The feature works much like the share buttons found on Twitter, Reddit or a number of other websites, but is currently only available if you’re a part of Search Generative Experience, or SGE.

Google unveiled SGE at its Google I/O developer’s conference earlier this year. This experimental version of search integrates AI-generated results directly above the 10 blue links that populate when making a query. SGE does a lot of the heavy lifting for you, filtering information from multiple sites and synthesizing that information in an easy-to-read manner. SGE also displays links to sources on the right-hand side.

With increased competition from ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that can seemingly answer any question with a novel answer in seconds, it’s put pressure on Google to release a similar product. Google released Bard earlier this year, but it made errors and didn’t surprise people in the same way ChatGPT did. Granted, Bard has gotten better since its reveal. Microsoft’s Bing has also been running head-first into the AI race, partnering with OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT, to integrate the chatbot’s tech directly into Bing results.

Considering that Google makes the lion’s share of its money from Search, it’s not too surprising that it’s has been quick to push out more experimental products to push back against competition.

How to use the new share function in Google Search

First, you need to sign up for SGE:

1. Open Chrome on your computer or open the Google App.
2. Sign in to your Google account.
3. Open a new tab in your browser.
4. On the top-right, click the Labs icon (it looks like a beaker) if it’s available to you.
5. If Labs icon is there, click Join Waitlist.

Once you’ve signed up for SGE, here’s how to use the share function:

1. Type in your search to Google.
2. Once results appear, hover over a link.
3. A share icon should appear towards the left.
4. There will also be icons to save the link to your account or export it to Google Sheets.

On the Google App, you can swipe towards the left to reveal sharing options, according to 9to5Google. Unfortunately, CNET’s test unit doesn’t seem to have this enabled, meaning the update may still be rolling out to all users.

On mobile, it’s still possible to click on the three dots to the right-side of a link and tap share. Unfortunately, the export to Sheets function doesn’t seem to be enabled on mobile at the moment.

Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Working with AI isn’t anything particularly new for Shutterstock. Over the past two years, they’ve partnered with OpenAI, Meta, and LG AI Research to “fuel their generative AI research efforts,” Paul Hennessy, the chief executive officer at Shutterstock, said in a press release(Opens in a new window). It’s available in multiple languages and comes included with paid customers’ packages.

“Our easy-to-use generative platform will transform the way people tell their stories — you no longer have to be a design expert or have access to a creative team to create exceptional work,” Hennessy said. “Our tools are built on an ethical approach and on a library of assets that represents the diverse world we live in, and we ensure that the artists whose works contributed to the development of these models are recognized and rewarded.”

Here’s how to use Shutterstock’s AI image generator.

1. Navigate to Shutterstock’s home page

This is likely the easiest step. Go to shutterstock.com(Opens in a new window).

2. Click “AI Generator” in the search bar

The search bar will automatically be set to “Image” on the left. Click “Image” and you’ll see a drop down menu of other options, including “AI Generator.” Choose that option.

3. Type in what you’d like to see and click enter

You can type in just about anything — within reason. Here, I’m looking for a “match on fire.”

4. Search

You’ll have to be logged in for this next step, but you can create an account without paying anything. Click search, and see four images tailored to your request. At the bottom of the page, you have the option to click “More AI-generated images from the Shutterstock library,” if you’d like to see some unrelated images created by artificial intelligence.

It can be a fun tool to play around with, but keep in mind that even though Shutterstock promises that their tools are “built on an ethical approach and on a library of assets that represents the diverse world we live in,” and that “the artists whose works contributed to the development of these models are recognized and rewarded,” using AI to find art is still controversial(Opens in a new window).

No matter if you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy, Motorola or OnePlus — you can optimize your battery life and speed up your phone by tinkering with certain settings.

Note that not all Android devices are the same, and phone manufacturers often put their own software on top of Android, so just be aware that certain settings may be missing or in a different place, depending on the version of Android you’re running and the maker of your phone.

Want more Android tips? Check out these five tips to make your Android feel like new again and how to stop giving your Android apps invasive permissions (and why that’s important).

Settings to improve your battery life

Living with a phone that has poor battery life can be infuriating, but there are some steps you can take to maximize each charge right from the very beginning:

1. Turn off auto screen brightness or adaptive brightness and set the brightness level slider to under 50%.
The brighter your screen, the more battery power it uses.

To get to the setting, pull down the shortcut menu from the top of the screen and adjust the slider, if it’s there. Some phones may have a toggle for auto brightness in the shortcut panel; otherwise, you need to open the settings app and search for “brightness” to find the setting and turn it off.

2. Use Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimization.
These features focus on learning how you use your phone, including which apps you use and when, and then optimizing the apps and the amount of battery they use.

Some Android phones will have a dedicated Battery section in the Settings app, while other phones (looking at you, Samsung) bury these settings. It’s a little different for each phone. I recommend opening your settings and searching for “battery” to find the right screen. Your phone may also have an adaptive charging setting that can monitor how quickly your phone battery charges overnight to preserve its health.

Why you should use Dark mode more often

Another way to improve battery life while also helping save your eyes is to use Android’s dedicated dark mode. Any Android phone running Android 10 or newer will have a dedicated dark mode option.

According to Google, dark mode not only reduces the strain that smartphone displays cause on our eyes but also improves battery life because it takes less power to display dark backgrounds on OLED displays (used in most flagship phones) than a white background.

Depending on which version of Android your phone is running, and what company made your phone, you may have to dig around the settings app to find a dark mode. If your phone runs Android 10 or newer, you’ll be able to turn on systemwide dark mode. If it runs Android 9, don’t despair. Plenty of apps have their own dark mode option in the settings that you can use whether or not you have Android 10.

To turn it on dark mode, open the Settings app and search for Dark Mode, Dark Theme or even Night Mode (as Samsung likes to call it). I suggest using dark mode all the time, but if you’re not sure, you can always set dark mode to automatically turn on based on a schedule, say from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, or allow it to automatically switch based on your location at the time of sunset and sunrise.

Keep your home screen free of clutter

Planning to hit up the Google Play Store for a bunch of new Android apps? Be prepared for a lot of icon clutter on your home screen, which is where shortcuts land every time you install something.

If you don’t want that, there’s a simple way out of this: Long-press on an empty area of your home screen and tap Settings. Find the option labeled something along the lines of Add icon to Home Screen or Add new apps to Home Screen and turn it off.

Presto! No more icons on the home screen when you install new apps. You can still add shortcuts by dragging an app’s icon out of the app drawer, but they won’t appear on your home screen unless you want them to.

Set up Do Not Disturb so that you can better focus

If your phone routinely spends the night on your nightstand, you probably don’t want it beeping or buzzing every time there’s a call, message or Facebook alert — especially when you’re trying to sleep. Android offers a Do Not Disturb mode that will keep the phone more or less silent during designated hours. On some phones, this is referred to as the Downtime setting or even Quiet Time.

Head to Settings > Sounds (or Notifications), then look for Do Not Disturb or a similar name. If you can’t find it, search for it using the built-in search feature in your settings.

Using the feature, you can set up a range of hours when you want to turn off the digital noise. But don’t worry, any notifications you get while Do Not Disturb is turned on will still be waiting for you when you wake up. Also, you can typically make an exception that allows repeat callers and favorite contacts’ calls to go through. Turn that on. If someone is calling you in an emergency, odds are they are going to keep trying.

Always be prepared in case you lose your phone or it’s stolen

Is there anything worse than a lost or stolen phone? Only the knowledge that you could have tracked it down if you had turned on Google’s Find My Device feature.

To set yourself up for a successful recovery, here’s what you need to do: Open the Settings app and then search for Find My Device. It’s usually in the Security section of the Settings app.

Or if you have a Samsung device, you can use Samsung’s Find My Mobile service found in Settings > Biometrics and security > Find My Mobile.

Once that’s enabled, you can head to android.com/find from any PC or mobile device and sign in to your account. Samsung users can visit findmymobile.samsung.com to find a lost phone.

If you run into any trouble setting any of this up, be sure to read through our complete guide to finding a lost Android phone.

Assuming your phone is on and online, you should be able to see its location on a map. From there you can make it ring, lock it, set a lock screen note to tell whoever has it how to get it back to you or, worst-case scenario, remotely wipe the whole thing.

And always keep your phone up to date

As obvious as it may seem, bugs and other issues slowing down your Android device could potentially be fixed with a simple software update.

Before you download and install the latest software update, make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi, or else this won’t work.

Now, open the Settings application and type in Update. You’ll then either see Software update or System update — choose either one. Then just download the software, wait for a few minutes and install it when it’s ready. Your Android device will reboot and install the latest software update available.

There’s a lot more to learn about a new phone, of course. If you have a phone with Android 12, here are several hidden features you should know about. Plus, check out CNET’s list of the best cases for your Samsung phone. More of an Apple fan? We have tips for boosting your iPhone’s performance, too.

But this data eventually builds up, taking up space on your phone while also probably including cookies that are tracking your browsing history with the intention of serving personalized advertising. (I’ve been seeing ads for eyeglasses after visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as for cruise vacations after eyeing a few possible getaways.)

It doesn’t hurt to occasionally clear this data out in order to keep your web browser lean, running efficiently and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.

On Android, the steps differ slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser app you’re using, so below we’ll go over how to clear this data for Google Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones like the Google Pixel line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. You can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache on an iPhone web browser in case you have a few Apple devices to clear out, too.

Google Chrome

You can delete your cookies and cache from within the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping the More button in the top right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then tapping History, then Clear browsing data. You can also access this from the Chrome Settings menu, tapping Privacy and Security and then Clear browsing data.

Chrome also offers Basic and Advanced settings for clearing your Browsing history, Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. You can use the Time range drop-down to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also give you access to deleting Saved passwords, Autofill form data and Site settings. After selecting what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button. You might receive an additional prompt in the event Chrome deems certain websites as being “important” to you, and if so you’ll get the chance to confirm before clearing. Otherwise if you do not receive that prompt, Chrome will immediately proceed to clear as you instructed.

Samsung Internet

There are two different ways you can clear your Samsung Internet browser’s cache and cookie data. You can clear from within the browser itself, or you can go through your phone’s Settings app.

To clear while in the Samsung Internet browser app, first tap the Options button in the bottom right corner represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings; scroll down to and tap Personal Data, then tap Delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete. You can clear your Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, Passwords and Autofill forms in any combination. After tapping Delete data, you’ll then receive a prompt asking for you to confirm your choices before deleting.

Going through the browser app itself provides the most customization of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open the Settings app and tap on Apps, then scroll down to and tap Samsung Internet and then Storage.

At the bottom of Storage, you get separate options to Clear cache and Clear data. Tapping Clear cache will immediately delete the cache, but Clear data brings up a prompt that warns you that all of the application’s data will be deleted permanently, including files, settings, accounts and databases. While it doesn’t specify cookies, this “going nuclear” approach should zap all remaining data, letting you restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand-new.

Mozilla Firefox

Much as with Google Chrome, you can clear the cookies and cache from within the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, tap the More button on the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Delete browsing data.

Of the three browsers we’re discussing here, Firefox gives you the most options under the Delete browsing data menu, allowing you to also delete any existing Open tabs, your Browsing history and site data, Site permissions and even your Downloads folder alongside Cookies and Cached images and files.

While you can’t pick a time range as you can for Chrome, you can be more specific regarding what type of data you would like to remove.

And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they’re done using the app. Inside of Settings is a Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to wipe any combination of these same settings every time you quit the application. It’s a useful feature if you’d like to keep the browser tidy and, say, avoid accidentally handing off your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.

For more, check out everything to know about Google’s new operating system, Android 13, including how to download the beta. Also, take a look at CNET’s list of the best Android apps and some settings you’ll want to change on your current phone.

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To start, you can give the exterior of your phone a good clean, since you’re likely putting it close to your face every day. Dust, dirt and gunk can quickly collect in the charging ports and speakers, and it’s not only bad for your hygiene — it can also shorten your smart phone’s lifespan.

But the most important upkeep is under the hood, including phone settings you may never have touched before.

An investment of just a few minutes can turn your Android phone into something that looks and feels new — at least until you’re able to upgrade. Read on to find five simple tips for decluttering, reorganizing and customizing your Android phone to keep it in tip-top shape.

Delete all of your forgotten apps

Take a few minutes to go through your home screen or app drawer and delete any and all apps you no longer use. Not only do those apps take up precious storage, but they potentially have access the personal information or permissions you approved when the app was first launched.

How you go about deleting an app can vary based on who makes your device, but I covered all the bases in this post. Give it a read if you don’t see an uninstall option after long-pressing on the app’s icon.

Eliminate old files to free up storage

After removing any old apps, free up more storage by going through the files saved on your Android phone. It’s far too easy to forget about all of the files you’ve randomly downloaded — like the takeout menu of the new place down the road or a GIF a friend sent. And those files add up. The quickest and easiest way to manage your phone’s storage is to use the Files app that comes preinstalled.

Actually, some phones use a variation of that same app. On Samsung, for example, it’s called My Files. On the Pixel lineup, it’s just Files. On the OnePlus 10 Pro, it’s File Manager — you get the point.

I recommend opening the app drawer on your phone and reaching for “files.” Odds are that will reveal whatever your phone-maker calls the app.

Start with checking the Downloads folder, where you can either delete the files you no longer want or move them somewhere like Google Drive.

Most file apps will also reveal any large files that are saved on your device. For instance, the OnePlus 10 Pro’s File Manager app has a dedicated section in the app for files that are taking up a lot of space.

Tweak home screen settings for a new look

One of the best parts of Android is how much you can customize the entire look of your phone. From installing app icon packs to completely replacing the launcher your phone uses, there are plenty of options to personalize your phone.

While you can definitely jump into tweaking launchers and installing app icons, start by digging into the home screen settings your phone already provides. I do this once in a while and it’s surprising how subtle tweaks to aspects like app layout can make it feel like an entirely new phone.

Long-press on a blank area of your home screen, then select Home settings (or some variation of that). That will open the options for your home screen, where you can customize various settings.

Settings like the size of the app grid. It may seem like a small change to go from a grid of 4×5 apps to 5×5, but that extra column can make a big difference (the same can be said about shrinking the grid).

This is also where you’ll find settings for things like swiping down on the home screen to view notifications instead of having to swipe from the top of the screen.

Go through the respective settings your phone has and experiment with your home screen setup.

Optimize your device settings

Speaking of settings, now is a good time to go through and change any settings that have been annoying you. I have a roundup of settings you’ll want to change and customize on any Android phone to get the most out of it.

For example, turning on dark mode not only makes the app look better, but it saves battery life. And yes, I even show you how to stop app icons from automatically appearing on your home screen.

Customize your privacy options

Before you take a break, do yourself and your Android phone one last favor — double-check your privacy settings.

Open the Settings app then tap Privacy > Permissions Manager. Go through each category to see which apps currently have access to which treasure trove of your personal data. Find an app you don’t want to have access to your location? Turn it off. The same goes for contacts, calendar or camera.

It doesn’t take long to go through each section, and even if it did, it’s well worth the effort.

After you’re done giving your Android phone a tuneup, check out these hidden features you’re sure to love. There’s also a document scanner that makes it easy to make digital copies of paperwork. And take a look at all the reasons to consider buying a Pixel phone.

But this data eventually builds up, taking up space on your phone while also probably including cookies that are tracking your browsing history with the intention of serving personalized advertising. (I’ve been seeing ads for eyeglasses after visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as for cruise vacations after eyeing a few possible getaways.)

It doesn’t hurt to occasionally clear this data out in order to keep your web browser lean, running efficiently and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.

On Android, the steps differ slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser app you’re using, so below we’ll go over how to clear this data for Google Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones like the Google Pixel line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. You can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache on an iPhone web browser in case you have a few Apple devices to clear out, too.

Google Chrome

You can delete your cookies and cache from within the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping the More button in the top right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then tapping History, then Clear browsing data. You can also access this from the Chrome Settings menu, tapping Privacy and Security and then Clear browsing data.

Chrome also offers Basic and Advanced settings for clearing your Browsing history, Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. You can use the Time range drop-down to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also give you access to deleting Saved passwords, Autofill form data and Site settings. After selecting what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button. You might receive an additional prompt in the event Chrome deems certain websites as being “important” to you, and if so you’ll get the chance to confirm before clearing. Otherwise if you do not receive that prompt, Chrome will immediately proceed to clear as you instructed.

Samsung Internet

There are two different ways you can clear your Samsung Internet browser’s cache and cookie data. You can clear from within the browser itself, or you can go through your phone’s Settings app.

To clear while in the Samsung Internet browser app, first tap the Options button in the bottom right corner represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings; scroll down to and tap Personal Data, then tap Delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete. You can clear your Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, Passwords and Autofill forms in any combination. After tapping Delete data, you’ll then receive a prompt asking for you to confirm your choices before deleting.

Going through the browser app itself provides the most customization of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open the Settings app and tap on Apps, then scroll down to and tap Samsung Internet and then Storage.

At the bottom of Storage, you get separate options to Clear cache and Clear data. Tapping Clear cache will immediately delete the cache, but Clear data brings up a prompt that warns you that all of the application’s data will be deleted permanently, including files, settings, accounts and databases. While it doesn’t specify cookies, this “going nuclear” approach should zap all remaining data, letting you restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand-new.

Mozilla Firefox

Much as with Google Chrome, you can clear the cookies and cache from within the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, tap the More button on the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Delete browsing data.

Of the three browsers we’re discussing here, Firefox gives you the most options under the Delete browsing data menu, allowing you to also delete any existing Open tabs, your Browsing history and site data, Site permissions and even your Downloads folder alongside Cookies and Cached images and files.

While you can’t pick a time range as you can for Chrome, you can be more specific regarding what type of data you would like to remove.

And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they’re done using the app. Inside of Settings is a Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to wipe any combination of these same settings every time you quit the application. It’s a useful feature if you’d like to keep the browser tidy and, say, avoid accidentally handing off your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.

For more, check out everything to know about Google’s new operating system, Android 13, including how to download the beta now. Also, take a look at CNET’s list of the best Android apps and some settings you’ll want to change on your current phone.

But this data eventually builds up, taking up space on your phone while also probably including cookies that are tracking your browsing history with the intention of serving personalized advertising. (I’ve been seeing ads for eyeglasses after visiting a few online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as for cruise vacations after eyeing a few possible getaways.)

It doesn’t hurt to occasionally clear this data out in order to keep your web browser lean, running efficiently and, ideally, storing as few tracking cookies as possible.

On Android, the steps differ slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser app you’re using, so below we’ll go over how to clear this data for Google Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones like the Google Pixel line), Samsung’s Internet browser (often the default on the Galaxy phone series) and Mozilla’s Firefox browser. You can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache on an iPhone web browser in case you have a few Apple devices to clear out, too.

Google Chrome

You can delete your cookies and cache from within the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping the More button in the top right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then tapping History, then Clear browsing data. You can also access this from the Chrome Settings menu, tapping Privacy and Security and then Clear browsing data.

Chrome also offers Basic and Advanced settings for clearing your Browsing history, Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. You can use the Time range drop-down to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also give you access to deleting Saved passwords, Autofill form data and Site settings. After selecting what you want to delete, tap the blue Clear data button. You might receive an additional prompt in the event Chrome deems certain websites as being “important” to you, and if so you’ll get the chance to confirm before clearing. Otherwise if you do not receive that prompt, Chrome will immediately proceed to clear as you instructed.

Samsung Internet

There are two different ways you can clear your Samsung Internet browser’s cache and cookie data. You can clear from within the browser itself, or you can go through your phone’s Settings app.

To clear while in the Samsung Internet browser app, first tap the Options button in the bottom right corner represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings; scroll down to and tap Personal Data, then tap Delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete. You can clear your Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, Passwords and Autofill forms in any combination. After tapping Delete data, you’ll then receive a prompt asking for you to confirm your choices before deleting.

Going through the browser app itself provides the most customization of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open the Settings app and tap on Apps, then scroll down to and tap Samsung Internet and then Storage.

At the bottom of Storage, you get separate options to Clear cache and Clear data. Tapping Clear cache will immediately delete the cache, but Clear data brings up a prompt that warns you that all of the application’s data will be deleted permanently, including files, settings, accounts and databases. While it doesn’t specify cookies, this “going nuclear” approach should zap all remaining data, letting you restart the Samsung Internet browser as if it were brand-new.

Mozilla Firefox

Much as with Google Chrome, you can clear the cookies and cache from within the Mozilla Firefox Android app. To access this function, tap the More button on the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Delete browsing data.

Of the three browsers we’re discussing here, Firefox gives you the most options under the Delete browsing data menu, allowing you to also delete any existing Open tabs, your Browsing history and site data, Site permissions and even your Downloads folder alongside Cookies and Cached images and files.

While you can’t pick a time range as you can for Chrome, you can be more specific regarding what type of data you would like to remove.

And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to keep their browsing data after they’re done using the app. Inside of Settings is a Delete browsing data on quit option, which instructs Firefox to wipe any combination of these same settings every time you quit the application. It’s a useful feature if you’d like to keep the browser tidy and, say, avoid accidentally handing off your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.

For more, check out everything to know about Google’s new operating system, Android 13, including how to download the beta now. Also, take a look at CNET’s list of the best Android apps and some settings you’ll want to change on your current phone.

We’re taking a look at the best Google Chrome extensions for productivity. Extra bonus: All of these are completely free to use. You probably don’t need every one of them, but activate a carefully selected few, and people might start to wonder how you manage to be quite so productive…

Anyone who thinks they waste too much time on email should consider this handy tool. It allows you to get completely customized Gmail notification pop-ups to keep you up to date with what’s happening in your inbox and save you from having your email open in a separate tab. You can also click on this extension’s icon to get an inbox preview window to briefly check the first few messages in your inbox, as well as read, listen to, or delete emails without opening — and being distracted by — full-fat Gmail.

This extension is an absolute godsend for anyone who could really use a dual monitor setup, but either can’t afford one or doesn’t have the space to set one up. Dualless is described as “a poor man’s dual monitor solution.” It can double your productivity by splitting your browser window into two on your single screen in ratios that suit your needs, like 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, or 7:3. It’s an impressive free tool.

This extension ups your productivity by teaching you how to better manage your time at work. It’s a timer that helps you break your day into half-hour chunks, based on the theories behind Francesco Cirillo’s “Pomodoro Technique”: You set a timer for 25 minutes of intense work; when the timer goes off you take a five-minute break; and then you begin the process again.

Google Tone is pure tech witchcraft. It lets you send URLs with one click, rather than copying and pasting and then sending. This extension creates a special sound signature for other computers’ microphones to identify as a URL. It uses your computer’s speaker to broadcast this unique sound code. Any computer that can “hear” this code (and is in the same physical location as you or on a video or audio call) that also has the extension will receive the audio and translate it into the URL you want to share.

As Grammarly states, misspellings and grammatical errors can affect your credibility. Going back and spell-checking work takes up valuable time. Consider installing this extension to automatically correct your text as you type in Gmail, Google Docs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WordPress, and on millions of other sites. It will underline words that are spelled incorrectly in red, and flag grammatical errors and misuse of punctuation. It will even analyze how concise your writing is.

What you hear while you work can seriously impede or improve your working process. The Noisli extension helps you create a soundscape to block out annoying ambient sounds and focus better. A variety of nature sounds, such as rain, waves, a forest, flames flickering, and so on, create bland audio to increase your concentration. Alternatively, there are train sounds, and even a noisy coffeeshop if that suits you better.

This clever little tool is ideal for anyone who has bought into the Google Drive way of life. It saves you time by allowing you to view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, without needing Office installed on your computer. When you’re done viewing and/or editing you can save each file back to its original Office format or convert it to Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

StayFocusd keeps you from wasting time on websites that ruin your time-management efforts. You can add the URLs of sites you know you use for procrastination when you should be focussing on production. You can then set time limits of how long you will allow yourself to spend on each site on a daily basis. Once you hit that time limit, StayFocusd will block the site for the rest of the day.

The Zoom Chrome Extension allows any user to schedule Zoom cloud meetings directly from Google Calendar. With the click of your mouse, you can start an instant meeting right there and then, or schedule a future one. Once you’ve set up a meeting, the URL is sent via a Google Calendar invitation. Anyone invited can join with a single click.

Instead of copy-pasting and navigating to Google Translate on the web to translate text, Google Translate allows you to save time by allowing you to translate with the click of a button. With the aid of the extension simply highlight or right-click the text you wish to translate and voila it’s translated!

One particular company that’s benefitted from this all? The video conferencing service, Zoom.

With hundreds of millions of users, Zoom has been the standout in the move to remote work since the pandemic in 2020. Even as businesses and offices reopen, people continued to use Zoom to connect with coworkers for video meetings. Zoom has since expanded outside of the old-school business setting too with many podcasters, video makers, and livestreamers are now using the service to create content.

If you’re new to Zoom, that’s not a problem. The app is fairly straightforward and offers a pretty generous free plan to allow you to experiment. But, if you do happen to have a question about Zoom, it’s probably about its virtual background feature that everyone seems to love. It allows users to swap out their real-life background with an image or video while streaming with friends, family, and coworkers — no green screen required.

Here’s how to use Zoom’s virtual background feature:

1. Download the Zoom Mac or Windows app.
2. Open the application, sign in, and click your profile picture, followed by the Settings link in the drop-down menu.
3. Head over to the Virtual Background tab. (If you do not see this tab, log in to the Zoom website, go to Meeting Settings, and make sure the Virtual Background button is toggled on under the Meeting tab.)
4. In the Virtual Background tab, users can choose from pre-installed backgrounds or upload their own photos or videos.
5. If you do have a green screen setup, select “I have a green screen” so the software can properly set up your background. If you do not have a green screen, Zoom recommends streaming from a location with a solid background color.

If you’re using Zoom from your iPhone or iPad, you can also change your background in the iOS app:

1. Join a meeting, then click the More tab while you are logged into your account.
2. Tap the Virtual Background option.
3. Choose a background from the provided library or upload your own photos.

If you have an older computer or mobile device and are experiencing issues getting Zoom virtual backgrounds up and running, check out the system requirements to see if you can enable the virtual background feature.

It’s up to you to decide which exotic locale or classic movie scene to use as your background image. But if you’re looking for some free options to use, check out Zoom Backgrounds, a website set up precisely for that reason.

If you’ve never used Google Maps, it works to help you arrive at your destination on time as well as prevent you from getting lost along the way. With some of its extra features, Google Maps also lets you customize the map experience and even order food delivery at home.

Here, I’m focusing on features that help you reach your destination easily. Read on to find six great Google Maps tips to help you arrive safe, sound and on time. For more, discover hidden Google Maps tricks for travelers.

Use Live View to guide you to your destination when walking

When you’ve parked your car five blocks away from your destination, it can be tricky trying to follow a small blue dot to figure out where you’re going. With Google’s Live View tool, you can see exactly where you’re going by holding up your phone screen.

The feature uses your camera to scan the buildings around you and places a huge arrow on the display to help you find the exact location you need to be in. Here’s how to use it.

1. In the Google Maps app, enter your destination and tap Directions.

2. Select the Walking icon at the top of the map screen.

3. On the bottom of the screen, tap the Live View button. It’s located next to the Start button.

4. Point your camera at the buildings and signs on the street (note that you’ll need to give the app access to your camera). When you start walking toward your destination, large arrows and the street name will appear on your screen to guide you.

Download routes for when you lose your phone signal

It never fails. When you need directions the most, your phone loses its signal. Fortunately, Google Maps lets you download your route ahead of time so that you never have to worry about getting lost. This trick is especially useful if you’re traveling in an area with poor cell phone coverage.

1. In the Google Maps app, enter your destination.

2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the name of the place or the address.

3. Scroll to the right and tap Download.

4. Tap Download again. The map for the area you’ve selected will now be available to you offline.

Keep your destinations private with Incognito Mode

A feature for Android and iPhone users lets you go incognito while using Google Maps. This means you can hide your location from other Maps users, as well as locations you’ve searched for. So if you’re trying to surprise your special someone with a fancy necklace, this is what you’ll need to do.

Open the Google Maps app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner and select Turn on Incognito Mode. When you’re ready to turn the setting off, follow the same steps and select Turn off Incognito Mode.

Include multiple travel stops to get an accurate ETA

If Google says your trip will take seven hours but it ends up being eight, it may be because you didn’t include your multiple stops along the way. Google Maps lets you add stops so you can get a more accurate destination time.

1. In the Google Maps app, enter your first destination, like a gas station or coffee shop.

2. Tap Directions.

3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

4. Tap Add stop. Add as many stops as you anticipate taking.

5. Press Done when you’re finished adding stops. Now, you’ll get a more accurate ETA when planning trips.

Find a parking space for your car

Knowing where you can and can’t park your car is essential, especially if you’re running late to work or driving to an unfamiliar place. Instead of driving around and hoping you’ll eventually find a parking spot, use Google Maps to point you in the right direction.

1. In the Google Maps app, enter the location you’ll need to park at or nearby.

2. Tap Directions.

3. Zoom in to the location to see all the P icons located near your destination. Tap a P (for parking).

4. Tap Add stop. The parking spot will be added as the first stop on your route and you can continue on to your next destination.

Use Street View to see real photos of your destinations

Pictures can be deceiving, so before you book a hotel that seems nice, use the Street View feature to see what it looks like on Google Maps first. Next year, Google expects to fully roll out a new camera for Street View next year to help map and capture imagery from remote corners of the world.

1. In the Google Maps app, search for a location, like a hotel you’re considering staying at.

2. In the bottom left corner, you’ll notice a small box with a photo of the building. This is the Street View of the area, so tap it to see what it looks like.

3. You can zoom in and out and check out the area by swiping your finger across the screen.

Want more tips? Check out these hidden Google Maps features for travelers that you may not know about.