Our first look at the Android Q beta was enough to see that privacy was going to be a focus during the annual Google I/O developer conference. Now that we've seen much of what the company has planned for the near future, it's evident that Google intends to go all-in when it comes helping us protect our data even when it's outside of a secure Google data facility. Google CEO Sundar Pichai made it clear during the opening keynote: "We clearly believe that privacy and security are for everyone, not just a few." It's always been a goal for Google to keep your user data private when possible and anonymous when it isn't, but recent events and the ever-present threats of being always connected mean that it's more important now than ever to give users those options. Thankfully, Google has stepped up to the plate, with eyes on the back fence. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Company focus on privacy Some of the changes announced are going to be universal across your entire Google account and data portfolio. A good example is the forthcoming option to automatically delete your location, web, and application activity history every three months. Some features simply need more exposure on their privacy settings, while others need a mulligan. Google tells you that this sort of activity is going to be kept when you first start using one of its services, giving you a simple way to delete the history with the click of a button, but it's been criticized for making these settings difficult to find. And terms like "timeline" or location history don't have a clear meaning to everyone; it quickly became evident that more control was needed. Google is adding it for everyone in the near future and plans to add other account data to the auto-delete feature over the coming months and years.

In tandem with new data retention policies, Google is bringing its Incognito mode to more services. Incognito Mode is often misunderstood when it comes to privacy, but it's actually easy to figure out: it keeps anything you do while using it from being stored in your Google account; your activity isn't associated with you. Incognito Mode for Chrome means Google isn't keeping track of your searches or websites you visit. When Incognito mode comes to the Maps and Search apps, expect the same. Goodbye Nest, Hello Nest. Another sweeping example is the re-absorption of Nest. It's still going to be a standalone brand (though its name is now officially Google Nest), but it's going to be part of the larger Google Hardware division with its new Commitment to Privacy in the Home strategy. The full guide is available online and covers connected home devices and services that use Google Accounts and carry the Google Nest, Google Home, Nest, Google Wifi or Chromecast brand. Google will take time to better explain what these smart devices are actually monitoring and how they do it, consolidating everything under a single account with clear and concise rules about how your data is used and provide a dedicated team to help make sure you understand it all. Plus, Nest camera products will make it absolutely clear when they're recording; Google plans to remove the option to disable the LED while the camera is in use. Quality