Why do you always seem to be shopping at the same time as everyone else? The latest updates to Google's Search and Maps apps can help show iOS users when certain shops are busiest. More than a million locations around the world are included in the "popular times" function list. A clear bar chart gives an overview of when businesses expect the most customers over the course of any day.
In order to determine and visualise the popular times, the apps rely on data provided by phone users. Those who share their Location History with Google automatically are part of the data source.
A smartphone regularly transmits its location to various services within Google, allowing the search giant to estimate how many people are at a store.
Many users are not aware of this data-for-functionality swap. Privacy-conscious users can disable their Location History - even though they would miss out on some of the benefits as a result.
On Android smartphones starting with the 2.3 model, the Location History control is in the Google Location settings. Users can choose to disable Location History and Location Report. And Location History can be turned on or off at https://maps.google.com/locationhistory on the computer.
There is an option allowing Google to find out where the user has been in the previous few days too.
Apple device users can access the Location app functions in Privacy Settings.
Those who disable the Location History should expect certain limitations because many Google services work with collected data. The Google Now personal assistant for example will only work in a limited manner.
But this has no affect on displaying the popular times for stores. As long as every single Google user does not disable their Location functions at the same time, the app will still get enough data to work.
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