'Your Timeline' in Android Maps: Google shows how much it cares
'Your Timeline' in Android Maps: Google shows how much it
cares
New Android Maps Your Timeline feature
Google can't let you out of its sight
Computerworld | Jul 22, 2015 6:51 AM PT
snip.........
The feature -- provided an Android phone was along for
the ride -- allows users to retrace past location data, correlated with other
types of pertinent info gathered by Skynet during a journey.
Privacy freaks, are well, freaking, but fans and avid
users of Google services are already raving about Your Timeline, delighted with
its effusive data. So, depending on your creepiness meter readings, Timeline is
a feature most users will either love at first sight, or, hate with
all-consuming intensity.
Today's humble blogwatcher is Stephen Glasskeys.
Nathan Ingraham sounds a little creeped out:
If you're all-in on Google services...you're likely aware
of the fact that Google tracks your location to serve you useful information.
What you might not realize is just how much location data Google has on you.
[The] company has just turned that somewhat creepy bit of info into a new
feature called Your Timeline.
Chance Miller retraces his steps:
Not only does the feature show where you’ve been, it also
shows what specific times you were there and in some cases, the...route you
took to get there. The timeline also shows pictures that may have been taken at
those locations.
Brian Fagioli tries to see the upside:
While I can see value in this for family vacations and
memorable road trips, I am sure there are locations you do not want to be
reminded of. For example, Google could remind you of your trip to the urologist
for a prostate exam...or the outing to the mortuary for a family member's
funeral.
…
Quite frankly, I am surprised that Google wants to bring
attention to its creepy behaviors. This new tool could [make] people aware of
how Google tracks them and wisely convince them to opt out of location history
tracking. Maybe that is a good thing.
Cody Toombs uncovers hidden relics:
If you've ever visited Google's Location history page,
[Your Timeline] is basically the same thing, but massively better. The web page
never contained anything more than a bunch of lines and dots strewn about a
map, but [this new] feature in Maps finally puts some context to the...data
that we produce moving around with our phones.
…
I also noticed some strings...that suggest we'll be able
to pause and resume location history, and also an option to turn on a rolling
90-day window where all history is kept until it gets too old, after which it
is removed. I don't believe these options are available yet, but they're
certainly coming.
Meanwhile, Ron Amadeo connects the dots:
Pictures you've taken with your phone end up in the
location history, too. On Android, they're all geotagged and get uploaded to
Google Photos, so connecting the two was probably pretty easy.
…
You can edit or delete any individual stop from your
history, including the location, transportation method, and time. [If] all of
this (understandably) creeps you out, you can easily delete your entire
location history.
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