New feature to help people navigate the energy crisis in Europe

Europe is gearing up for a challenging winter – with rising prices and pressures on the European grid, driven by Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, further driving the need for secure, reliable, sustainable and affordable energy sources. We know that energy security and affordability are top of mind for many across Europe right now. People are turning to Google to ask questions about conserving energy and managing their costs. In the UK, a year ago just one in ten searches on the topic of energy prices was a ‘why’, ‘how’ or ‘when’ question – now it’s one in four. In Germany, we’ve seen search interest trending for queries like ‘how to save natural gas’, ‘heating cost’ and how to save…

5 Google Maps tips for less stress this holiday season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Bustling shoppers, home-cooked meals and quality time with loved ones. Even with all this holiday cheer, the season can feel overwhelming. To help you save time, money and your sanity, here are five must-know Google Maps tips and tricks to navigate the busy holiday season with ease. Search for stops along your route 🔎 Forgot something important for your holiday gathering? Start navigating to your destination and tap on the magnifying glass on the top right-hand side of the app. You’ll find grocery stores, rest stops, gas stations, hotels and more along the way so you can avoid a major detour. Share your ETA ⌚ Running late to the festivities? Let friends…

The best times for holiday travel and shopping, according to Maps data

The holidays are upon us once again. While we love the crinkle of wrapping paper and the smell of freshly baked gingerbread, the holiday season’s long lines and endless traffic are enough to turn anyone into a Scrooge. To help you navigate this holiday season like a pro, we’ve pulled together Google Maps traffic predictions, popular times and activity trends to get you out the door and on your merry way with ease. The best times for Thanksgiving travel Whether you’re hitting the road early or heading out on Thanksgiving day, you can outsmart a potential slowdown by choosing the right time to leave. We took a look at last year’s Thanksgiving traffic patterns across more than 20 major U.S.…

Kwentuhan: Sharing our stories this Filipino American History Month

“Kwentuhan” roughly translates to “sharing stories” in English. For Filipino American History Month, or Kapamilya Month as our Filipino Googler Network refers to it, we sat down with Paolo Malabuyo, Director of User Experience in Google Maps and executive sponsor of the Filipino Googler Network, to learn about his story. As a child growing up in the Philippines, we heard you were somewhat of a Lego competition legend. How did this kickstart your interest in working in UX and design? I was the youngest of four and I always felt like I was in the shadow of my older, smarter, more athletic and more accomplished siblings. I don’t recall having many ideas about what I wanted to be when I…