This new Google Maps feature is equally cool and disturbing

The amount of information that Google has on us is unsettling to say the least, but at least the company is open about it. That’s something right… right? A good example would be the new feature that the Google Maps team released yesterday which allows you to see on a map exactly where you’ve been… ever. Basically, Google has been keeping track of every place that you’ve ever been with your smartphone and has organized that data into a neat little map. 

Social apps like Foursquare / Swarm are more about places you’re at or where you’re going. Today, the Google Maps team launched a feature called “Your Timeline” that is about where you’ve already been. It’s not a social feature, as you’re the only one who sees the information… But… …It’s a reminder of how much freaking data Google has on us if we leave all of our defaults on. It’s only available for Android and desktop right now. If you use Google Photos, your pics will appear along with the places you stopped along the way. Here’s how the Maps team explains it: “Have you ever wanted a way to easily remember all the places you’ve been — whether it’s a museum you visited during your last vacation or that fun bar you stumbled upon a few months ago? Well, starting today, Google Maps can help. We’re gradually rolling out Your Timeline, a useful way to remember and view the places you’ve been on a given day, month or year. Your Timeline allows you to visualize your real-world routines, easily see the trips you’ve taken and get a glimpse of the places where you spend your time.”