GOOGLE Maps users have been told they will lose their personal map data when the Timeline feature shuts down next year.

The Timeline feature, originally known as Location History, remembers routes you have taken based on your GPS data.

Google Maps / The Sun

The feature has already disappeared on the Google Maps website, but remains on the app[/caption]

This information is used to create personal maps that you may want to remember for future reference – like that restaurant you went to in London or the park you stumbled across in Rome.

According to emails recently received by Google Maps users, the feature is set to disappear on 9 June, 2025.

Users will have all their Timeline data deleted, unless they save it directly to their Android or iPhone before that date.

Since 2023, Google has been plotting to move the feature from a cloud-based service to a more private on-device feature, Android Police reported.

From 9 June, users will have to save each Timeline independently onto their smartphone.

While that will make the data more secure against cyber crooks, it will take up more storage on your Android or iPhone.

Only 90 days’ worth of data will be migrated to a user’s device after the deadline.

Routes more than three months old will also be deleted automatically, unless you save them to your device individually.

The feature has already disappeared on the Google Maps website, but remains on the app.

The tech giant was supposed to kill off the feature on 1 December this year.

However, the lifespan of Timeline has been given a six month extension.

Save your Timeline data

1. Open Google Maps on your Android device and tap the You tab at the bottom of the app.
2. Choose Explore Timeline.
3. Tap Next on the card that pops up alerting you of the change.
4. Choose how many months worth of Timeline data you want to keep on your device.
5. Choose if you want to continue sending user data to Google.
6. Tap Done.

TARGET has told a customer it will look into a recent shopping experience that left them unable to pay at a self-checkout kiosk.

The transaction issue resulted from a specific policy at the retail giant that’s been in place for some time.

Getty

Target has come under fire after a self-checkout policy issue (stock image)[/caption]

Getty

A customer claimed they were unaware of it when they approached the kiosk (stock image)[/caption]

Nearly all of Target’s 1,963 stores nationwide have self-checkout kiosks that are card only, with some that allow cash.

Depending on several factors, including potential maintenance on the machines or other decisions that vary store-to-store, sometimes the self-checkout area is completely card-only.

The shopper, Jason, claimed he found himself in this position earlier in December with just cash and no signage indicating only a card was allowed at his local Target.

There were also allegedly no traditional cashiered lanes for him to use during the grocery trip.

“@Target, you run the dumbest store,” Jason fumed in a post to X.

“Forced to self checkout, which has no indication they don’t take cash.”

Jason said the situation only got more complicated as there was an issue with the gift card that required employee assistance.

“Scan everything, including gift card. Then can’t finish paying,” he added.

MAKE IT STOP

“Wait days for assistance, who is unable to do help (suspend transaction btn disabled).”

While the customer was eventually able to leave with his merchandise, he threatened to walk out should the same incident happen again.

“Next time you can’t find a way for me to give you money within 2 minutes, I’m just gonna walk out with my shit,” Jason wrote.

Target quickly responded, requesting more details to help resolve his complaints and promising to look into what happened.

“Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Please send us a DM with your full name, email address and store details,” the retailer replied.

“Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.”

LIMIT LOATHED

While its unclear if Jason’s grievances were rectified, he isn’t alone in some of them — especially the lack of traditional cashiered lanes at Target.

The amount left open varies depending on the store, but several customers have cited long lines and wait times after a massive policy change earlier this year by Target to change the self-service area to Express Self-Checkout, with a 10-item limit.

It was previously tested at about 200 stores but implemented nationwide this spring, causing significant controversy.

Some customers threatened to boycott Target altogether over frustrations about the limit, claiming they were “forced into long lines” as a result of having more than 10 items.

Several longtime Target customers are also not thrilled with its anti-theft security measures, specifically having some merchandise locked behind glass at select stores.

A shopper recently claimed they were left waiting more than 15 minutes to get basic essentials.

Others begged the retailer to “hire more workers” so those trying to get items locked away wouldn’t encounter wait time problems if their store was particularly busy, especially during the holiday season.

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