Discussion:
Location History is moving to on-phone timeline
(too old to reply)
micky
2024-11-17 02:39:15 UTC
Permalink
I've been getting emails for months saying that Location History is
changing, and if I don't implement the on-phone timeline by Dec 1, I'll
lose my prior history.

(Meanwhile I'm getting emails once a month from Google Maps timeline,
but they have ths same warning.)

The subject line of emails from Google Location History is "Keep your
Timeline? Decide by December 1, 2024"
I clicke on Review & Choose settings.
Takes me to
https://timeline.google.com/maps/timeline?ved=0EPG3DAgAKAA&pb=!1m2!1m1!1s2024-11-17&gid=115737224350442335253&pli=1&rapt=AEjHL4Nz-ZEOoA4dHoGSNj5oE75uEBDdD9bI7iVMzxCKIH-G6aK6Q0uWu4j5CksSE1hSUfBdPv19G2eMAlg1xpjhCCm2dMFRFeH9Ro67XF6kF5xprVDEuXI
If you'd like to keep your saved visits, you need to update your
settings by Dec 1, 2024. To see your options, go to Timeline in the
Google Maps app on your preferred smartphone.
After you do this, you'll only be able to use Timeline in the app.
If you're not ready to switch to the app
You can still use Timeline on your web browser until Dec 1, 2024.
If you take no action by Dec 1, 2024, some or all of your data will be
deleted. Timeline will remain on for your account, and your devices will
continue saving new visits.
Choice of Close or Learn More. Close does nothing, Learn More takes
me to
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/14169818?visit_id=638674069297503220-2980282013&p=maps_odlh&rd=1
which is just like the link in the next paragraph except for the ID=
number

Where is the place where I actually change a setting?


I go there and after a couple steps, including Learn More, I get to
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/14169818?visit_id=638674069279347994-4062303430&p=maps_odlh&rd=1
Update Google Maps to use Timeline on your device

and it says
" Important: These changes are gradually rolling out to all users of the
Google Maps app. You'll get a notification when an update is available
for your account."
But we only have 2 weeks left!!

Also says "How to keep your existing Timeline data

Important: Make sure you have Google Maps app version 11.106 or up,
Android 6.0 or up, [I have both. ]

To keep your existing Timeline data, you must update your settings:

You’ll receive a push notification, email message, or in-app
notification about Timeline.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Tap Done."

I get emails every month, following the instructions just leads me
around in circles.

Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.

To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..



I tried another way:

I go to the settings of google maps on the phone and there is no entry
for Timeline, only for Location History,





Meanwhile I'm getting emails once amonth from Google Maps timeline, but
they have ths same warning.
Andy Burns
2024-11-17 09:57:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
Andrews
2024-11-17 14:23:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
Just a helpful datapoint... I have plenty of Google accounts and to my
knowledge, Google hasn't bothered to send me a single one of those mails.

I guess that's a case of no news is good news... :)
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-17 18:52:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andrews
Post by Andy Burns
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
Just a helpful datapoint... I have plenty of Google accounts and to my
knowledge, Google hasn't bothered to send me a single one of those mails.
I guess that's a case of no news is good news... :)
Given your stance on your personal privacy, I strongly doubt that you
have enabled Location History on any of those accounts.
Chris
2024-11-18 18:23:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frank Slootweg
Post by Andrews
Post by Andy Burns
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
Just a helpful datapoint... I have plenty of Google accounts and to my
knowledge, Google hasn't bothered to send me a single one of those mails.
I guess that's a case of no news is good news... :)
Given your stance on your personal privacy, I strongly doubt that you
have enabled Location History on any of those accounts.
He's also proudly stated he uses throwaway email addresses so I doubt very
much he'd receive those messages anyway.
Andrews
2024-11-18 21:31:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris
Post by Frank Slootweg
Given your stance on your personal privacy, I strongly doubt that you
have enabled Location History on any of those accounts.
He's also proudly stated he uses throwaway email addresses so I doubt very
much he'd receive those messages anyway.
WTF?

Frank is correct that when I set up a Google account (or any account for
that matter) I set it up for privacy.

Which means, Frank is almost certainly correct that Google never saved any
of my location requests - at least not in my official Google account.

As for throwaway email addresses - those are not Google addresses.

The reason is it's a bitch to create a Google email address nowadays,
especially on VPN. Even an Apple iCloud address is now a bitch to create.
*Piece of shit iOS has absolutely zero privacy for God's sake*
<https://www.novabbs.com/computers/article-flat.php?id=17771&group=misc.phone.mobile.iphone#17771>

Apple is the only common consumer OS maker who FORCES you to
contact them personally, proving who you are, to create an account!
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>
<Loading Image...>

No other operating system maker requires your phone identity
just so that you can load apps onto the device. Just Apple.

Given the hurdles for Apple & Google email addresses nowadays,
they're no good for the use-em-once and then throw-em-away purpose.

a. For a throwaway address, you can't have 2FV for example.
b. And you have to use a VPN at all times for another example.
c, And you never want it to verify anything whatsoever. Ever!

I'm sure Frank understood all of this already, prima facie.
But Chris needs to better understand email privacy before commenting anew.
Jörg Lorenz
2024-11-17 21:22:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andrews
Post by Andy Burns
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
Just a helpful datapoint... I have plenty of Google accounts and to my
knowledge, Google hasn't bothered to send me a single one of those mails.
I guess that's a case of no news is good news... :)
No, no, Arlen!
They do not send out messages to sociopaths who are not able to
understand them.
--
"Gutta cavat lapidem." (Ovid)
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-17 18:49:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
FWIW, I (in The Netherlands) haven't received any such emails and
still get my 'Frank, here's your new Timeline update' emails (with
subject "Frank, your <month> update", etc.. Where "etc." means the
popups on you phone to explore your timeline, visited places, etc..
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
"your Timeline on Google Maps"!? My Timeline isn't 'on' Google Maps.

I can access Timeline *from* the Google Maps app by going to 'Manage
your Google Account', but that doesn't make it *on* Google Maps, it's
part of my Google services, which I *can* - but do not have to - access
from my Google *Account*, which I *can* - but do not have to - access
from the Google Maps app.

Same with the Timeline website, that's
<https://timeline.google.com/maps/timeline>
*not*
<https://www.google.com/maps>

So maybe the fuss is only if you use "your Timeline on Google Maps",
whatever that may mean.
micky
2024-11-18 13:52:57 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on 17 Nov 2024 18:49:11 GMT, Frank Slootweg
Post by Frank Slootweg
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ... send out warning we're going to
delete your data, then make it clear as mud how not to do that.
FWIW, I (in The Netherlands) haven't received any such emails and
In their defense, they say they're rolling it out gradually. my problem
is it's coming to me on Dec. 1 and I don't know if I've done what they
want or not.

I don't have a Timeline option on my phone, under Maps settings, but
their instructions say to wait for an email or notifiction (or some 3rd
thing), do what it ssys, tap Done, and I'll be done. but I've gotten no
email or notification or that 3rd thing. Well I do get Timeline emails
with, as a I said, every month the same warning. I tried again and it
took me to a webpage that said "If you'd like to keep your saved visits,
you need to update your settings by Dec 1, 2024. To see your options, go
to Timeline in the Google Maps app on your preferred smartphone. "

So I went again to the settings and this time for the first time after
severa other times, I found Your Timeline. I hope the word Your didn't
cause me not to see the second word. But that's the kind of stupid
thing I might have done. Now it asks me if I want to keep until I
delete or autodelete after 3, 18, or 36 months. Does it actually make an
entry if you go almost every day to the same 3 places? My current
download size is less than MB, and when I looked a couple days ago, it
had my trip last January. Then I tapped Save and Continue and I got an
error 500, but 10 minutes later, it worked.

Aha, it has a slash through many days of the month, days I presume I
didn't turn my phone on, but back in January, when I was in Guatemala
for 3 weeks, it has slashes through the first two weeks and the week
before that when I was in Florida. The first two weeks of the 3 would
have been a lot more intersting, but I wasn't in Guatemala City most of
those days. But I did have cellular service almost everywhere else in
the country, and in one case, I went back to some place an hour from
Guat. City and in the last week it recorded that, but not the first time
I was there. I don't think I even went into Settings on the day or
week the timeline started working.

Looking prior to January, I have nothuing going back years. I think it
said something about 2024, so I guess it only started (for me?) not on
Jan 1, but on Jan 21st, and had nothing to do with Guatemala.
Post by Frank Slootweg
still get my 'Frank, here's your new Timeline update' emails (with
subject "Frank, your <month> update", etc.. Where "etc." means the
popups on you phone to explore your timeline, visited places, etc..
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
"your Timeline on Google Maps"!? My Timeline isn't 'on' Google Maps.
I think that's the point. They are moving the data storage from their
servers to your phone. If you do "something", they will copy the data
from their server to your phone. If you don't do it, you won't be able
to see it on their sarvers, using the web, like you can now, and it
won't have been copied either. So it will be gone.
Post by Frank Slootweg
I can access Timeline *from* the Google Maps app by going to 'Manage
your Google Account', but that doesn't make it *on* Google Maps, it's
part of my Google services, which I *can* - but do not have to - access
from my Google *Account*, which I *can* - but do not have to - access
from the Google Maps app.
Same with the Timeline website, that's
<https://timeline.google.com/maps/timeline>
Maybe the timeline website won't exist anymore. Of course they could
have said that to make things a bit more clear.
Post by Frank Slootweg
*not*
<https://www.google.com/maps>
So maybe the fuss is only if you use "your Timeline on Google Maps",
whatever that may mean.
Andy Burns
2024-11-19 22:07:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
     To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ...
And just this minute, I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
micky
2024-11-20 10:17:10 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:07:56 +0000, Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
     To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ...
And just this minute, I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
LOL. Good. That should give you time to consider all the
ramifications.
Andy Burns
2024-11-20 11:08:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by micky
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
LOL. Good. That should give you time to consider all the
ramifications.
I told it I wanted to keep my data, no auto deletion, on my pixel phone

it said that would consume 2MB of storage on the phone, which is less
than I was expecting, because a zipped google-takeout of all my maps
history from may 2011 to october 2024 is 48MB

If I try to use the old timeline page from a web-browser on my pc, it
reminds me I can no longer do that, and sends a command to my phone for
it to launch timeline instead.
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-20 11:30:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
LOL. Good. That should give you time to consider all the
ramifications.
I told it I wanted to keep my data, no auto deletion, on my pixel phone
it said that would consume 2MB of storage on the phone, which is less
than I was expecting, because a zipped google-takeout of all my maps
history from may 2011 to october 2024 is 48MB
Thanks for the feedback. 2MB seems quite reasonable to store on one's
phone.

To be sure, you mean *location* history, not "maps history", don't
you!?

I say that, because I have Location History turned on, but hardly ever
use the Google Maps app. So my *location* is tracked/kept /most of the
time, but my use of the Google Maps *app* is minimal.
Post by Andy Burns
If I try to use the old timeline page from a web-browser on my pc, it
reminds me I can no longer do that, and sends a command to my phone for
it to launch timeline instead.
Andy Burns
2024-11-20 11:37:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frank Slootweg
Post by Andy Burns
it said that would consume 2MB of storage on the phone, which is less
than I was expecting, because a zipped google-takeout of all my maps
history from may 2011 to october 2024 is 48MB
Thanks for the feedback. 2MB seems quite reasonable to store on one's
phone.
To be sure, you mean *location* history, not "maps history", don't
you!?
yes, I've just been checking on the phone, it does have my data back to
2011, scrolling back one month at a time, then within a month one day at
a time is more laborious than it was on a PC, but the timeline is all
there on the phone.
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-20 12:24:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Frank Slootweg
Post by Andy Burns
it said that would consume 2MB of storage on the phone, which is less
than I was expecting, because a zipped google-takeout of all my maps
history from may 2011 to october 2024 is 48MB
Thanks for the feedback. 2MB seems quite reasonable to store on one's
phone.
To be sure, you mean *location* history, not "maps history", don't
you!?
yes, I've just been checking on the phone, it does have my data back to
2011, scrolling back one month at a time, then within a month one day at
a time is more laborious than it was on a PC, but the timeline is all
there on the phone.
Thanks a lot. That's reassuring.
micky
2024-11-20 16:18:15 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:08:41 +0000, Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
LOL. Good. That should give you time to consider all the
ramifications.
I told it I wanted to keep my data, no auto deletion, on my pixel phone
it said that would consume 2MB of storage on the phone, which is less
than I was expecting, because a zipped google-takeout of all my maps
history from may 2011 to october 2024 is 48MB
Alas, mine only go back to the laast week of January this year. I wonder
why. I went a lot of interesting places since 2011, but the google
people will never know.
Post by Andy Burns
If I try to use the old timeline page from a web-browser on my pc, it
reminds me I can no longer do that, and sends a command to my phone for
it to launch timeline instead.
Hey, it says the same thing to me. When I go to
<https://timeline.google.com/maps/timeline> that Frank told us about,
which I had never been to before, it says "Timeline is no longer
available on web browsers. To view or change your Timeline settings, go
to Activity controls."

It has a link right there to Actuvity controls,
https://myactivity.google.com/activitycontrols with 3 choices:
Include Chrome history and activity from sites, apps, and devices that
use Google services
Include voice and audio activity. Learn more
Include Visual Search History

I never touched these but only the first one is turned on.

Does Visual Seach History mean a record of my using Street View, or
what?

"Learn more" about voice and audio starts "When you speak to Google
services, Google uses its audio recognition technologies to process your
audio and respond to you. For example, if you touch the mic icon to
search by voice, Google’s audio recognition technologies translate what
you say into words and phrases that Search looks up in an index to give
you the most relevant results..."
"....How audio recordings are used
Google uses audio saved by this setting to develop and improve its audio
recognition technologies and the Google services that use them, like
Google Assistant..."
"....When this voice and audio activity setting is on
When this voice and audio activity setting is on for your Web & App
Activity, Google will save audio recordings when you interact with
Google Search, Assistant, and Maps, in your Google Account on Google
servers with your Web & App Activity....."
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-20 11:05:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Andy Burns
Post by micky
Location History is now called Timeline, and you now have new choices
for your data.
     To continue using Timeline, you must have an up-to-date version of
the Google Maps app. Otherwise, you may lose data and access to your
Timeline on Google Maps..
Agree they're handling this badly ...
And just this minute, I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
Yeah, same here (in The Netherlands and the same date).

The description, explanation, justification and references are not
very clear. But I understand the bottom line is that you must follow the
procedures to put your Timeline data on your device (probably your
smartphone), because otherwise you will lose all your Timeline data and
hence any use of your Timeline.

The clearest part is (in red):

"If you take no action, your visits and routes will be
deleted, and your Timeline settings will be turned
off after 18 May 2025. Until 18 May 2025 - if you
haven't finished choosing your settings - your
devices will keep saving Timeline data, and Google
will continue using your data based on how Location
History works today. Learn about how Location
History is used."

Also clear:

"After you do this, youll only be able to use Timeline in
the app."

(where "the app" is the Google Maps app)

So no more Timeline in a browser, i.e. also not on a computer.

I wonder how large the amount of data is, which will be kept on your
device. They apparently assume that everyone has ample internal storage
for this. (My Timeline goes back many years.) And there's the issue of
backing up the Timeline data which is now on your device.

And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Anssi Saari
2024-11-20 11:54:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frank Slootweg
And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Maybe there's no or too little market for the location data? It's the
only reason I can think of, considering it's Google. So maybe there're
now so many apps snarfing up location data, Google can't find buyers? At
least at the prices they want? Or everyone who wants that data already
built it into their app so no market?
Frank Slootweg
2024-11-20 12:28:23 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anssi Saari
Post by Frank Slootweg
And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Maybe there's no or too little market for the location data? It's the
only reason I can think of, considering it's Google. So maybe there're
now so many apps snarfing up location data, Google can't find buyers? At
least at the prices they want? Or everyone who wants that data already
built it into their app so no market?
As Andy has found out. The size of the data is rather small (his is
2MB for some 13 years), so even if Google doesn't want (to use) it, why
not just store it in your account or Google Drive on their servers, like
they do with many other data? 2MB versus a (default) 15GB Google Drive?
Peanuts.
Anssi Saari
2024-11-20 22:37:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by Frank Slootweg
As Andy has found out. The size of the data is rather small (his is
2MB for some 13 years), so even if Google doesn't want (to use) it, why
not just store it in your account or Google Drive on their servers, like
they do with many other data? 2MB versus a (default) 15GB Google Drive?
Peanuts.
Maybe it's a stab at some kind of a privacy whitewash? "Look here, we're
no longer grabbing your location data! It's just on your device now!"
Andy Burns
2024-11-20 14:26:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anssi Saari
Post by Frank Slootweg
And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Maybe there's no or too little market for the location data?
I think their T&C say the timeline data is for the user's eyes only?

As part of the change from cloud to device storage, the do ask for
permission to make the data available to advertisers, of course I said no.
Post by Anssi Saari
It's the
only reason I can think of, considering it's Google. So maybe there're
now so many apps snarfing up location data, Google can't find buyers? At
least at the prices they want? Or everyone who wants that data already
built it into their app so no market?
Andrews
2024-11-20 16:31:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Anssi Saari
Post by Frank Slootweg
And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Maybe there's no or too little market for the location data?
I think their T&C say the timeline data is for the user's eyes only?
As part of the change from cloud to device storage, the do ask for
permission to make the data available to advertisers, of course I said no.
Always being especially curious of the delta between what a company "says"
it does versus what that company "actually" does, naturally I used Google
to ask Google why Google was doing it... where Google's AI told me:

"Google is moving Timeline data to your device primarily for
privacy reasons, allowing users to have more control over their
location history by storing it locally on their phone instead
of on Google's servers, which means law enforcement agencies
would need a warrant to access that data directly from the
user's device rather than from Google's database; this change
comes in response to concerns about user data collection
and tracking practices."

The problem with asking anything of any company with clever marketing (just
ask Apple why they removed the headphone jack & charger in the box) is that
it's NEVER "for you". It's "for them". But the question remains of why.

Outside of Google, this seems to have reliably stated reasons...

*Google Maps Timeline Data to be Stored Locally on Your Device for Privacy*
<https://thehackernews.com/2024/06/google-maps-timeline-data-to-be-stored.html>

Snippets... effective December 1st, 2024... Users are also being asked to
turn on backups to save an encrypted copy of the Timeline data on Google's
servers to facilitate transfer when switching devices... The development is
part of a series of changes the company has enacted in response to
allegations that it misled consumers and illegally tracked their movements
despite turning off Location History from the account settings by taking
advantage of the non-obvious Web & App Activity setting... It does not stop
Google's collection of other location markers... Google has since settled
with several states in the U.S. over this practice, with the company also
opting to pay $62 million to numerous non-profits in April 2024. A similar
lawsuit filed in the state of Texas is pending...."

So it seems privacy laws made them do it.
Anssi Saari
2024-11-20 22:35:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
Post by Anssi Saari
Post by Frank Slootweg
And I still don't see an explanation *why* they are doing/changing
this. Only that each of your devices will keep its own Timeline, but I
think that's more a disadvantage than a feature.
Maybe there's no or too little market for the location data?
I think their T&C say the timeline data is for the user's eyes only?
Timeline is fairly and the location data would also from the older Web &
App Activity and Location History. What did the T&C say for those older
things? Especially Web & App Activity which, as I recall, caused a bit
of a brouhaha Google just created it and turned it on, including for
people who had turned Location History off.

It's my assumption and I thought it's a common assumption that Google
sucks up any and all data they can and sell it to whoever pays.
Andrews
2024-11-21 02:29:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anssi Saari
It's my assumption and I thought it's a common assumption that Google
sucks up any and all data they can and sell it to whoever pays.
There are two kinds of people, one of whom owns the mentality of slaves in
terms of how they approach problem sets, while the other type are free men.

Google does NOT hoover up the location data of free men.
Only the slaves.

For example, on my phone, how is Google going to know who I am even if
Google knows my location precisely (if I use Google Maps, for example)?
Andy Burns
2024-11-21 06:45:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
I think their T&C say the timeline data is for the user's eyes only?
What did the T&C say for those older things?
You'd have to ask someone who hasn't yet converted to on-device
timeline, I can't visit the old page now to view the wording, it just
advises me to use the mobile app.
Andy Burns
2024-12-13 11:30:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by Andy Burns
I've had a notification that i have until 18th May
2025 to decide what to do with my timeline.
New deadline for those who haven't moved yet, 9th June.

Carlos E.R.
2024-11-17 13:21:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by micky
I've been getting emails for months saying that Location History is
changing, and if I don't implement the on-phone timeline by Dec 1, I'll
lose my prior history.
(Meanwhile I'm getting emails once a month from Google Maps timeline,
but they have ths same warning.)
The subject line of emails from Google Location History is "Keep your
Timeline? Decide by December 1, 2024"
I got one such message on the past March, in one account only (the one
used on the phone). But mine had "Decide by September 15, 2024"

«If you take no action, your visits and routes will be deleted, and your
Timeline settings will be turned off after September 15, 2024.»

I have timeline working, so I must have done what they said, but I have
forgotten. I probably used the app.

...
Post by micky
I go to the settings of google maps on the phone and there is no entry
for Timeline, only for Location History,
Mine is in Spanish, so I can't say.

Yet the email was in English.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
micky
2024-11-17 15:02:17 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 17 Nov 2024 14:21:06 +0100, "Carlos
Post by Carlos E.R.
Post by micky
I've been getting emails for months saying that Location History is
changing, and if I don't implement the on-phone timeline by Dec 1, I'll
lose my prior history.
(Meanwhile I'm getting emails once a month from Google Maps timeline,
but they have ths same warning.)
The subject line of emails from Google Location History is "Keep your
Timeline? Decide by December 1, 2024"
I got one such message on the past March, in one account only (the one
used on the phone). But mine had "Decide by September 15, 2024"
«If you take no action, your visits and routes will be deleted, and your
Timeline settings will be turned off after September 15, 2024.»
I have timeline working, so I must have done what they said, but I have
forgotten. I probably used the app.
I too might have done what they wanted and forgotten. It's not like I
really need that stuff. I know where I've been. But it could come in
handy.
Post by Carlos E.R.
...
Post by micky
I go to the settings of google maps on the phone and there is no entry
for Timeline, only for Location History,
Mine is in Spanish, so I can't say.
Yet the email was in English.
LOL Well thanks to all 3 of you. I thought I was acting newbie-like,
but they've managed to confuse all of you too. I think I'll stay
indoors all of Dec 1, to be safe.
micky
2024-11-21 14:43:17 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:02:17 -0500, micky
Post by micky
Post by Carlos E.R.
I have timeline working, so I must have done what they said, but I have
forgotten. I probably used the app.
I too might have done what they wanted and forgotten.
I guess I just did this and I hadn't done it before and then forgotten.
I just got an email that says
"Your Timeline data is now on your device
Hi Micky,
You recently updated your Timeline settings. This email is to let you
know that based on the settings you chose, your saved Timeline visits
and routes are now on your device: Redmi Note 8 Pro.:

Timeline on the phone also changed since a couple days ago. Now they
offer to backup the Timeline "to Google servers over wi-fi when your
devices is charging and idle. This devices's Timeline backup won't
affect your account storage limits. You can turn off and delete backups
or move your backed-up data to another device any time"

So I guess some will do this and some won't, and they are saving some
space on their servers but not all of it.

It knows things I wouldn't expect it to know. I was in Guatemala on
vacation and I may have used navigation a lot, but one day I was on my
way back to Euro Hostel and I saw a restaurant with a
North-American-style parking lot, iow, right in front, and I stopped for
dinner. The timeline notes it by name. I'd forgotten the name of
restaurant. Another day I went to a mall, a modern indoor fancy mall
(they have several) and I may well have used navigation to get there,
but inside the mall I went to a kiosk, a place in the "lobby" or
whatever you call the space that is not in a store, on the 3rd level,
only 6'x 6' that google said might have what I wanted (I think I was
looking for a souvenir hat** for a friend) and it never occurred to me
to use navigation within a mall. But they had people in tailored
uniforms, or maybe with a little nameplate on their chest and I asked
one where it was, and he had to call someone to find out but then he
pointed to it 100 feet away, next to the railing overlooking the
lower floors.

**I did find some souvenir caps, but not the color I wanted so I bought
it from Amazon and, alas, I let her think I bought it when I was in
Guatemala. Many of the ones on Amazon were for sale in Guatemala. There
was a stand with several styles between the airport terminal and the car
rental location.

Yet the Timeline knows I was there and the name of the kiosk, Beyoutiful
Store. Again, I had forgotten that name. (A lot of the stores in the
malls had English names. I guess like in the US, a lot of stores have
French names.) But I only spent a couple minutes there, since they had
souvenirs but no hats. Why did they record it? Maybe... I had found
the place in my phone and then gone there with the phone on but without
navigation. Maybe timeline put 2 and 2 together and listed that as a
place I went. Then I went to a movie and I didn't use navigation. I
asked directions to that too, and it knew that too, by name.

Although it didn't know that I went to a bank in that same mall to try
to get money from an ATM or that I ate in the food court (and was there
for a long time. I called a friend in Georgia from there). Or that I
couldn't find my car and had to ask the staff to find it for me, and
wait while they looked. (Not my fault. I noted where it was in relation
to the glass-enclosed room on the parking level with desiccators and an
elevator, but didn't realize there were 3 such rooms (a big mall).)

It knows that I spent 11 minutes driving there, 6+ hours there, and 19
minutes driving back to the hotel.

It knows when I'm on a plane. Is that a deduction because I'm moving so
fast???

It knows when I'm home all day, but it gives the google maps Home
address, which is two townhouses away from my real address (for security
purposes). That means it "rounds" my location, that since I was so near
home (44 feet) and it was for 22 hours, it figured I must be at home. It
says from 00:11 - 22:19. I must have turned my phone on at midnight and
forgotten to turn it off. Every time I go home, it gives my google
maps address, 2 doors away. Another deduction.

It knows when I visited a friend and I'm sure I didn't use navigation
but I did have the phone on and probably the map application running.
And it knows when I stopped for lunch at a drive-through, and I know
that was spur of the moment, no navigation involved, and only lasted by
them from 16:04 to 16:12, yet they have the name of the place,

Another day I went to another friend and it just shows a straight line
to her house when the streets require a bunch of zig zag (zig zag which
shows on some other days.) it says I left my web-address at 22:59 and
got to her place 4 miles away at the exact same time. This was Feb 3. If
I went, I'm sure it was in the day time. Then it says I was there all
day the next day, Feb 4. I'm sure I left by 5PM the previous day. I've
never visited her for more than 3 hours. And then for Feb 5 it shows me
leaving at 15:43 and going to the supermarket in her n'hood, that I
usually do go to when I've been to her house. From the supermarket it
shows me driving 0.1 miles but it taking 20 hours 28 minutes and
arriving at a strip mall near me the next day at 13:28 and going to
Bedford Pediatric Dentistry. I don't go to pediatric dentists and I've
never heard of the place, but the picture shows the pickup door at
Walmart. I might have parked on that side of Walmart.

Then it shows me at a small shul not too far away. I didn't go there,
but might have gone to a friend who lives next door and parked in front
of the shul. Another conclusion by Timeline.

The next day it shows me leaving my web-house just before 5PM and
walking 0.8 miles, for 1 days 21 hours!! Boy, am I slow.

Skipping ahead to yesterday, i went to the same friend 3 miles from me
and I didn't park exactly in front and it says I visited Audio Sorcerer
LLC. Scary. It gives two buttons, Yes and Edit.

Another day it shows me walking to some places near my home I'm sure I
didn't walk to or drive to.

I turn my phone off a lot, and I'm sure this confuses it, but it doesn't
account for most of its bloopers.

So this is useful but not perfect.
Post by micky
I think I'll stay
indoors all of Dec 1, to be safe.
Yes indeed.
micky
2024-11-21 16:34:41 UTC
Permalink
In comp.mobile.android, on Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:43:17 -0500, micky
Post by micky
I turn my phone off a lot, and I'm sure this confuses it, but it doesn't
account for most of Google Maps Timeline's bloopers.
When I go out, I don't always turn my phone on right away, but once on,
I don't turn it off until I get home again.
Post by micky
So this is useful but not perfect.
Yet I found another day, just 10 days ago so my recollection if fresh,
and confirmed by the calendar I keep, where it shows me going to where
my barber is, at 14:48, leaving at 15:11 and arriving where a movie was
to be shown, also at 15.11. It wouldn't need to be the speed of light to
go 5 miles in 58 seconds but it would be faster than the speed limit.

But the bigger problem is that I didn't go to the movie place until the
next day. And I got there at 10:05(am) that day, not 15:11 the previous
day. And the phone was turned on, if not when I left the house, then
soon after 10:00 because I remember using the phone, killing time
waiting for the movie.

How did google decide I was there the day before I was there? How did
it know I was going to be there? LOL, well, it must gather a string of
data and then break it in to daily pieces, but not too well.

On another day, going to another friend it shows me going to Rockland
Woodworks, 350 feet from where I actually stopped the car, as the crow
flies, 600 feet when driving. I merely drove by the woodworks company,
turned a corner, and stopped a couple minutes later

On another day, the map shows me driving 10 or 15 miles away to the
county trash dump, but the list of places I go ignores this part of the
day, even though I know I had the phone on. Instead the list ends with
driving 0.2 miles for 22 hours. Even though I spent 20 minutes at the
dump. 10 minutes in one spot.

On another day it alternates between calling it Driving and Moving, even
though the distances on the map show I would have needed a car for both
moving sections, one of which was acc. to them 52 minues long. No
distances are given for Moving in the list, but the map shows all 5
segments to be each about 2 miles, and how did I start drivign again if
I didn't bring he car with me when I was moving? Why are two legs
called Moving and three legs driving?

On another day it shows me giong to Walgreens. I'm sure I did but it
shows me at the pharmacy and at the Passport Photo Processor. Coudl that
be when I spent a lot of time on the web looking at getting passport
pictures at Walgreens? Not for me, I was also at the front cash
register but I didn't see the photo area.

And anotheer time it shows me 2 and a half full days at the supermarket,
24 hours x 2.5.

I wouldn't try to get this 'data' admitted into court evidence.

None of this is a complaint. I don't want to see google spend 5 times
as much time getting rid of little bugs as they did writing the original
Timeline. It will never, should never be valid for court and people too
shouldn't assume they'll ever get all the bugs out. It's just a reminder
and a toy and should stay that way, unless google really has money to
burn.
Carlos E.R.
2024-11-22 14:39:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by micky
In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:02:17 -0500, micky
...
Post by micky
Yet the Timeline knows I was there and the name of the kiosk, Beyoutiful
Store. Again, I had forgotten that name. (A lot of the stores in the
malls had English names. I guess like in the US, a lot of stores have
French names.) But I only spent a couple minutes there, since they had
souvenirs but no hats. Why did they record it? Maybe... I had found
the place in my phone and then gone there with the phone on but without
navigation. Maybe timeline put 2 and 2 together and listed that as a
place I went. Then I went to a movie and I didn't use navigation. I
asked directions to that too, and it knew that too, by name.
There are two methods it can use: WiFi names, and bluetooth navigation
points. I don't know the exact name, but they can setup bluetooth
devices inside malls so that navigation works inside.
Post by micky
Although it didn't know that I went to a bank in that same mall to try
to get money from an ATM or that I ate in the food court (and was there
for a long time. I called a friend in Georgia from there). Or that I
couldn't find my car and had to ask the staff to find it for me, and
wait while they looked. (Not my fault. I noted where it was in relation
to the glass-enclosed room on the parking level with desiccators and an
elevator, but didn't realize there were 3 such rooms (a big mall).)
It knows that I spent 11 minutes driving there, 6+ hours there, and 19
minutes driving back to the hotel.
It knows when I'm on a plane. Is that a deduction because I'm moving so
fast???
Probably. On one trip of mine it knew, on another it did not. Go figure.
Post by micky
It knows when I'm home all day, but it gives the google maps Home
address, which is two townhouses away from my real address (for security
purposes). That means it "rounds" my location, that since I was so near
home (44 feet) and it was for 22 hours, it figured I must be at home. It
says from 00:11 - 22:19. I must have turned my phone on at midnight and
forgotten to turn it off. Every time I go home, it gives my google
maps address, 2 doors away. Another deduction.
It knows when I visited a friend and I'm sure I didn't use navigation
but I did have the phone on and probably the map application running.
And it knows when I stopped for lunch at a drive-through, and I know
that was spur of the moment, no navigation involved, and only lasted by
them from 16:04 to 16:12, yet they have the name of the place,
Another day I went to another friend and it just shows a straight line
to her house when the streets require a bunch of zig zag (zig zag which
shows on some other days.)
It is not tracking continuously, but at intervals.


...
--
Cheers, Carlos.
Loading...