Technologies

2 new Google Maps features and where to find them

We’ll also tell you five other useful Google Maps tips you can start using.

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.

If you’ve just started holiday shopping, or haven’t bought anything at all yet, it can be stressful trying to figure out where to go when crowds of other people are doing the same. Fortunately, you can use Google Maps to help ease the stress while navigating through the holidays. For instance, you can use the app to check out how busy a store or restaurant is before deciding to go.

You can also use Google Maps to let your family know your whereabouts when you’re running late. Plus, you can book reservations in advance through the app instead of calling a restaurant. We’ll tell you all the ways Google Maps can help make your holidays go smoothly and how to use all seven features.

New: Navigate through airports, malls and transit stations

If you need to quickly find a store in a large mall, Google Maps is expanding its Directory tab for all airports, malls and transit stations, it announced in November. This can help prevent running around the airport, trying to find a place to eat or grabbing a last-minute souvenir before catching your flight. The tab will tell you the business hours and which floors it’s on. You can look through restaurants, stores, lounges and parking lots.

New: Browse Google Maps to see how busy a place is

Google added a new feature to its Google Maps’ busyness tool. Before, you needed to search a location, like a business, to see a chart that showed how crowded it is in real time. But now, a new feature called Area Busyness lets you see when entire map areas as clogged with people.

Using the new feature, you open the Google Maps app on your Android or iPhone (or your computer’s browser) and move around the map to find a general area, say downtown, a riverwalk or a quaint nearby town. The busyness information will now automatically appear on the map, so you don’t need to specifically search a place to see how crowded it is. Google Maps may say something like «Busy Area,» and when you click for more details, it could say, «As busy as it gets.»

Track your trip itinerary in Google Maps

Of course, Google Maps can chart your travels, but it can also quickly show you your holiday flight, hotel, car rental and restaurant reservations, saving you the hassle of searching through your email for check-in times and confirmation numbers.

To see your upcoming reservations:

1. In Google Maps, tap Saved in the bottom menu row.

2. Tap Reservations. Here, you’ll see a list of upcoming reservations you’ve made that Maps has pulled from emails in Gmail.

3. Select an item to see more about the reservation, including date and location.

4. You can also search for «my reservations» in the Google Maps search box to see a list of what you’ve booked.

Make a restaurant reservation right in Google Maps

Planning and preparing a holiday dinner can be a multiday chore. If you’d rather spend time with family and friends instead of sharp knives and hot stoves, Google Maps can help you book a lunch or dinner reservation.

1. In Maps, tap the Restaurants button at the top of the map to see a list of places to eat.

2. Select a restaurant that looks good, and in the window that pops up, reserve a table or join a waitlist, if it gives you that option (not all do).

Remember to use the «busyness» feature mentioned above to pick the least packed place. Also, note that some restaurants are still closed to dine-in, but will often allow delivery, curbside pickup or outdoor seating.

Use Google Maps offline

Heading someplace remote where you may not have a mobile network connection? Google Maps can still give you directions when you’re offline.

1. Before you head out, in Maps search for the location where you’ll want directions.

2. In the location’s window, pull up the menu at the bottom.

3. Scroll right through the tabs and tap Download and then, in the next window, tap Download again. Maps will download a map to your phone for the area you selected.

Now, as you use Google Maps for directions in the area you downloaded a map for, when you lose your cellular connection, Maps will switch to the offline map to guide you. Because you’re offline, Maps won’t be able to offer real-time traffic info, of course.

Find EV charging spots and gas stations wherever you are

If you’re taking your electric vehicle out for shopping, dinner or a holiday drive, Google Maps can help you find EV charging stations on your route, along with estimated wait times for a charging port. You can also filter your search by connector type — such as J1772, CCS (Combo 1 or 2) and Tesla — to see just the stations that are compatible with your EV. (Note you can also search for gas stations by following these same directions.)

1. In Maps, scroll through the tabs on the top of the screen and tap More.

2. Scroll down to the Services section and select Electric vehicle charging.

3. Maps will display nearby charging stations and how many are available.

4. Tap a charging station on the map to have Maps add it as a stop on your trip.

(You can also use this trick to search for other places along your route, like a coffee shop.)

Share your location through Google Maps

Is anything more crazy-making during a group activity than when the group gets split up and no one can find each other? Google Maps can help bring you all back together.

1. In Google Maps, tap your profile icon in the top right corner and tap Location sharing.

2. Tap Share location and select who you want to share your location with and for how long you want to share it.

3. Tap Share, and Google Maps will send your location to everyone you’ve selected.

4. If you want to see someone else’s location, tap that person’s icon at the top of the window and then tap Request.

If, after all this, you’d rather stay inside during the holidays, here’s how to use your Prime benefits to your advantage while shopping. And if you don’t intend to leave your couch at all, here are the best new TV shows to watch.

Technologies

Tariffs Explained: I Have Everything You Need to Know as Trump Spars With Apple, Walmart

Technologies

How Much Will the iPhone 17 Cost?

Tariffs could hike the price of the new iPhone, but other factors play a role, too. What to look for as the release day approaches.

The rumored iPhone 17 is getting plenty of attention for potential new features and upgrades, like more memory and a camera upgrade. And the prospect of an ultrathin iPhone just adds to the excitement as the expected release date approaches.

But of all the rumors about the new iPhone, one of the most persistent may be: How much will it cost?

There are a lot of factors that could affect the pricing for the rumored iPhone 17, including tariffs, production costs and the overall health of the US economy.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

We won’t know the exact price for the next iPhone until its release, which is expected to be in September. But we’ve pored over all the leaks, rumors and predictions about prices, and we found ways to help you save if a new iPhone is in your future.

How tariffs could affect the cost of the next iPhone

Amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff bender, higher reciprocal tariffs are currently on pause. However, Trump took to social media on Friday, threatening Apple with a 25% tariff on all iPhones made outside the US. While there’s no timeline for this tariff rollout, there’s currently a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and a 30% tariff on goods from China, where Apple still manufactures most of its products. Those rates may also start to rise in July when the initial tariff pause expires, which could lead to higher prices on everything — including the rumored iPhone 17.

Apple appears to have dodged a lot of the initial tariff impact. It stockpiled phones before tariffs took effect, and Trump’s exemption list included many phones, laptops and other electronics that Apple produces.

The tech giant has also moved some US iPhone production from China to India, which currently has a lower tariff rate. However, Trump called out Apple CEO Tim Cook to instead move iPhone production to the US. Most experts consider this an unrealistic demand, especially in the short term, because of higher labor and production costs in the US. Estimates have suggested that a US-made iPhone would cost as much as $3,500.

That leaves prices for the next iPhone in limbo. Trump’s administration called the exemption list «temporary» in early April, saying that exemptions would end in «a month or two.» Around the same time, Trump said that semiconductors, which power tech products, will eventually be placed in a different «tariff bucket.» However, no details have been shared about the timeline or expected tariff percentages.

With all the reprieves appearing to be temporary, tariffs could still potentially affect prices by the time the rumored iPhone 17 is expected to be released.

If the original reciprocal tariff pause expires, for instance, taxes on imports from India would rise from 10% to 26% starting in July. If the 90-day pause for China expires, tariffs on that country would jump from 30% to 145% in August. Experts point out that a tariff rate hike doesn’t necessarily mean an iPhone’s price would increase at the same rate, but most expect at least some impact.

And where the phone is assembled is only part of the tariff equation. Apple sources components for the iPhone from dozens of other countries, which could also potentially affect the price.

Based on where tariffs stand now, here’s how much you could potentially pay for the next iPhone based on current iPhone 16 prices. These are estimates and not pricing from Apple:

How much could tariffs affect the price of an iPhone 17?*

	Current price	Current 10% tariff on goods from India	Potential 26% tariff for India	Current 30% tariff on goods from China	Potential 145% tariff for China
iPhone 16E (128GB)	$599	$659	$830	$779	$1,614
iPhone 16 (128GB)	$799	$879	$1,107	$1,039	$2,153
iPhone 16 Plus (128GB)	$899	$989	$1,246	$1,169	$2,423
iPhone 16 Pro (128GB)	$999	$1,099	$1,385	$1,299	$2,692
iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB)	$1,199	$1,319	$1,662	$1,559	$3,231
iPhone 16 Pro Max (1TB)	$1,599	$1,759	$2,216	$2,079	$4,309

*Trump’s newly proposed 25% Apple tariff on iPhones manufactured outside the US could further increase the price of the next iPhone. We’ll keep this story up to date with the latest pricing information as we receive it.

What else could cause the new iPhone’s price to increase?

Trump immediately criticized retailers like Walmart and Amazon when they suggested that tariffs could result in higher prices, so it stands to reason that Apple won’t directly blame tariffs for potential price hikes to avoid a Trump tirade.

Rather, Apple could attribute the price increase to improved features and design costs. Regardless of tariffs, Apple has plans to raise iPhone prices this year, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Experts say Apple may be overdue for a price increase anyways. It’s been five years since the basic iPhone model increased in price, and each iteration of the iPhone generally improves on features from the last version.

My colleague Patrick Holland, CNET’s managing editor, has been reviewing phones for CNET since 2016 and tracking prices over the years. He notes that the base iPhone model hasn’t gone up in price since 2020.

His research points to the standard iPhone model’s price increasing approximately every five years, typically between $50 and $150. Based on this evidence and the iPhone 16’s current price of $799, we could expect the new iPhone to cost somewhere between $850 and $950.

What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?

Early rumors had the iPhone 17 Air topping the iPhone Pro in price. However, a March Bloomberg report suggested the phone could cost around $900, similar to the current iPhone 16 Plus’s price tag. Those estimates are based on the current costs and may not include the potential impact tariffs could have on an ultrathin iPhone’s price.

How the economy could affect iPhone prices

Uncertainty in the US economy — in part due to the aforementioned tariff turmoil — has left many wary about what’s to come. While the recent agreement with China to pause tariffs helped the stock market to mostly recover from the dive it took after Trump’s Liberation Day, that reprieve offers only temporary relief.

Concerns about the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have left the Federal Reserve in wait-and-see mode for lowering interest rates. Higher interest rates can cause companies like Apple to pull back on spending and investment. Combined with higher tariffs, that pullback could potentially lead to global supply chain disruptions. Fewer iPhones available in the market could lead to higher prices.

If inflation resurges, rising costs could force Apple to increase the next iPhone’s price.

One tiny bright side, in theory, is that a weakening economy could force Apple to hold off on raising prices so it can stay competitive. But that may not offer much consolation if you’re worried about spending money because of a potential recession.

Will older iPhones cost more, too?

One way to save on Apple products is to buy last year’s model instead of the newest release. However, if the new iPhone is dramatically more expensive when it’s released, demand could increase for the older models. That could lead to price hikes on older models, too.

The flip side of this is that if the new iPhone’s prices rise and you have an older iPhone, your old iPhone would also likely increase in value, Holland said.

Trading or selling a used iPhone can help offset the cost if you do decide to buy the new iPhone.

Other ways Apple could raise prices

Even if Apple decides to hold the next iPhone’s price steady, there are other ways for the tech giant to recoup increased costs.

Apple could potentially offset the impact of tariffs by raising the price on its services — including its music, news and data plans — according to supply chain expert Joe Hudicka.

«We’ll see those markups in the subscription services first because they’ll appear smaller,» he said. «Consumers will still pay, just not all at once.»

Should we believe rumors and speculation about iPhone prices?

So seriously, how much is a new iPhone going to cost? The truth is, we can’t say with any certainty what the final numbers will be. Our assessments are based on ever-changing tariff policies, past pricing trends, rumors and leaks that are sometimes based on insider knowledge. But until Apple releases the rumored iPhone 17, we can only offer our best estimates for how much the final price tag will be.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, May 24

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for May 24.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

No matter how many NYT Mini Crossword puzzles I’ve done, those double-meaning clues always trip me up. So I see 8-Across, «army shirt,» and am trying to make «khaki» or «camo» fit. And I see 10-across, «wand-waving org,» and my mind goes to Harry Potter. I was wrong on both. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: «Get a load of ___!»
Answer: THIS

5A clue: Ability to keep one’s balance on a ship
Answer: SEALEGS

8A clue: Army shirt?
Answer: TANKTOP

9A clue: Chicago trains
Answer: ELS

10A clue: Wand-waving org.
Answer: TSA

11A clue: Flowers depicted in classical Chinese art
Answer: PEONIES

13A clue: By oneself
Answer: ALONE

14A clue: Phileas ___, «Around the World in Eighty Days» protagonist
Answer: FOGG

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Something «read» in the divination method of tasseography
Answer: TEALEAF

2D clue: Sci-fi hero with the line «Never tell me the odds»
Answer: HANSOLO

3D clue: Kind
Answer: ILK

4D clue: Where a story takes place
Answer: SETTING

5D clue: Lather, rinse or repeat
Answer: STEP

6D clue: «Take a look for yourself!»
Answer: GOSEE

7D clue: Places to get pampered
Answer: SPAS

12D clue: Eggy holiday drink
Answer: NOG

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.