Technologies

Google Home can help make your grocery shopping easier

These tips and tricks can help make sure you always have food in the fridge.

Grocery shopping can be a nightmare. Crammed parking lots, rush-hour crowds, long lines, low stock and general nonsense that you don’t want to have to deal with. We can’t blame you. Google Home ($129 at Walmart) has some handy tools you can use — including the Google Voice assistant — to help make grocery shopping a little less hectic.

The two main ways to do this are through making shopping lists (you can save your fingers the work by using your voice), and through Google Shopping, formerly Google Express, which ties into your Google Home.

These tips may seem simple at first, but once you start using them, you’ll find that they can really take some of the hassle out of the shopping experience, especially if you’re the type of person who wants to get in, get out, and get on with your day.

Make a shopping list the easy way

Google can make a list for literally anything, but for now, we’ll stick with groceries. You can create a list through your Google Home device or with the Assistant in the Google Home app.

Through your Google Home device

Say «Hey, Google, start a grocery list,» or whatever you want to name it. Google should confirm that it’s made the list and ask what you want to add.

You can add stuff now, later or manually through the app, for example, if you forgot the eggs. Later you can say «Hey, Google, what’s on my grocery list?» and Google will tell you.

Through the Google Home app

Open the Google Home app
Tap the microphone
Say «start a grocery list» or «start a list» (Google will ask what you want to call it).
Add your items verbally, manually and ask Google what’s on your shopping list.

Deleting items

Sorry, but saying «Hey, Google, delete 10 bags of Cheetos from my grocery list» won’t work. You’ll have to access your shopping list in the Google Home app and check off the item manually.

A grocery list on the Google app is most useful to make sure you don’t forget something before your weekly shopping trip, although you can «shop» the list after you make it on the app.

To shop the list (without going to the store), open the list manually in the Google Home app. At the bottom of the screen, tap Shop This List and you’ll be taken to Google Express for in-app shopping and price comparisons.

Shopping with Google Shopping

You can buy almost anything through Google Shopping, Google’s shopping service formerly known as Google Express. There’s no membership fee, just know that if you order something you’ll have the store’s delivery fee tagged onto your bill. Sometimes a store might offer free delivery if your bill is a certain amount at checkout. You can shop it either by voice on your Google Home or on its website. It works about the same on each.

The Google Shopping website works like most shopping sites — search what you want, add it to the cart and check out. There are dozens of promo codes, discounts and personalized recommendations based on your shopping history (you can turn that off).

You also have easy access to any shopping list you made, the ability to reorder items, the status and history of your orders, and swapping between accounts.

Shopping with Google Home by voice

Start by saying «Hey, Google, buy paper towels from Target» (or whatever item you want from your preferred store). Google will list a selection of paper towels (different brands, prices and stores) that you can say «yes» or «no» to. After you’ve settled on your purchase, Google will ask if you need anything else. If you don’t, say «No, check out.» Google will send an order summary to your phone, so you can make sure everything is right. If it is, you can tell Google to place your order.

Shopping in the Google Home app

This mostly works the same as shopping with voice but with the visual of your order’s progression. Open the Google Home app and tap the microphone to start. You can either have a conversation with Google or tap the bubble responses. It’s all about your convenience.

More tips

Before you start ordering, make sure your ZIP code is right. This is mostly just if you’re using a desktop. Sometimes the IP address can say you’re in another state.
You can also familiarize yourself with the stores that work with Google Shopping so you get better voice search results on the fly.
Use your best judgment… I wouldn’t order a couch with just voice.
On top of the discounts, you can also link your loyalty (Costco and NikePlus) memberships and your Target account to Google Shopping.

Technologies

Apple Reportedly Plans to Send Siri Engineers to AI Coding Bootcamp

The move comes just weeks before the company is expected to unveil a new Siri.

Apple plans to send dozens of Siri engineers to a multiweek AI coding bootcamp, The Information reported Wednesday. The move comes less than two months before the company is widely expected to unveil a new Siri experience as part of a broader AI reboot.

A group of fewer than 200 engineers will be sent to the bootcamp, leaving approximately 60 members of the core Siri development team behind to continue working on Siri, while another 60 will evaluate Siri’s performance, according to The Information. The outlet also reported that AI has grown in popularity in some Apple divisions, prompting some teams within the company to allocate large parts of their budgets to Claude Code.

Apple representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Siri, once a pioneer, has lagged behind its rivals in voice assistants. Apple had planned to roll out a smarter, AI-driven Siri in 2025 as part of its Apple Intelligence initiative, but executives delayed the launch until spring 2026, admitting the early version wasn’t reliable enough to ship.

For Apple, the move would mark another attempt to reset expectations around its AI strategy after repeated delays to its more advanced Siri ambitions. The news also comes as John Giannandrea, Apple’s former AI chief, is reportedly leaving the company this week after stepping down from that role in December.

The new Siri experience is expected to be introduced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8 and would arrive as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and MacOS 27 later this year, according to a Bloomberg report in March. The report says Apple is testing out a new Siri that would make the assistant feel more like a standalone AI chatbot — think ChatGPT or Claude — rather than the current built-in tool.

Technologies

Google Will Pay $135M to Android Phone Owners. Learn Who’s Eligible and How to Get Paid

If you used an Android phone with cell service in the last nine years, you could be eligible for compensation.

For years, Google has been accused of harvesting data from Android phones without users’ consent. A California lawsuit was settled for $314 million last year, and another class action lawsuit recently reached a resolution that could mean payouts for another 100 million people.

While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC in January, agreeing to pay $135 million, and the official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live.

The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will hear objections and consider whether Google’s settlement is fair. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the Google data settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much could I get paid by Google?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.

Technologies

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Squirrel With a Gun and More Are Coming to PlayStation Plus in April

Some other games might be fun, but Squirrel With a Gun has my full attention.

Sometimes when I play a game, I want a deep story that makes me feel connected to the characters. Other times, I want a nonsensical romp that allows me to shut my brain off and laugh for a minute. Squirrel with a Gun seems to be that kind of game. And good news, PlayStation Plus subscribers can play that game and others starting on April 21.

PlayStation Plus is Sony’s version of Xbox Game Pass, offering subscribers a large and constantly expanding library of games. PlayStation Plus has three tiers — Essential ($10 a month), Extra ($15 a month) and Premium ($18 a month) — which each give subscribers access to games. But only Extra and Premium tier subscribers can access the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, while Essential subscribers can access only the monthly games.

Here are all the games Sony is adding to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog in April. You can also check out the games all PS Plus subscribers can play until May 4.

Squirrel With a Gun

What more do I need to say about this game? You’re a squirrel, and you have a gun, making you potentially the most American woodland critter behind a bald eagle. After escaping a secret facility, you’re on the hunt for some acorns while you try to evade and defeat the Agents in this sandbox puzzle platformer game. You’ll find out how far our furry friend is willing to go to get their nut — acorns are nuts, get your mind out of the gutter.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Huge robotic dinosaur-looking machines are the dominant force in this award-winning action roleplaying game. You play as Aloy, a huntress who was cast out of the mountain-dwelling Nora tribe. In your search for answers about your past, you’ll encounter machine and human enemies, beautiful landscapes and a plan to reclaim the land once and for all.

Monster Train

Hell has frozen over, the celestial forces of heaven are coming to extinguish the last burning pyre, and it’s up to you to stop them. Monster Train is a unique roguelike deck builder that adds a twist by spreading your playing field out to three vertical areas. With over 250 cards to use and six different monster clans to call on, you’ll have plenty of ways to ward off your enemies and take back your home.