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New Google Feed knows everything you've ever been interested in

As your passions change, so will the content

Aatif Sulleyman

Thursday 07 September 2017 11:02 BST

The Google app has been treated to a makeover, with the rollout of the new localised Feed.

The company is using your search history to work out what your hobbies are and what subjects and areas of news you’re into, and compiling relevant content it thinks you’ll engage with.

As your personal interests change, so will the feed.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

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1/1111 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Time travel

You can see how places have changed over the years in Street View, by dragging Pegman (the small yellow figure) onto the map and clicking the clock icon. It’s not available for all locations though - only the places Google has pictured for older versions of Street View - and the furthest back you can go is 2008. It’s fun though, and if you look closely, you’ll see Pegman turns into Back to the Future’s Doc Brown.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Dive into your history

You can view your Google Maps History by visiting myactivity.google.com. In the search bar at the top of the page, you can filter by lots of different products, and Maps is one of them. Doing so will show you all the Maps data has on you, which you can delete.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Zoom with one finger

Phones seem to be rowing bigger by the year, and it’s not always easy to use them one-handed, especially if you want to zoom in on something on your screen. On the Google Maps app, you can zoom in and out with one finger by double-tapping - but keeping your finger on the screen on the second tap - and then dragging it up and down.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Create your own map

You can create your own custom map on desktop by opening the menu and clicking Your Places, Maps and Create Map. Give your map a name and a description, and add all of your favourite places. You can also collaborate on a map with other people, ideal for when you’re planning a holiday. My Maps is also available as an app, separate to Google Maps.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Calibrate your compass

This isn’t an issue that’s specific to Google Maps, but it’s incredibly annoying. Every now and then you might find yourself walking in completely the wrong direction because your phone’s compass has gone wrong. Fortunately, you can calibrate it by moving your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Add stops to your journey

Everyone knows Google Maps can direct you from one location to another, you can add multiple stops to your journey too. On the app, after you’ve entered your starting point and destination, hit the menu button in the top-right corner of the screen and select Add Stop. On desktop, click Add Destination and drag and drop the addresses to reorder your journey.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Explore

You can easily find great places to hang out by tapping Explore in the main menu of the Google Maps app. Each of the sections is split into specific sub-sections (such as Keep it Cheap and Quick Bites), and every place has a rating and a description. Also, if you’ve ever wondered what the orange shaded bits on Google Maps indicate, they’re “areas of interest” Google believes to be worth exploring.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Share the places you love

If you’re planning to meet friends somewhere, you can make the process much smoother by sharing the right location with them. On the app, find the location you’re after, tap More Info and Share. On desktop, find the right address and click Share.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Share your location

You can track your friends or let them track you in real-time with Google Maps, so everyone knows who’s on time and who’s running late. In the app, hit the menu button and tap Location Sharing.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Save data

You can save mobile data (and money) by downloading offline maps for certain areas in advance. On the app, hit the menu button and select Offline Maps, then find the area you want and hit Download. You can also find Wi-Fi Only mode in the main menu of the app, which means you can only access your saved offline maps. On desktop meanwhile, you can use Google Maps Lite for when you’re on a slow internet connection.

11 useful Google Maps features you didn’t know existed

Remember where you parked

The Google Maps app can save where you’ve parked your car. Once you’ve found a spot, all you need to do is tap your blue location dot and select Save Your Parking.

So, for instance, if you’re interested in football and cooking, but your passion for the former grows at the expense of the latter, your feed will evolve to reflect this.

It will not only use your Google search history, but will also rely on data gathered from the company’s other main services, such as Maps and YouTube.

It will display a mix of different types of content, including news stories, videos, sports scores and updates about public figures and topics you want to know more about.

“The Feed will appear as a tab within the Google app on Android, and provides users with a window into their world and the wider web throughout the day,” says Google.

“It provides a ‘glanceable’, feature-rich feed of their favourite subjects, niche hobbies and trending news.

“Want to keep up to speed with the latest news from your favourite football team, be among the first to see a new music video from your favourite artist, or know the latest tweet from a prominent world leader? The Feed is the place to be.”

The Feed launched in the US in July, but is finally rolling out globally.

It’s only available on Android handsets right now, but will come to iOS devices and Google’s mobile site in the future.

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