It's been a long time coming — 4 months, actually, for those of you remembering back to Google I/O — but we're finally getting our first real look at Incognito Mode for Google Maps. Ironically, the pictures we have are courtesy of some members of the Google Maps Preview test group who wish to remain anonymous.
Read MoreGoogle Pay v2.94 is preparing Incognito mode [APK Teardown]
A new version of Google Pay is rolling out, but outside of minor tweaks here and there, you're probably not going to spot any big changes. The big news this time is that we're probably going to see an Incognito mode added to Pay in the future, making it a bit easier to make purchases in private without tipping off anybody with your transaction history.
Read MoreChrome 76 breaks Incognito Mode detection, supports site dark themes, and even sneaks in a Tron reference
It has been around a month since Chrome 76 entered the Beta channel, and right on schedule, it has graduated to the Stable branch. The new browser is now rolling out on all platforms, including Android, and it's one of the largest Chrome updates we've seen in a long time. Let's dive right in!
Read MoreGoogle Search gets new account picker with Incognito mode
The Google Search app has been getting a lot of love from its developers lately. The beta version is currently testing an incomplete dark mode while the stable release has seen the addition of the account switcher we see in many other Google apps. Recently, another new feature has rolled out to many users – the app now includes an incognito mode, depicted in the screenshot above as "Use without an account."
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[Update: Search app] Google rolling out one-tap access to account settings, privacy features in its apps
Google has brought privacy controls to the fore with the introduction of revised interfaces in several of its apps and new features such as the ability for users to auto-delete their location and web activity history. We've got another batch of these changes at I/O 2019, including an easy way to access their Google account settings as well as Incognito Mode browsing.
Read MoreIncognito Mode is coming to Google Maps
Incognito Mode is seemingly as old as the Google Chrome browser itself, allowing users to search for and view whatever they like, safe in the knowledge that it won't appear in their search history. It also precludes the saving of cookies, site data, and form information. Google brought Incognito Mode to YouTube last summer, and now it's doing the same with Google Maps.
Read MoreGoogle removing ability for sites to detect Chrome Incognito Mode
While Chrome already sandboxes each tab you have open, Incognito Mode takes further steps to protect your privacy. Cookies and other locally-stored data are erased when the session ends, and history is never recorded. However, sites have been able to use well-known workarounds to determine if they were running under Incognito Mode, and Google is finally addressing them.
Read More[Update: Now in stable version too] SwiftKey Beta automatic Incognito mode is here to save you from awkward predictions
Picture this: you have national security level web browsing to do, and fire up Incognito mode. However, unless you also remember to toggle your keyboard over to Incognito, it's still studying what you type to add words to its dictionary. If you can already see a potentially embarrassing situation brewing, worry no more, as the newest SwiftKey Beta picks up the ability to automatically switch itself to Incognito mode.
Read MoreIncognito mode in Google Chrome might become 'Private mode' [Updated]
For privacy-conscious users, Incognito Mode has long been a favorite feature of Google Chrome. It lets you browse the web without maintaining a history or saving information like cookies and form inputs. Other browsers have tended to call it Private Mode, since that's probably a term more people are familiar with, and it looks like Google might be planning to go down that route too.
Read MoreYouTube is testing an Incognito Mode in its Android app
Some Android apps offer an Incognito Mode where you can use their functionality without being tracked and without your actions being logged into your usage history. Chrome is the obvious one, but Gboard got it too. In YouTube, there's an equivalent of an Incognito Mode by going to Settings > History & privacy and toggling on the options to pause watch and search history. You could also sign out and use the app like that. But now it looks like YouTube will make a little easier to go into incognito without digging into many settings and without having to disable it later.
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