Technologies

These Google Maps Tips Make Traveling During the Holidays a Piece of Cake

Simplify the hustle and bustle of holiday travel with these Google Maps features.

The holidays are stressful enough without the chaos and cancellations of holiday travel. With a winter storm sweeping through a chunk of the country right before Christmas, getting home safely and quickly for the holidays will save you time, money and, perhaps most importantly, stress. If you’re planning to catch a flight or spend several hours on the road, you can use Google Maps to help you navigate to help ease some of the stress of traveling.

There are a variety of ways to use Google Maps to help make the journey easier, from quickly getting around the airport to using the Maps app offline. Check out some of the app’s best features for holiday travelers below.

For more travel advice, check out must-have gadgets for international trips, how to travel without using up your vacation days and when is the best time to shop for airline tickets.

1. Navigate through airports and train stations

If you need to quickly find a store in a large mall or transit center, Google Maps is expanding its Directory tab for all airports, malls and transit stations. This can help when you’re 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 a destination’s business hours and what floor it’s on. You can look through restaurants, stores, lounges and parking lots.

2. See how busy an attraction is

To see how busy a spot is, check out Google Maps’ Busyness tool. Already you could search for a location, like a business, to see a chart that showed how crowded it is in real time. Now a feature called Area Busyness lets you see when entire map areas are clogged with people.

To use 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 for 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, for example, «As busy as it gets.»

3. Input your itinerary into Google Maps

Google Maps can chart your holiday travels, but it can also quickly show you your 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.

4. Make a restaurant reservation

Planning a dinner night out with a large group for the holidays can be a hassle, especially when you go at a busy hour. Google Maps can help you book a lunch or dinner reservation. Here’s how.

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 you can use the busyness feature mentioned above to pick the least packed place. Also, note that some restaurants that are closed to dine-in may still allow delivery, curbside pickup or outdoor seating.

5. 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, search in Maps 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. Note that because you’re offline, Maps won’t be able to offer real-time traffic info.

6. Find EV charging stations anywhere

If you’re taking your electric vehicle out for shopping, dinner or a vacation, Google Maps can help you find EV charging stationson 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. (Here’s how you can save money at the pump.)

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.

7. Share your location with others

Is anything more frustrating 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.

For more, there’s a new deadline for needing a Real ID for air travel. Here’s what you need to know.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 16, #675

Here are the hints and answers for Connections for April 16, #675. Plus: We explain that tricky Latin dance category.

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

Today’s Connections puzzle includes some fun categories. The blue group is a neat mix of words, for one. And oof, that purple category pulled another letter mix-up, but once you figure it out (if you do), it’s kinda cool. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Think Gypsy Rose Lee.

Green group hint: Abrade or scruff.

Blue group hint: Tigers and jaguars do it.

Purple group hint: Everybody dance now!

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Burlesque wear.

Green group: Mess up the surface of.

Blue group: They roar.

Purple group: Latin dances with a vowel changed

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is burlesque wear. The four answers are boa, corset, garter and stockings.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is mess up the surface of. The four answers are scar, score, scrape and scratch.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is they roar. The four answers are crowd, engine, Katy Perry and lion.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is Latin dances with a vowel changed. The four answers are mamba, meringue, Simba and tangy.

Wondering what dances those words refer to?

Mamba=mambo

Meringue=merengue

Simba=samba

Tangy=tango

Quick tips for Connections

#1: Say the clue words out loud, pausing before and after each. That helps you hear the words in the context of a phrase. The Connections editors love to group words together that are used in similar phrasing, like ____ Up.

#2: Don’t go for the obvious grouping. These editors are smart. Once, they offered SPONGE, BOB, SQUARE and PANTS in the same puzzle. None of those words were in the same category. If you like, hit the «shuffle» button to give yourself a different perspective on the words.

#3: Break down any compound words and look for similarities. «Rushmore» was once in a puzzle where the connection was that each word started with the name of a rock band.

Technologies

Skullcandy’s New Method 360 ANC Are $100 Bose Earbuds in Disguise

Skullcandy and Bose team up to create an affordable pair of impressive-sounding earbuds. Here are my early hands-on impressions of the Method 360 ANC after using them for a day.

Ahead of the launch of its new $100 Method 360 ANC earbuds in NewYork City, Skullcandy hyped the new buds as «the boldest audio product of 2025, featuring a partnership you didn’t see coming.» Whether the Method 360 ANC are the boldest audio product of the year is debatable, but I was certainly surprised to learn that Skullcandy had joined forces with Bose to create what’s essentially the budget version of Bose’s $299 QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Read more: Best wireless earbuds of 2025

I’ve been using the Method 360 ANC for only a day — they’re available now in five color options — but I’ve been mostly impressed with the new buds, which sound better than most of the earbuds in this price class. From a design standpoint, they share many of the traits of the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, with a similar shape and stabilizing «fit» fins, but they’re lighter and lack the more premium finish and overall feel of those pricey buds. That said, they offer a similar fit — and by that, I mean they’re quite comfortable and stay in your ears very securely once you get the buds set up with the right combo of ear tips and fins (three sizes of each are included).

Method 360 ANC’s jumbo case has plusses and minuses

The one glaring difference between the Method 360 ANC and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, as well as the step-down Quiet Comfort Earbuds ($179), is the Method 360 ANC’s charging case. It’s big — perhaps too big for some people — and it’s a little awkward to get the buds in the case. Yes, the case still fits in a pocket or can be clipped onto a backpack or your jacket. But compared with the charging cases of most true-wireless earbuds, it’s pretty jumbo. It also has no wireless charging.

On the plus side, the case does have a distinct Skullycandy-ish vibe, and I like how it slides open/shuts and how the o-ring clip is integrated into the case. It also houses an ample-size battery that stores an extra 23 hours of battery life when the case is fully charged. The buds are rated for 9 hours of battery life with noise canceling on, or 32 hours total (with the juice in the case), and 11 hours with ANC off, or 40 hours total. I haven’t fully tested the buds yet to confirm those numbers, but if accurate, they’re good.

Sound by Bose

Skullcandy describes the buds as having «Sound by Bose,» which involves hardware (a chipset and presumably drivers) and acoustic digital tuning. I don’t know exactly what components the buds use, but they sound similar to Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds and have similar specs, including four-mic hybrid active noise canceling.

Like the QC Earbuds, they’re equipped with ear-detection sensors that pause your music when you take the buds out of your ears and resume playback when you put the buds back in your ears. I also thought the touch controls were well-implemented. They’re customizable via the Skullcandy-iQ app for iOS and Android, where you can also play around with EQ settings to tweak the sound profile.

Bose’s earbuds and headphones are designed to work well with a variety of music and offer generally smooth, punchy sound that’s very pleasant for listening. While some premium buds offer a little more detail and clarity, like Bose’s QC Earbuds, the bass on these Skullcandy buds has good kick to it without sounding boomy.

I don’t think the Method 360 ANC buds sound as good as the QC Ultras, which have a tad more depth and extension (they offer slightly richer, more detailed sound), but the contest was much closer than I thought it would be. It’s also worth mentioning that the Method 360 ANC buds play pretty loud and sound better than any Skullcandy earbuds I’ve tested over the years. I still have to listen to them a little longer and compare them with some other earbuds in this price range before delivering a final verdict, but as far as sound goes, there really isn’t much to complain about for the price.

Skullcandy’s best noise canceling in a pair of earbuds

Noise canceling also seems pretty good, and you can adjust its «intensity» in the app along with the level of ambient sound you let into the buds when you’re in the «stay-aware» mode. While noise canceling isn’t part of the Sound By Bose program, a PR rep told me it was validated by Bose as meeting its standards. As with the sound quality, it isn’t quite up to the level of what you get with the QC Ultra Earbuds or even the QC Earbuds, but it’s respectable and more effective than the middling ANC on earlier Skullcandy noise-canceling earbuds I’ve tried.

I found the voice-calling performance to be something of a mixed bag. In my tests in the noisy streets of New York, one caller said they could hear me clearly with little background noise, while two other callers said my voice warbled and cut in and out (I was hard to hear). I still have some testing to do in this area, but there are some question marks about call quality — at least when it comes to what callers are hearing (I had no issues on my end hearing callers).

An excellent value for the moment

I’ll have my full review of the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds in the coming days. But aside from a few caveats, it’s safe to say these buds appear to be a very good value. Note that Skullcandy refers to their $100 price tag as an «introductory price,» and that it could change in time as the situation with tariffs remains fluid. But a Skullcandy rep informed me that the earbuds went into production in January, so the company was able to get plenty of units to the US before the tariffs went into effect. While there are currently exemptions in place for smartphones, laptops and some other electronics, there are no tariff carve-outs for headphones and earbuds.

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC key specs

Sound By Bose technology
Battery Life: Up to 40 hours ANC off (11 in buds, 29 in case); up to 32 hours with ANC on (9 in buds, 23 in case)
Noise-isolating, ergonomic fit: 3 different size pairs of fit fins and three sets of ear gels, leveraging licensed technology from Bose
Adjustable 4-mic hybrid active noise canceling with customizable Stay-Aware mode
Low latency audio
Wear detection sensors
IPX4 sweat and water-resistant (splash-proof)
Skull-iQ App compatible: Choose one of 3 preset EQ settings or customize your own, reconfigure the button functions, adjust your Stay-Aware or ANC modes and more
Rapid charge: A 10-minute charge provides 2 hours of playtime
Clear Voice smart mic helps isolate your voice and reduce background noise during calls
Spotify Tap compatible
Google Fast Pair
Multipoint Bluetooth Pairing: Pair two devices simultaneously for easy switching
Voice sidetone for calls (hear your voice in the earbuds during calls)
Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
Five color options: Black, bone, primer, plasma and leopard
Price: $100

Technologies

Grab a New OnePlus Phone for Up to a Massive $400 Off During the Spring Sale

OnePlus makes some of the best and most underrated Android devices on the market, and they can be had for major discounts until April 27.

When it comes to Android devices, Google and Samsung tend to grab our attention the most. While it’s true that these two tech behemoths are behind some great phones, OnePlus is yet another tech company worth considering. The devices are speedy, beautifully designed and many tech options are available at all prices, so folks with any budget can find what they need. Right now, OnePlus is also offering discounts of up to $400 off during their spring sale, which lasts until April 27. Best Buy is also matching most of these deals. So, now is a great time to upgrade, especially if you have any concerns about how tariffs might impact the cost of smartphones.

Right now, the OnePlus 13 is $50 off, which discounts the 16GB RAM phone with 512GB SSD to $950. It’s also an extra 5% off for students and is on sale with this same discount at Best Buy. Budget-conscious shoppers should also consider the OnePlus 13R, which is reduced by $100. It is a pared-down version of the OnePlus 13 and offers all the basics for just $500 at OnePlus and Best Buy. The 13R still includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a 6,000-mAh battery for all-day power and a 120Hz refresh rate to watch your favorite shows without lag.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

The biggest savings are on the OnePlus Open, which is a massive $400 off at Best Buy and costs just $1,300. It’s out of stock at OnePlus, but you can sign up to receive a notification when it’s back in stock. The foldable phone has a Hasselblad camera for clear pictures and more creative options. Even the most budget-friendly smartphone in OnePlus’ lineup, the OnePlus Nord N30, is $100 off, which makes it just $200 at OnePlus and Best Buy. The entire spring sale is worth checking out.

OnePlus and Best Buy also have trade-in programs that can help you save a few more bucks, and students can save an extra 5%.

Looking for a new phone but aren’t sure if any of these deals are for you? Check out our list of the best Android phones to find the best option.

Why this deal matters

OnePlus makes high-quality phones at affordable prices, and these spring sale deals mean you can score a new phone for as low as $200 directly from them or Best Buy. Trade-ins and student discounts also mean you could potentially save more on your chosen phone. That makes now an excellent time for an upgrade.