists or jotting down measurements during various home improvement projects.

Longer note-taking tends to be typed out on my laptop using Google Docs, so I hadn't actually noticed that there wasn't an equivalent to Ctrl+F in Keep. I just never actually needed it up to this point and didn't think too much of it.

Now that it's hit me, the lack of a proper search function does seem like a huge omission — and one Google has let slide for the past 13 years. It makes you wonder about all the other features missing from Keep's minimalist and simple interface.

Of course with Keep already getting AI support, as part of the Magic Lists feature, it's clear Google hasn't completely forgotten about the app. So hopefully the addition of "Find in note" is the start of a series of big changes coming to Google Keep.

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If you’ve ever had the creeping sense that Google knows a little too much about you, you’re not wrong. From your search habits to your exact location on any given day, Google keeps a detailed log of your digital life, all in the name of personalization.

But convenience comes at a cost. Whether you’re concerned about data privacy, targeted ads, or just want more control over your information, the good news is you can push back.

It only takes a few setting changes to limit what Google collects, what it remembers, and how it uses your activity. Here’s how I adjusted my Google account to take back a little privacy.

Now you've learned how to stop Google tracking you, why not take a look at our other useful guides?

To protect your privacy even further, check out how to stop your personal data from appearing in Google searches and how to check for hidden cameras in your Airbnb and hotel.

And if you want to safeguard your phone when entering the U.S., don't miss these 5 security tips.

Over the last 20 years, Google Earth has enabled us to explore the globe through billions of images from aerial photography, satellite imagery, Street View, and 3D images.

The globe explorer debuted a few months after Google Maps, but is more than just a way to get you from point A to point B.

Google claims that in the last year alone, Google Earth has been searched over 2 billion times.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Google Earth is introducing a pair of new features: one is available now, and the other is intended for professional users and will roll out in the coming weeks.

• Historical Street View: You can already play with historical Street View in Maps, but starting June 24, the "time travel feature" will be available directly in Google Earth.
• AI insights: Pro users will be able to access "AI-driven" insights like tree canopy coverage. The approaches can benefit urban planning.

To access the historical view in Google Earth, go to Layers and scroll down in that submenu where there is a layer called "Historical imagery." That's for the aerial and satellite imagery, though it gets quite blurry pre-2000, depending on where you look.

In Street View, you can go to a location and toggle with an arrow on the top icon to see how things have changed.

Google highlighted some big moments from the last 20 years in a blog post celebrating its birthday.

It launched in 2005 and ended up being a tool used with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that aided people after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.

Scientists and researchers used the tool to find or identify fossil sites, habitat changes and even ancient buildings.

The first historical feature launched in 2017 with Google Earth Timelapse, which lets you see how areas changed over a 35-year period.

It has become more useful for professionals in the last couple of years with data tools and tours.

Historical imagery came to Google Earth in 2024.

It's a great tool for exploring the world, and now with the history expansion, seeing how things have changed from urban growth and decay to climate change and beyond.

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