Timeline Is Google Maps’ Greatest Function, however It is About to Get Worse

Earlier this yr, Google introduced a giant change for the Timeline function in Google Maps, which occurs to be one in every of its finest options. Whereas it may well presently be accessed through Google Maps on the internet in addition to via the cell apps, quickly it will likely be locked to particular person telephones and tablets (and except you switch it over, all of your present knowledge might be wiped).

The deadline for the change appears to differ between customers. Google advised TechRadar that individuals would have “roughly six months” from after they have been first notified concerning the changeover to get their knowledge transferred, however 9to5Google experiences many Timeline customers are seeing a brand new deadline of June 9, 2025. If you happen to’re affected, the best choice is simply to open up Google Maps in your cellphone and see what it says.

Whereas I am glad the Timeline function is sticking round in some type, and I perceive the privateness and safety advantages of this knowledge being saved on gadgets moderately than within the Google cloud, I am unhappy to see the online interface going away.

Taking a visit with Google Timeline

If you happen to’re new to Timeline, here is the way it works: The function principally logs in all places you go, routinely, utilizing location info from gadgets linked to your Google Account. Beforehand you possibly can later entry this journey historical past through the online utilizing your Google account. I get why that is a privateness concern for individuals—maybe the rationale Google goes to lock this knowledge domestically to particular gadgets—however I am ready to belief Google to maintain my comings and goings safely hidden from anybody else, due to how helpful and attention-grabbing I discover the function.

I typically use it to retrace the steps of previous holidays, recalling the locations we stopped at and the sights we noticed. I additionally use it to lookup bars, eating places, and occasional retailers I’ve favored previously. Generally I am going to take a random dip into historical past, to see what I used to be doing today final yr, or today 5 years in the past. All the things is mapped out: Not simply locations, but additionally journeys by airplane, practice, or car (or foot).

In some methods it really works like a journal I needn’t bear in mind to replace, making entries a number of occasions every day. I can look again on after I final noticed mates particularly locations, or final visited sure nations. What’s extra, Timeline retains observe of the cities I’ve seen and the miles I’ve coated, nearly like health stats however for journey.

Timeline will proceed to supply this on telephones and tablets, however there might be no syncing throughout a number of gadgets. I will not have the ability to load up my maps and my travels on a giant display—with regards to viewing the map, wanting up particular person locations, enhancing info, and scrolling via dates, it is all a lot simpler with a trackpad and keyboard.

The online interface is presently additionally the one technique to see an outline of a complete month, or a complete yr—the Google Maps app solely exhibits knowledge for one particular day at a time. I am going to not have the ability to see the pink dots of the three-week lengthy coast-to-coast drive my brother and I did throughout the USA, or see how 2018 journey in comparison with 2019 journey, or see how a lot floor I coated in January. Timeline might be much less enjoyable, and fewer attention-grabbing.

Going cell with Timeline

There’s lots to discover within the cell app too.
Credit score: Lifehacker

Whereas I am upset the Timeline internet interface goes away—as I am positive are many individuals who use it for revisiting previous journeys, planning future journeys, determining journey bills, and no matter else— the comfort is that Timeline will proceed on cell, in a lot the identical method because it does presently.

There are even a couple of good bonuses within the app model that are not accessible on the internet—or no less than not in the identical handy type. You may see all the locations you’ve got stopped at whereas Timeline has been lively, sorted by class and by place: So you may dig into all of the inns you’ve got stayed at or all of the sights you’ve got seen, or get an inventory of each place you’ve got seen in a single explicit metropolis.

Then you definitely’ve obtained an Insights tab that provides you a breakdown of your journey actions: How a lot strolling, driving, and flying you’ve got accomplished, for instance, and the way a lot time in complete you’ve got spent outdoors the house and the workplace. That is damaged down by month, and also you get a bit of highlights abstract as properly.

The Day tab does not give the excellent map overview that you simply get on the internet, however no less than it is one thing: Load it up and you’ll see the locations you went, how you bought there, and additional info such because the period of time you spent strolling and driving. As on the internet, you may add in locations that have been missed, in addition to delete or edit entries.

If you happen to’ve by no means tried Timeline, otherwise you’re getting messages asking if you wish to proceed utilizing it in your cellphone, I might suggest giving it a go—it is nearly my favourite Google Maps function. As with different kinds of knowledge in your Google Account, you may delete your Timeline historical past everytime you need, or have it routinely wiped after a sure time (as soon as it is greater than three months previous, for instance).