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Zoox plans to put its robotaxis on the Uber app in Vegas this year | TechCrunch

Zoox plans to put its robotaxis on the Uber app in Vegas this year | TechCrunch

Amazon-owned Zoox plans to make its robotaxis available to hail on the Uber app in Las Vegas later this year, the two companies announced Wednesday.

Before that happens, though, Zoox still needs approval from the federal government to commercially deploy its robotaxis, which don’t have a steering wheel or pedals. That requires exemptions from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). On Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began taking public comment on Zoox’s application for those exemptions. (Zoox currently has an exemption that allows the custom-built robotaxis to operate as a demonstration, and not commercially.)

If and when Zoox gets approval, the company plans to launch its own commercial robotaxi service first, and before making the vehicles available on Uber in Las Vegas, it told TechCrunch. Zoox currently offers free rides in Las Vegas and in San Francisco. It’s also mapping and building up a presence in eight other U.S. cities, including Dallas and Phoenix, which were announced earlier this week.

Zoox and Uber described this as a “multi-year strategic partnership,” that includes plans to launch in Los Angeles in 2027.

This is Zoox’s first third-party partnership with a platform like Uber. But it’s certainly not Uber’s first partnership with an autonomous vehicle company. Uber has partnerships with more than 25 different autonomous vehicle companies around the world. Its most notable deal is with Waymo, which makes its robotaxis available on the Uber platform in Austin and Atlanta. Uber has also partnered with China’s Baidu and announced it would start testing those self-driving cars in London this year. The ride-hail giant has AV partnerships with Volkswagen, May Mobility, and Pony AI, too.

Uber has also been building out new offerings for these robotaxi partners. In January, TechCrunch revealed the company started up an “AV Labs” division dedicated to collecting real-world driving data to reinforce its partners’ autonomous systems. Last month, Uber announced it had created a division called Uber Autonomous Solutions that can provide operational, software, and support services.

Zoox is seeking exemptions from eight of the FMVSS, including the standards that require a vehicle to have windshield defrosting systems and windshield wipers. NHTSA will take public comments for 30 days, but it’s not clear when the federal safety agency will make a ruling.

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At an autonomous vehicle safety hearing held on Tuesday, NHTSA chief Jonathan Morrison sounded eager to move forward with a more explicit regulatory scheme for self-driving cars.

“We think it’s past time to get past the hand-waving and hype, and are finally doing the necessary, hard policy work to provide appropriate and robust oversight over this sector while removing unnecessary and unintended barriers to innovation that currently exists,” he said. “This will not be easy, but I firmly believe that it is within our grasp, and we at NHTSA are moving with a great sense of urgency to get it done.”

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is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5">‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5

you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5">‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)

Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3.

Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.”

This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

“Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate.

‘Toy Story 5’ Gets an In-Theater Director’s Commentary This Weekend (Exclusive)
                Toy Story 5 is one of those movies you want to see again and again. Or, maybe, it’s a movie your kids are forcing you to see again and again. Either way, if you’ve already seen it and want a new experience, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie have you covered. io9 can exclusively reveal that Toy Story 5 director Andrew Stanton has teamed up with the app TheaterEars to release a special, in-theater director’s commentary for the Disney Pixar hit, and it’ll be available on July 3. “Toy Story is the franchise that made millions of us fall in love with the movies, so there’s no better film to bring the Director’s Experience into animation for the first time,” Dan Mangru, the CEO of TheaterEars, said in a press release. “Sitting in a theater and hearing Andrew Stanton walk through how the film was made, synced right to the screen, is exactly the kind of experience we built this for.” This is the third such commentary to come to TheaterEars this year. The first one was by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller for Project Hail Mary (which comes to streaming this week), and the other was with Jon Favreau for The Mandalorian and Grogu. Toy Story 5 marks the company’s first animated feature.

 “Every frame of Toy Story 5 holds a decision the audience never sees,” Stanton said. “Getting to talk through those choices while people are watching the movie in a theater, that’s a way of sharing the work I’ve never had before, and I think fans are going to love hearing where these moments came from.”

 So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty simple. You download the TheaterEars app, you go see Toy Story 5, and you open the app. Here’s a fun graphic to further illustrate. © TheaterEars Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology. Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

 Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.  Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.      #Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
© TheaterEars

Oh, and if you’re like me and the first thing you thought is “What if I hit play at the wrong time?” Don’t worry. According to TheaterEars, “the app listens for the film’s audio to sync the commentary track to the exact moment on screen.” Oh, technology.

Usually, you have to wait until a film comes home to hear a director’s commentary, so it’s pretty awesome that these are starting to happen when a film is still in theaters. As long as you are discreet with using your phone and keep the commentary at a suitable volume, of course. Let’s be respectable about this.

Have you tried a TheaterEars director’s commentary yet? Let us know below.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

#Toy #Story #InTheater #Directors #Commentary #Weekend #ExclusiveAndrew Stanton,TheaterEars,Toy Story 5
When you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps">7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should ChangeWhen you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.Set Your Home and Work AddressesGoogle will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.Edit Your Google Profile InformationSettings for your Google Profile Information
Courtesy of David NieldYou may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps

Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps">7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should Change

When you’re jumping between the many different apps Google offers—Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, YouTube, and all the rest—you may not be giving much thought to the Google account that underpins them all or to the myriad settings you can access that help to define your experience across all these apps.

If you’ve never opened up your Google account page on the web or on your phone, there are a host of options to browse through there. They cover everything from data security and browsing history to the backup email Google needs in case you ever get locked out of your account.

Here we’re going to focus on seven of the lesser-known settings: the ones that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention but which are still an important part of how your account and your Google apps operate. It’s worth spending a few minutes to review these and to make sure they’re set up in the way you’d like.

Also pause to consider how much personal information you want to share with Google, or how much of your information you’re making visible on the web. Let your own level of comfort guide your decisions on how you tweak these settings.

The starting point for all these settings is your Google account page on the web.

Set Your Home and Work Addresses

Google will use the information about where you live and work to personalize your experience. This is most useful in Google Maps, because it means you can get directions back home or to your office with a single tap rather than typing in the address each time. (You should see Home and Work shortcuts appear whenever you search for a destination.)

There are benefits for getting more accurate weather forecasts and more relevant search results too. The usual Google privacy policy rules apply: No one else will see the address information you’ve saved, but you might start seeing more ads for sandwich shops in your local area.

To set these addresses from your Google account page, click Personal info and then either Home address or Work address. You can either type out the address manually, or select a location on a map.

Edit Your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Settings for your Google Profile Information

Courtesy of David Nield

You may not think about your Google account in the same way as a Facebook or Instagram profile, but Google does share bits of information about you with other people. If you send someone an email through Gmail, they can click on your profile photo and see whatever’s public on your Google account page. Similarly, if you leave a review on Google Maps, the viewers of that review can tap on your name or picture and see any public information on your Google account page.

#LesserKnown #Google #Account #Settings #Changegoogle,how-to,tips,privacy,gmail,google maps

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