“Google Maps” is getting a new feature, and here is what it improves

 Nowadays, it seems nearly impossible to keep something like your location a secret, and we are often left at the mercy of companies to take the appropriate steps to ensure this.

To achieve just that goal, Google has released new location controls for Maps designed to give you better control over what data is captured and where.

One of the most significant changes being introduced is the option to save your Timeline directly to your device instead of the cloud.

If you do not already know, the Timeline is an encrypted record of all the areas and attractions you have visited. You need to turn on location history; it is off by default, to activate Timeline.

As part of the Google Maps update, Location History will automatically delete your data after three months, compared to the previous 18 months. However, you can delete all information whenever you want or you can turn off automatic deletion. Additionally, you can turn off Location History at any time.

Google Maps will also let you click on your blue dot on the map and see settings like Location History and Timeline. The shortcut lets you change how much of your information is shared and stored on Google Maps without having to go into settings.

Similarly, Google Maps is adding an option to delete location-specific data. For example, if you searched for a restaurant for a secret date and want to keep it private, you can delete directions, searches, shares, and more.

This feature and the blue dot shortcut will roll out in the coming weeks to Android and iOS, but the ability to save your Timeline directly to the device will become available over the next year.