Lockout Backup: Access Your Google Account With a Selfie Video

Lockout Backup: Access Your Google Account With a Selfie Video

Google launched a selfie video verification method to help users regain access to locked accounts when standard recovery devices are unavailable. By recording guided head movements, account owners can store an encrypted facial verification baseline to verify their identity in emergency situations.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 28, 2026

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Getting locked out of a primary digital account can stall an entire workday or disrupt personal travel plans. 

Passwords can be forgotten, smartphones can be misplaced during travel, and secondary authentication hardware isn't always within reach. 

Here’s a Cool Tip: Set up Google selfie Video Verification.

Google recently introduced a modern backup option designed to resolve account access emergencies: selfie video verification.

This backup mechanism provides a secure alternative when primary devices, passkeys, or recovery codes aren't available. 

Rather than relying solely on static phone numbers or secondary email addresses, users can record a short video of their face while moving their head in guided directions.

Automate Complex Forms with Chrome and Google Wallet

Automate Complex Forms with Chrome and Google Wallet

Typing lengthy identification numbers into web forms is frustrating and prone to errors. Google Chrome now integrates directly with Google Wallet to safely populate complex data like passport numbers and vehicle information on your mobile and desktop devices.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 21, 2026

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Booking an international flight to a destination like London often involves a frantic search for your physical passport. 

You find the booklet, prop it open, and carefully type a long string of alphanumeric characters into the airline website, hoping you did not transpose any letters. 

This manual data entry process is tedious and slows down routine online tasks like event check-ins or paying parking fees. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Connect Google Chrome to Google Wallet to Automatically Fill Your Most Complex Web Forms.

Google recently addressed this friction by updating how the Chrome browser interacts with stored data.

Make Your Drive Quieter and Smarter With New Waze AI Features

Make Your Drive Quieter and Smarter With New Waze AI Features

Waze is adding powerful Gemini AI capabilities to customize your commute, minimize interruptions, and improve route accuracy. Learn how to activate these new features for a calmer, smarter driving experience.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 18, 2026

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Driving through city traffic is stressful enough without your navigation app talking over your favorite playlist or missing your preferred shortcut. 

We all have specific driving habits, and a single navigation approach often falls short. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Upgrade Your Daily Commute with the Newest Gemini Features in Waze.

Waze is addressing these common frustrations by rolling out a suite of intelligent updates designed to adapt to how you actually drive and ride.

Master Your Investments With the New Google Finance App and AI Tools

Master Your Investments With the New Google Finance App and AI Tools

Google Finance is rolling out powerful portfolio tracking tools and a brand new Android app. Discover how custom AI briefings and smart insights can help you make better financial decisions.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 7, 2026

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Keeping track of multiple investments across different platforms often leads to frustration. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Automate Your Morning Market Research With The New Google Finance.

Google Finance recently updated its platform to solve the problem by consolidating your financial data and introducing smart analysis tools. 

With a new dedicated Android app and AI research features moving out of beta, managing your money is now much simpler. 

Whether you need a daily crypto briefing or a breakdown of your asset allocation, these updates offer significant value.

Master Your Day With the New Gmail AI Inbox

Master Your Day With the New Gmail AI Inbox

The new AI Inbox in Gmail (beta) transforms how you view your daily messages by placing a personalized daily briefing right in your left-hand navigation column. You can stop scrolling through endless promotional emails and start your day by addressing high-priority action items automatically surfaced by Gemini AI.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 4, 2026

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Publisher's Note: Sneak Peek!

Google is currently testing the new AI Inbox with a limited group of users before rolling it out broadly in the coming months. If you do not see this feature in your account today, consider this your exclusive first look. Read on to see how it works, and keep an eye on your left-hand navigation menu so you are ready to use this smart assistant the moment it arrives for you.

Opening an email account often feels like walking into a crowded room where everyone is shouting at once. 

Critical messages get buried under newsletters, receipts, and social media notifications. 

Managing that flow of information takes valuable time away from actual work.

Here's a Cool Tip: Click the AI Inbox in your left sidebar to see a smart daily briefing of your most important tasks.

Google recently introduced a solution to this clutter with the new AI Inbox. 

Instead of leaving you to sort messages manually, Gmail now provides a dedicated, proactive assistant space right in the left-hand navigation column.

Get Faster Answers With Google Gemini 3.5 AI Search

Get Faster Answers With Google Gemini 3.5 AI Search

Google recently upgraded its search experience with Gemini 3.5 Flash, an advanced model that provides incredibly fast and interactive answers. This upgrade transforms how you find information by handling complex, multi-step queries directly within your browser or mobile app.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 30, 2026

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Finding precise answers to complex questions often requires clicking through multiple websites and assembling the pieces yourself. 

Here is a Cool Tip: Activate AI Mode to Get Instant, Interactive Answers for Your Most Complex Queries.

Google announced at the recent Google I/O 2026 conference that Gemini 3.5 Flash is the default engine for AI Mode in Search. 

This update brings a massive speed increase and introduces the Neural Expressive design language, which replaces plain text walls with interactive timelines, narrated videos, and dynamic graphics. 

You no longer have to trade quality for speed when asking difficult questions. 

The new AI engine handles multi-step reasoning instantly.

Create and Edit AI Videos Conversationally Using Google Gemini Omni

Create and Edit AI Videos Conversationally Using Google Gemini Omni

Google recently introduced Gemini Omni, a brand new AI model family designed to generate and modify video clips using conversational prompts. Discover how this tool mixes text, photos, and video references to fix details, switch styles, and keep characters consistent across scenes.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

May 26, 2026

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Creating and editing video often feels like a chore if you lack expensive software or technical expertise. 

A simple adjustment like changing a background or fixing a pacing mistake usually forces you to restart your project from scratch. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Google Gemini Omni.

Google announced its new model family at Google I/O in May 2026, and showed off a fresh way to build or edit cinematic content without needing complex timelines.

How to Use Google Chrome Skills

How to Use Google Chrome Skills

Transform your browser into a high-performance command center by using Gemini AI slash commands to summarize, chat, and organize your digital life.

Google Chrome is evolving from a simple window to the web into an intelligent assistant that can execute multi-step workflows on your behalf. By leveraging the integrated Gemini side panel, users can now summarize pages, search history, and manage tasks using slash commands.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

May 10, 2026

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Have you ever found yourself with fifty tabs open, a looming deadline, and no idea where that one specific research paper went? 

The average professional spends a significant portion of their day just navigating the tools they use to work. 

What if you could simply use a slash command to summarize a complex document or search your entire browsing history with a conversational query?

The era of manual browser management is fading. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Chrome Skills.

Google is integrating Gemini AI directly into the Chrome experience.

This allows users to use the forward slash key within the Gemini panel to trigger powerful Skills that previously required dedicated AI extensions or manual copying and pasting.

New Copilot Connectors in Edge: The Hidden Upgrade That Makes Your Browser Smarter Intro Summary

New Copilot Connectors in Edge: The Hidden Upgrade That Makes Your Browser Smarter

Microsoft Edge now includes new Copilot connectors that link directly to your Outlook, OneDrive, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar accounts. These connectors help Copilot understand your real content so it can deliver grounded answers, smarter drafts, and faster results.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

April 8, 2026

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Most people open Edge to search the web, check email, or grab a file from the cloud. 

But something new is happening behind the scenes. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Copilot Connectors.

Copilot in Edge now understands your Microsoft 365 and Google accounts through a set of built‑in connectors that quietly unlock a smarter browsing experience.

Ask Copilot to summarize your latest email, find a file in OneDrive or Google Drive, or pull decisions from a Teams chat. 

It can do all of that without opening another app. 

These connectors turn Edge into a productivity hub that understands your work and personal life in a way that feels surprisingly natural.

Easter Fun with Google: Interactive Games and Traditions

Easter Fun with Google: Interactive Games and Traditions

Discover a digital basket full of interactive eggs, cultural puzzles, and hidden surprises waiting for you inside Google Arts and Culture.

Google offers a sophisticated yet playful way to celebrate the holiday by blending gaming with global traditions. This guide shows you how to access these hidden gems to entertain your family or your team during the break.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

April 5, 2026

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Have you ever wondered why we hunt for colorful eggs or how different cultures celebrate the arrival of spring? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Have Easter Fun with Google.

While most people use Google to find a recipe for glazed ham, the platform actually hides a massive digital playground dedicated to seasonal celebrations. 

Whether you are looking for a quick distraction during a lunch break or a way to keep the kids engaged with educational content, Google Arts and Culture has transformed holiday trivia into an interactive experience. 

Instead of a static webpage, you get a collection of games that test your knowledge and your reflexes.

Mixing Your Palette: Google’s Food Mood Brings AI Art to the Kitchen

Mixing Your Palette: Google’s Food Mood Brings AI Art to the Kitchen

Discover how Google’s latest AI experiment blends cultural recipes to create unique, visually stunning fusion dishes that inspire your next real-world meal. Google Arts & Culture has launched Food Mood, a generative AI tool that lets users combine two different national cuisines into a singular, innovative recipe.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

April 3, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a pack of tortillas and a jar of kimchi and wondered if they belonged together? 

Most of us stick to the culinary scripts we know, but the digital age is rewriting the cookbook. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Create Recipes with Food Mood and Google Gemini AI.

The new "Food Mood" experiment is part of a broader push to show how artificial intelligence can bridge cultural gaps through the universal language of food. 

It is not just about weird combinations; it is about using massive cultural databases to find the hidden threads between a spicy Nigerian jollof and a creamy Italian risotto. 

If you are tired of the same three rotating dinner options, this tool might be the spark your kitchen needs.

Create Professional Videos with Google Veo 3.1 Templates

Create Professional Videos with Google Veo 3.1 Templates

Create high-quality, consistent videos in seconds using the new Gemini-powered Veo 3.1 templates designed for business and personal storytelling. The future of AI video just got a lot more structured. Google is rolling out Veo 3.1 templates to help users skip the blank-page syndrome and generate professional-grade clips with ease.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 3, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a flashing cursor while trying to describe the perfect video scene to an AI? 

You aren't alone. 

Most users struggle to get the lighting, camera angles, and pacing just right on the first try. 

In fact, professional cinematographers spend years mastering the "look" that AI often misses in a basic text prompt. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Create Professional Videos with Templates in Veo 3.1.

Google has introduced Veo 3.1 templates within Gemini. 

Instead of guessing which keywords will trigger a cinematic lens flare or a smooth pan, you can now lean on pre-built structures that ensure your output looks polished and intentional from the very first frame.

Edit Slides in NotebookLM: No More Starting Over

Edit Slides in NotebookLM: No More Starting Over

Google has finally added the ability to edit individual slides within NotebookLM using simple text prompts. This update also introduces a long-requested PowerPoint export option for professional workflows.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 23, 2026

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Have you ever spent twenty minutes waiting for an AI to generate the "perfect" slide deck, only to realize that slide seven has a glaring typo or an image that looks nothing like your brand? 

Until now, NotebookLM users faced a frustrating "all or nothing" choice: keep the flawed deck or roll the dice on a full regeneration. 

Here's a Cool Tip: Edit Slides in NotebookLM.

Google has quietly upgraded its research powerhouse with a surgical editing tool that allows you to fix individual slides without touching the rest of your presentation. 

It is the bridge between AI creativity and human precision that business professionals have been waiting for.

How to Remove Your Explicit Content from Google Search Results

How to Remove Your Explicit Content from Google Search Results

Take control of your digital footprint by requesting the removal of sensitive personal images and information from Google Search results.

Byline: By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 15, 2026

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Have you ever searched for your own name only to find a photo that felt like a punch to the gut? 

Perhaps it is an old image shared without your consent that you never intended to be public. 

In an era where a digital first impression is often the only one that counts, finding explicit personal content of yourself online is more than just embarrassing. 

It is a security risk and a violation of privacy. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Remove the Content from Google.

Google has significantly expanded its toolset to help users claw back their privacy, but many people still believe that once something is on the internet, it stays there forever. 

That is not entirely true. 

While Google cannot delete a file from a third-party website server, it can effectively bury the link so it no longer appears in search results for the world to see.

Master the Art of Spotting Scams with Google’s New Interactive Game

Master the Art of Spotting Scams with Google’s New Interactive Game

Discover how to sharpen your digital defense skills using a free, browser-based simulation that trains you to identify modern phishing and fraud tactics.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 13, 2026

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How confident are you that you can spot a fake text from your bank or a fraudulent "urgent" email from a coworker?

As digital threats become more sophisticated, the traditional advice to just "look for typos" no longer cuts it. 

Scammers now use high-quality branding and psychological triggers to bypass our natural skepticism. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Play the "Be Scam Ready" Game from Google.

This "Be Scam Ready" game puts you in the hot seat to test your instincts against realistic, real-world scenarios.

Finally! How to Change Your Primary Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data

Finally! How to Change Your Primary Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data

Stop living with that embarrassing high school email address. Google finally lets you swap your primary @gmail.com handle while keeping every single message and photo intact. Discover how to transform your old Gmail identity into a professional new address without the headache of manual migrations. This update ensures you stay connected to your past while moving forward with a fresh digital name.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 10, 2026

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Are you still using the "coolguy92" or "sparkle-pony-fan" email address you created two decades ago? 

For years, the standard advice for anyone wanting a more professional Gmail identity was a digital shrug and a suggestion to start over from scratch. 

That meant moving thousands of photos, losing years of archived chats, and manually updating every single subscription service you own. 

It was a massive technical hurdle that kept millions of users tethered to usernames they outgrew long ago.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Pick a New Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data.

A new Gmail rollout is hitting accounts that allows users to pick a new @gmail.com address while automatically turning the old one into a permanent alias. 

You no longer have to choose between a professional look and your digital history.

Gemini Navigation Expands to Walking and Cycling in Google Maps

Gemini Navigation Expands to Walking and Cycling in Google Maps

Google Maps just got a major brain transplant for your morning commute and weekend treks. AI-powered navigation is no longer just for drivers.

Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 3, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a blue dot on your phone while spinning in circles trying to figure out which way is North? 

Even with augmented reality, urban canyons, and winding bike paths can be disorienting. 

Navigation has historically focused on the four-wheeled experience, leaving those on foot or two wheels to squint at tiny lines and hope for the best.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Google Gemini for walking and cycling.

Google is bridging that gap by integrating Gemini into Google Maps specifically for walking and cycling. 

This update transforms the map from a static document into a conversational partner. 

It understands the context of your surroundings and helps you find specific landmarks or points of interest using natural language while you are on the move.

Explore Search Trends with Gemini

Explore Search Trends with Gemini

Turn raw search data into instant insight with AI-powered explanations, comparisons, and context that save hours of research.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

January 26, 2026

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Google Trends has long been the gold standard for understanding what the world is searching for, but finding the exact right terms to compare has always been a manual, trial-and-error process. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Google Trends Now with Gemini.

A new integration with Gemini now automates the heavy lifting, instantly suggesting relevant comparisons and explaining the "why" behind the data.

Why You Should Care

• Instant Context: Gemini explains why a topic is trending, not just that it is trending.
• Better Comparisons: Automatically generates up to eight relevant comparison terms (e.g., searching "dog breeds" auto-populates "Golden Retriever," "Poodle," etc.).
• Time Saver: Eliminates the guesswork of finding related keywords for market research or content planning.

How to Turn Messy Documents into Clean Data Tables with Google NotebookLM

How to Turn Messy Documents into Clean Data Tables with Google NotebookLM

Google NotebookLM now offers a powerful way to instantly organize scattered information from multiple documents into structured, easy-to-read data tables. This feature transforms the tedious task of manual comparison into a one-click operation, allowing you to export your findings directly to Google Sheets.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

January 5, 2026

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Have you ever stared at five different PDF contracts, trying to manually compare the cancellation clauses in each one? 

Or perhaps you have a dozen resumes and need to quickly see which candidates have a master's degree and Python experience. 

Traditionally, this meant opening every file, scrolling endlessly, and copy-pasting data into a spreadsheet. 

It is a slow, error-prone nightmare. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the Google NotebookLM's New Data Tables Feature.

Google NotebookLM has solved this specific headache with a new Data Tables feature that lets the AI do the sorting and structuring for you.

Google Search Just Added a Plus Button

Google Search Just Added a Plus Button

Google is transforming its search bar from a text box into a command center with a simple interface update. You can now upload a photo or file directly to Search to get AI-powered answers for complex problems you cannot easily describe with words.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

December 21, 2025

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When was the last time you searched Google without typing a word?

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Google Search AI Mode Plus (+) Button.

Google is quietly rolling out a feature that lets you stop typing and start showing.