Google Threads

I'm always the navigator when my husband and I take a road trip. My biggest job is keeping my driver happy by providing refreshments and a lot of rock and roll music. I'm also responsible for getting us to our destination. That's where Google Maps comes to the rescue. I have been using Google Maps just for navigation. That is, until I read an article by Android Police Feature Author Parth Shah. Shah found some creative ways to use Google Maps, and his tips have made me a better navigator. Google Maps is the go-to tool for getting from point A to point B. But what if we've only been scratching the surface of its capabilities?  Shah shows us that Google Maps is a powerful personal assistant, offering features that can streamline our daily routines and help us discover new places.  From avoiding traffic bottlenecks to remembering where we parked, Shah shares a handful of creative "hacks" that demonstrate the app's true potential. Monitoring traffic in real time and creating and shar

Some people say that with the right tools and mindset, YouTube can be a valuable learning resource. Browser extensions to hide the feed, turning off autoplay, and intentional viewing sessions may help. Others feel the platform is too inherently addictive and time-wasting, making abstinence the only reliable solution. The constant battle against algorithmic suggestions seems unsustainable to them. There are valid arguments on both sides of this issue. As paying users, we deserve more insight and control over the content we're recommended. Allowing manual adjustments to the algorithm could help avoid rabbit holes. However, YouTube's current model keeps things simple for most users, and too many options could be overwhelming or counterproductive. The personalized recommendations also keep people engaged, which is essential for YouTube's business model. What's your take? Is the platform too addictive and time-wasting, making abstinence the only reliable solution? Or, should companies

Apparently, there is too much friction when users are asked to replace their passwords with passkeys, and so passkeys are not getting created as fast as Google would like. This is why the company will now auto-convert some of your passwords to passkeys, at least for sites that support them, and it is a toggleable setting, though it is on by default So, do you want Google converting your passwords to passkeys without asking, and if not, are you happy to see that you can turn the setting off?

It's World Password Week, and here at AP, we've taken the opportunity to share some tips, tricks, and best practices for online security. Given how much information flows through most of our Google accounts, it's especially important to lock it down — and AP's Parth Shah has shared a number of ways to do that. Check out the link to the right to learn more about enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring app access, and more in your Google account. 

It may have started out convenient enough, Sign in with Google makes it easy to sign into a wide selection of websites, from Reddit to X (Twitter). But over the years, I've amassed a handful of accounts, and Google's handling of these accounts and which it randomly signs me in as is nothing short of infuriating. While it just so happens that the easiest solution to Google's account mess is using multiple accounts within Chrome, for me, more Google isn't the solution to Google's poorly designed account system, which is why I use a Firefox fork. Not only am I utterly sick of seeing pop-ups on every site asking me to sign in with a Google account (no wonder Google doesn't like adblockers), I'm sick of Google mixing my accounts when I'm trying to use bookmarks. I'm also sick of Google randomly signing me out when I do use Sign in with Google. So, do you begrudgingly use Sign in with Google while secretly hating it, or have you skipped the service altogether?

Well, now you have. Check the image below. That's Google's new XR glasses, or at least a fresh prototype. They mostly look like real glasses, though it helps that modern trends lean toward thick frames. Some of the glasses' capabilities were demonstrated, showcasing live translation and image recognition. So, what do you think of Google's XR glasses, and are you eager to use AI with the help of a pair of glasses on your face?

So get this. Google went and held a test to see if there was a difference in ad earnings when not showing news to a select group of users, instead showing them other content that earned similar ad clicks. Not only does this prove Google very much has the power to make or break any site on the internet by choosing to exclude certain kinds of content, but it's also a bunch of BS that has little to do with Google's long-term viability without news to plunder with its AI and other services. After all, Google partnered with the Associated Press to scrape its news to serve in Gemini, which ultimately proves news has a value despite what Google's report says.

If you'd like to track all of the hardware you've purchased from Google in one place, I have good news for you. Google recently launched a You Devices page on its store, which offers details like warranty status. So if you've ever wondered what kind of support you can expect from your Google purchases, now you have a handy place to check? So, does this sound helpful to you, or is this something that will be easily ignored?

Murena is now offering a deGoogled Pixel Tablet, one that is running /e/OS, a fork of LineageOS with an emphasis on user privacy, hence the lack of Google anything. And this got me thinking how many around here have considered deGoogling their lives. There's a good chance I'll take a break from the company at some point. But what about you? Are you interested in deGoogling your life, or are you happy with how things are going?

Did you watch Google's Super Bowl ad this year? It's a tearjerker for sure, but I also don't want to ruin it if you haven't seen it. While I felt it's a little long for what it is, it's all setup for an emotional payoff, which I'll excuse. So, did you see the ad during the game, or perhaps at sites like this? If not, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl, then share your thoughts in the comments below.

Artificial intelligence has become a hot topic. Some people embrace the convenience and productivity it brings. Others see it as intrusive and feel it infringes on creators' rights. It's become a mandatory feature in many subscription-based apps, such as Gmail in Google Workspace. My question is: How many people need AI help when drafting email messages? Many people draft quick and simple messages that don't require much thought. Does the extra money they pay for AI in Gmail for Google Workspace make sense? There are plenty of ways to use AI chatbots for free, and these chatbots are perfectly capable of generating an email message that you can change to make it sound like you wrote it. It's up to us as consumers to decide what's best for us, especially concerning whether and how we use AI. How do you feel? Are you happy that AI is automatically added to your favorite apps? Or would you rather have this an option?

The "big game" is this weekend in New Orleans, and big-name brands have already started sharing their commercials. Google's Pixel ad is a real tearjerker: in it, a man practices job interview questions with Gemini Live, describing the job he'd been doing prior to seeking something new. Over the course of the spot, it becomes clear that he's describing being a dad, and that his reason for looking for something else to occupy his time is bittersweet.  Is the idea of using artificial intelligence to practice describing the joys and difficulties of parenthood in corporate terms ("it was a role where I learned to take constructive criticism," the dad tells Gemini over footage of an infant expressing its distaste for a particular baby food) a little uncomfortable and maybe mildly dystopian? Sure. You also don't need a Pixel phone to do this; Gemini Live is available on other Android devices and even iPhones. Still, the overall vibe is pretty sweet, and it's surely relatable for parents with

My husband and I spend a lot of time hiking Florida's state parks and forests. Many times, there isn't a person in sight. It's just us, tall trees, singing birds, curious deer, and the occasional lounging alligator. Even though we're cautious, accidents happen and animals are unpredictable. To be safe, I always carry my phone and the phone number to the nearest ranger station. But what if we're in an area where my phone can't connect to cellular service? Google Pixel phones now offer Satellite SOS as a backup when the phone can't connect to a cellular or Wi-Fi network. If we have an emergency, I need to dial 9-1-1 and get help no matter where we are. Satellite SOS puts the Google Pixel high on my phone wish list. These new safety and emergency features excite me and give me the confidence to keep hiking into the wild blue yonder. Are these new features enough to entice you into a new phone?

Google offers plenty of awesome services, like Calendar and Docs, not to mention Gmail. And it would seem Proton is right about Google's tale with many comparable services. Sure, Proton is still finding its legs and likely stretched too thin for so many projects, but at the same time, it's leveraged these apps to create solid competition for Google. So, are you eyeing greener pastures with Proton, have you made the switch, or are you a Google diehard who will go down with the ship?

At this point, you have to admit that Google and Microsoft offer fairly comparable options in terms of ecosystem. While it may be obvious which platform people prefer around here, I wanted to ask which ecosystem everyone prefers. Whether for work or play, do you gravitate more towards Microsoft products or Google products for things like team chat, office apps, searching the internet, etc.? Which ecosystem do you spend more time in?

Now that we have entered into 2025, having just recapped the many things Google killed in 2024, one has to wonder what may be next on the chopping block. I have my suspicions the Google Tasks Android app may not make it the full year, and you kind of have to wonder how long all these AI features are going to stick around when most feel like gimmicks. Does anyone actually need AI wallpapers? So, what do you think Google will be killing this year? Sound off in the comments, and let's see if we can predict the future.

If there is one constant in the tech world, it's that Google will inevitably kill a handful of projects throughout the year, and 2024 had some notable losses. Google Podcasts is the one that hits close to home for me, as it was my go-to podcatcher. But that wasn't the only service to get the ax; there was also Bard's short-lived branding and Keen, a social media service just about nobody had heard of that functioned similarly to Pinterest, just unsuccessfully. So, out of the products killed by Google this year, which will you be missing the most?

With Android 15 on my Pixel 6, I seem to have lost phone call and voicemail transcription that was working before. I have T-Mobile, so I have been forced to subscribe to their "translate" service for the voicemail. $4.00 a month. I can hear a phone call if I wear my Otikon Real hearing aid, but I have lost hearing comprehension, so I need the text to confirm what is being said over the phone. Any solutions? Not sure I can go back to Android 14. Now waiting for Pixel 10 to upgrade the phone and get a different carrier. At home, I don't get T-Mobile 5G service due to surrounding trees and buildings, so I'm unhappy there, too.

Google's cloud gaming platform Stadia died an untimely death in 2023. Stadia controllers connected directly to Google's servers over Wi-Fi and initially couldn't be used as Bluetooth controllers at all, meaning players could've been left with ergonomic paperweights once Google pulled the plug.  But following Stadia's collapse, Google offered an online tool to enable Bluetooth functionality in its Stadia controllers, letting players continue to use them the way they would any other wireless gamepads. Initially, the deadline to convert your controllers was in late 2023. Google then delayed the deadline into this year, and now, it's extended it another year. As of writing, you've got until December 31, 2025 to convert your Stadia controllers from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth. Thanks, Google. Hit the link to the right to learn more. 

Google's added a new band option for the Pixel Watch. The new Performance Loop Band is available now on the Google Store for $60. The band is made to appeal to athletic types, with a flexible fit and a breathable fabric build. It looks pretty slick, and it's available in both sizes the Pixel Watch 3 comes in. The 41mm version will also fit Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2.  Overall, I like the look of the new band. Each colorway comes with metal lugs that match base Pixel Watch 3 colors, though, and the only version with lugs that match my Hazel watch is a neon yellow-green number Google calls Wintergreen. The combo's a little loud for me — I think the Porcelain or Obsidian band colors would look better against the warm Champagne Gold-colored steel of my watch. Hit the link to the right to read more about Google's new band, and to grab one for yourself if you're interested.