Plus a brain game tied to lower dementia risk, touchless TSA PreCheck on your phone, and Spotify’s new music assistant.
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In each edition of The Local Gig, we round up some great tools and tips to help you make the most of your time online and offline. This month, a 20-year study points to which brain games may help lower dementia risk, and we’ve also got the quietest day to fly this Thanksgiving, a phone-only way through TSA PreCheck, and where to stream five NFL games in three days.
Enjoy More Learning
Online classes, brain games, and skill-building tools
Practice a new language in Google Translate
Ready to pick up a new language? Practice mode in Google Translate has grown beyond Spanish and French, and English speakers can now work on German and Portuguese too. Choose your skill level and practice real-time conversations right in the app.
One brain game stood out in a 20-year study
Not every brain game delivers the same benefit. In a 20-year study of about 2,800 adults age 65 and older, extra practice sessions with one speed-focused game were linked to roughly 25% lower dementia risk, while memory and reasoning games showed no effect. Watch NBC News as reporter Erika Edwards talks with a player who credits a video game with changing her life.
Build a new skill with Google Skills
Looking for a skill to build this season? Google Skills gathers more than 3,000 courses and hands-on labs on AI and other tech topics in one place. Many are free, and none require prior experience. A free Google account gets you in, though some labs use credits after the first 35 each month.
Enjoy More Travel
Apps, tips, and destinations
Fly on Thanksgiving Day for the quietest trip
If you’re flying for Thanksgiving, timing your trip around the best travel dates can make a big difference. NerdWallet looked at TSA traffic from 2021 through 2025 and found that Thanksgiving Day itself is the quietest day to fly, while the Sunday after is the busiest. Lighter days also tend to come with lower fares.
Move through PreCheck with just your phone
If you have TSA PreCheck, your phone can now help you move through security faster. Google Wallet has joined the PreCheck Touchless ID program, which works at more than 65 airports. You need to be enrolled in PreCheck and add a digital ID made from a U.S. passport, and sharing your information is always opt-in.
Google Maps now has Gemini built in
Heading out on a holiday road trip? Google Maps now has Gemini built in, including an Ask Maps button, 3D navigation, and directions that point out landmarks along the way. Some features, like the 3D view, are limited to certain regions.
Enjoy More Streaming
Music, movies, television, and gaming
Spotify’s new assistant takes requests
Spotify has a new beta assistant that lets you type or talk to get music, podcast, and audiobook suggestions, much like chatting with an AI helper. It is available to Premium subscribers 18 and older in the U.S., Ireland, and Sweden.
Five NFL games in three days
Football fans, Thanksgiving week is stacked with five games in three days. It starts with Packers at Rams on Netflix on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and the three Thanksgiving Day games air on CBS, FOX, and NBC, with streams on Paramount+, FOX One, and Peacock. Broncos at Steelers wraps things up on Prime Video on Friday, Nov. 27. Keep in mind that FOX coverage online may require a TV provider login. Check out this video for a walkthrough of streaming NFL games across every service.
Thanksgiving Week Football at a Glance
| Day | Game | Watch / Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Nov. 25 | Packers at Rams | Netflix |
| Thanksgiving Day | Three games | CBS / Paramount+, FOX / FOX One, NBC / Peacock |
| Fri, Nov. 27 | Broncos at Steelers | Prime Video |
FOX coverage online may require a TV provider login.
Two big game releases land this month
Two big game releases are hitting this month! With the release of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Switch 2 coming Nov. 5, reviewers are getting early glimpses of the game. And the wait is nearly over for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto release. Take-Two has reaffirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI arrives Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, with no PC version announced. Because the series is rated Mature, parents of younger players may want to check the rating before it lands on a holiday wish list.
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