Think Retail on Air is Tuesday, August 31 at 10 a.m. PDT

It’s time to get ready for the holiday season! This year, we expect shoppers to continue using the digital-first services they learned during the pandemic, like curbside pickup and grocery delivery, in combination with in-store shopping trips. We see this across Google, where searches for "now near me" have grown globally by more than 100% year over year and searches on Google Maps for “curbside pickup” have increased globally by 5,000% year over year.1To help you capture the opportunity this ho...
Tags: Google, Air, Google Maps, Shopping Ads, Search Ads, Google Academy, Google Ads, Christina Brandeberry, Google Data Global

Google Maps on iOS adds live location sharing in iMessage, home screen widget, and dark mode

Google Maps announced today three feature updates to its iOS app. With live location sharing in the iMessage app, a traffic widget for the home screen, and dark mode, Google Maps is poising itself as a stronger competitor against iOS’ native Apple Maps. Live location sharing was already possible in Google Maps — by tapping on the blue dot that shows where you are, you can share with select friends your ETA to your destination, and even how much battery life your phone has. But the Google Maps iM...
Tags: Apple, Google, Android, Apps, Imessage, Tech, Snapchat, Software, Computing, Gps, Waze, Google-Maps, Apple Maps, Operating Systems, Eta, Snap

Google Maps on iOS adds live location sharing in iMessage, home screen widget, dark mode

Google Maps announced today three feature updates to its iOS app. With live location sharing in the iMessage app, a traffic widget for the home screen and dark mode, Google Maps is positioning itself as a stronger competitor against iOS’ native Apple Maps. Live location sharing was already possible in Google Maps — by tapping on the blue dot that shows where you are, you can share with select friends your ETA to your destination, and even how much battery life your phone has. But the Google Maps...
Tags: Apple, Google, Android, Apps, Imessage, Tech, Snapchat, Software, Computing, Gps, Waze, Google-Maps, Apple Maps, Operating Systems, Eta, Snap

Google Maps for iOS Gaining Dark Mode and Messages Integration for Sharing Real-Time Location

Google today announced new updates that are coming to the Google Maps app designed for the iPhone. The most notable new feature is dark mode, which Google Maps app users have long been wanting. Dark mode is an alternative to light mode and allows for a darker user interface to match other dark mode apps on iOS devices. According to Google, dark mode is going to be rolling out "in the coming weeks," and once available to you, it can be enabled in the Settings section of Google Maps. Google say...
Tags: Apple, Google, Google Maps, Google Maps Google

Amazon Music and Spotify both offer a huge selection of songs, but Spotify's personalization features make it a better fit for most people

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Alyssa Powell/Business Insider A good music streaming service gives you access to millions of the latest songs. Amazon Music and Spotify are two of the most popular platforms you can subscribe to. Amazon has lossless music for audiophiles, but Spotify has better options for playlists and sharing. Music Unlimited (small) Music Service (small) Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky Finding a music streami...
Tags: Reviews, Amazon, Spotify, Entertainment, Trends, Tech, Amazon Prime, Showtime, Streaming, Waze, Google Maps, X Ray, Alexa, Amazon Music, Tech Insider, Amazon Music Unlimited

Google's color-coded map shows where COVID-19 cases are spiking

People wear protective face masks outside the Google offices in Chelsea as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on July 31, 2020 in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty Images Google Maps has a mapping layer that allows users to see regions color-coded by per-capita number of COVID-19 cases. The feature aims to help users "make more informed decisions about where to go and what to do." The COVID-19 layer is available to iOS an...
Tags: Apple, Google, Science, News, Wikipedia, New York City, Trends, Chelsea, New York Times, Google Maps, Bing, Johns Hopkins, Centers for Disease Control, Tech Insider, COVID-19, Business News Desk

Ashirase, a Honda incubation, reveals advanced walking assistance system for visually impaired

Globally, 225 million people are estimated to suffer from moderate or severe visual impairments, and 49.1 million are blind, according to 2020 data from the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science journal. A Japanese startup that was incubated at Honda Motor Company’s business creation program hopes to make navigating the world easier and safer for the visually impaired. Ashirase, which debuted as the first business venture to come out of Honda’s Ignition program in June, shared details o...
Tags: Transportation, Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Honda, Google Maps, Visually Impaired, Chino, ADAS, Honda Motor Company, Ignition, Ashirase, Wataru Chino, Chino Honda

Snapchat adds My Places feature to Snap Map, recommending spots to visit

As more people are venturing out into the world this summer (safely, we hope!), Snapchat wants to make it easier for people to find restaurants, stores, parks, and other interesting spots in their neighborhood. Today, Snapchat is starting to roll out the My Places feature on its Snap Map, which connects users with over 30 million businesses. Users can log their favorite spots, send them to friends, and find recommendations. My Places has three main tabs: Visited, Favorites, and Popular. Visited ...
Tags: Google, Apps, Technology, Tech, Snapchat, Instant Messaging, Software, Computing, Google-Maps, Ticketmaster, Snap, Mobile Applications, Snapchat Snapchat, Snap Inc

Using AI to map Africa’s buildings

Between 2020 and 2050, Africa’s population is expected to double, adding 950 million more people to its urban areas alone. However, according to 2018 figures, a scarcity of affordable housing in many African cities has forced over half of the city dwellers in Sub-Saharan Africa to live in informal settlements. And in rural areas, many also occupy makeshift structures due to widespread poverty. These shelters have remained largely undetectable using traditional monitoring tools. Machine learning,...
Tags: Google, Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ai, Google Maps, Ghana, Lagos, Accra, KINSHASA, Drc, Accra Ghana, Dadaab, Sub Saharan Africa, Makoko, Yumbe

Google Maps Gains Home Screen Widgets on iPhone

Google today updated its Google Maps app for the iPhone to add support for widgets that can be added both to the Today View and the Home Screen. There are two separate widget options. The first allows users to check traffic conditions, store opening times, restaurant reviews, and more for a given location, while the second is designed to let users find places that are nearby like restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores. The widget can be used to get quick access to home directions as w...
Tags: Google, Google Maps

How to add your business to Google and get it displayed on Google Maps for customers to find

You can add your business to Google from Google's My Business website. Kathrin Ziegler/Getty Images When you add a business to Google, it can help bring in new customers and streams of revenue. You can customize your Google Business page with hours, photos, services, and more. When you add a location or service area for your business, it becomes searchable on Google Maps. Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories. Adding your business to Google - whether it's a...
Tags: Google, Facebook, Small Business, Trends, Google Maps, Google Search Console, Google My Business, Tech Insider, Google Business Photos, PayPal Business, Tech Reference, Software & Apps (Reference, Tech How To, Devon Delfino, Eliza Goodwin, Kathrin Ziegler Getty

Moovit integrates Lime electric scooters, bikes, mopeds into transit planning app

Shared electric micromobility company Lime announced a partnership to integrate its electric scooters, bikes and mopeds into the Moovit trip planning app. As of next week, Lime’s vehicles will be included as a travel option in tandem with public transit for either all or part of a multimodal journey on the Israeli app. Nearby Lime vehicles will show up in Moovit in 117 cities across 20 countries, including the United States, South Africa, Australia and throughout Europe. Lime says this partnersh...
Tags: TC, Transportation, London, Tech, Intel, Public Transit, Google Maps, Moovit, Electric Scooters, Lime, New York Paris, Maas, E-bikes, Micromobility, Mobility As A Service, Nir Erez Moovit

7 Reasons You Should Still Keep a Paper Map in Your Glovebox

With our archives now 3,500+ articles deep, we’ve decided to republish a classic piece each Sunday to help our newer readers discover some of the best, evergreen gems from the past. This article was originally published in May 2019.  Ever since Google Maps launched its app in 2008, I’ve been using GPS to get around town, and across the country. For a decade, a digital voice from my phone has led me, turn-by-turn, in cities I’m not familiar with and even cities I’ve lived in for years. But d...
Tags: Google, Living, London, Featured, Life, Walmart, Leisure, United States, Bob, Oklahoma, Google Maps, Scout, Ouachita National Forest, Reliance, McGill University, Tulsa

Godinez honored as LA’s Firefighter of the Year, rekindling ceremony postponed by pandemic

The LA City Firefighters Association recognizes retired Capt. Rick Godinez as Firefighter of the Year at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Los Angeles , Calif. on July 22, 2021. (Photo by Shae Hammond, Contributing Photographer) The LA City Firefighters Association recognizes retired Capt. Rick Godinez as Firefighter of the Year at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Los Angeles , Calif. on July 22, 2021. (Photo by Shae Hammond, Contributing Photographer) The LA City Firefighters Associ...
Tags: Health, New York, News, La, Government, Sport, Soccer, Fires, Hilton, Community, Google Maps, Public Safety, Walt Disney, Aliso Canyon, Northridge, Socalgas

10 things in tech: TikTok algorithm - Uber talent exodus - Steve Jobs NFT

The influencing factors behind the TikTok algorithm have been revealed. Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Good morning and welcome to 10 Things in Tech. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.Let's get started.1. The secret factors that influence your TikTok algorithm were just revealed. The algorithm, which determines which videos populate your "For You" page, is influenced by how long you watch or hover over videos. Here's what else we've learned abou...
Tags: Google, Microsoft, Steve Jobs, Newsletter, Trends, Tech, Tesla, WeWork, Biden, Google Maps, Justice Department, Arielle Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, NFT, Newsletters, FSD

Google Maps expands super-useful feature for mass transit

Google Maps has announced a significant expansion of a handy feature that lets you see how crowded your train or bus is likely to be when it arrives.
Tags: Mobile, News, Trends, Transit, Google Maps, Location Services, Mass Transit

Google’s new crowd predictions for Maps may coax me back onto subways

Subways have never been my favorite mode of transit, but the onset of the pandemic made them even less appealing. Sixteen months later, Google Maps may finally have found a way to lure me back underground. The service is now piloting the option to see live data on the crowdedness of individual train carriages. Up front: Google initially launched transit crowdedness predictions in 2019, when people were more worried about finding a seat than catching a potentially fatal infection. The feature use...
Tags: Google, Startups, Google Maps, Insider, Neural

Google Maps can now show New Yorkers how busy individual subway cars are so they can avoid crowds of people in the pandemic

Google Maps is trialling a new feature which tells you which carriages are the busiest. AlenaPaulus/Getty Images Google Maps is trialling a new feature which tells users which transit cars are the busiest. The feature is currently only available in New York and Sydney, Google said in a product update. It comes as Google expands its live crowd prediction feature to more than 100 countries. See more stories on Insider's business page. Google Maps can show users in New York and Sydney how...
Tags: Google, New York, Trends, New South Wales, Sydney, Google Maps, New York Google, Google Google Maps, Kate Duffy, Sydney Google, Long Island Rail Road and Transport

Google Maps will help you avoid crowded mass transit in way more cities

There are also new options to view past journeys.
Tags: Google Maps

Navigate new normals with Google Maps

With the state of the pandemic varying across the globe, the new normal looks different depending on where you go. But no matter your situation, Google Maps has your back with new tools to help you navigate and explore as safely as possible. Keep your distance on mass transit It’s no surprise that transit ridership took a drastic plunge during the early days of the pandemic. While people are returning to public transit — with transit directions on Maps increasing 50% compared to last yea...
Tags: Google, Maps, New York, Washington, New South Wales, Sydney, Tokyo, Google Maps, Your Timeline, Eric Tholomé, Long Island Rail Road and Transport, New York City Atlanta San Francisco Boston

Google Maps Now Helps You Avoid People On The Train

The world is slowly opening back up. You might be finding yourself using public transit for the first time in ages and trying to figure out how to get around. Some helpful new Google Maps features could help us all navigate through this time, both literally and figuratively. Read more...
Tags: Google, Science, Technology, Google Search, Software, Computing, Map, Google Maps, Alphabet Inc, Human Interest, Technology Internet, Hospitality Recreation

Google Maps Gains Expanded Transit Crowdedness Predictions

Google today announced that it is expanding transit crowdedness predictions to more than 10,000 transit agencies in 100 countries so that customers can better determine which transit options are at capacity and which have more open space and seating available. In New York and Sydney, Google is launching a pilot program that lets Maps users see live crowdedness information at the transit car level, with the feature powered by the Long Island Rail Road and Transport for New South Wales. Google...
Tags: Google, New York, Google Maps, Sydney Google

8 tips to navigate and explore safely with Google Maps

With the state of the pandemic varying around the world, keeping up with local restrictions, navigating day-to-day life and easing back into activities we enjoy can feel confusing and unfamiliar. To help with that, we’ve pulled together Google Maps tips — including new features and product updates — to help you safely plan your next outing, navigate how and when to get things done, and relive past adventures or plan for future ones when the time is right: Plan ahead if you’re taking public tr...
Tags: Google, Maps, Italy, Google Maps, Wanda Plore

Van Nuys man gets 8 months in prison for counterfeiting driver’s licenses, passports and other documents

LOS ANGELES — A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced Monday to eight months in federal prison for participating in a document-trafficking ring that created and sold counterfeit United States passport cards, Social Security cards, driver’s licenses and other documents. Nestor Perez, 32, of Van Nuys, pleaded guilty in April to one count each of conspiracy to produce, transfer and possess false identification documents, and producing false identification documents. Two co-defendants were sentenced...
Tags: News, Los Angeles, Sport, Soccer, Pennsylvania, United States, Social Security, Peru, Google Maps, Public Safety, Walt Disney, Aliso Canyon, Socalgas, Hernandez, LA County, Guerrero

Google Maps Provided Users With a ‘Potentially Fatal’ Hiking Trail on This Mountain

A few years ago, instead of leading my best friend and I through a lovely and picturesque Spanish mountain trail, Google Maps took us to an isolated field with some cows. While I learned then not trust the internet when it comes to nature, it appears that an increasing number of visitors to the Scottish mountain Ben…Read more...
Tags: Apple, Google, Science, Scotland, Software, Mountaineering, Google Maps, Nevis, Alphabet Inc, Ben Nevis, Lochaber, Munros, Web Mapping, Human Activities, Route Planning Software, Technology Internet

Gang intervention workers and activists welcome $6 million plan to reduce violence in L.A. County

Johnny Torres is often the first person at the scene of a shooting in Los Angeles County’s First District. A crisis and gang intervention worker, Torres isn’t there to investigate a crime, but to support the needs of victims and their family members. Sometimes that support looks likes covering hospital expenses. Other times it’s helping families relocate for fear of retaliation from local gang members. In worst case scenarios, it could be helping cover funeral expenses. Then, there is the long p...
Tags: News, La, Sport, Soccer, Google Maps, Local News, Public Safety, Walt Disney, Aliso Canyon, Socalgas, Los Angeles County, Torres, Romero, La Puente, Orozco, LA County

Google Maps accused of offering 'potentially fatal' hiking routes

Hikers looking to summit Scotland's highest mountain and other peaks in the area are being sent up "potentially fatal" routes by Google Maps, the region's mountaineering organizations have warned.
Tags: Google, Scotland, Cnn, Google Maps