Updated Features on Google Maps and Waze: Curated Ideas, Previews, Improved Parking Options, and Verbal Accident Reporting
Google Maps and Waze have recently undergone significant updates, enhancing their capabilities and focusing on real-time map updates, curated suggestions, streamlined driving, immersive views, and safety. However, some older features are being removed, and older devices are losing support.
Google Maps Updates
Google Maps has introduced a new screenshot feature on iOS that allows users to quickly scan their photo libraries for images containing location information. This enables more streamlined planning using screenshots taken online, simplifying how directions to those locations are found.
The app is designed for users interested in staying on main roads and provides not only navigation but also suggestions for dining, entertainment, lodging, and landmarks at the destination, combining navigation with a broader travel experience. Google Maps continues to evolve immersive views and driving aids, though it is also phasing out some older features like social follower features and media playback that had mixed user reception.
Other new features include the ability to view and report weather disruptions along routes, find nearby parking lots, and remind users to save their parking location. Google Maps now offers real-time map updates, enhanced navigation with clear lane, crosswalk, and road sign indications, and the ability to enter Street View or AR walking navigation from a parked location.
Waze Updates
Waze remains popular for drivers wanting the fastest routes using real-time crowdsourced data about accidents, police presence, weather, and construction, enabling dynamic rerouting that often avoids delays. The app will soon end updates for Android devices running version 9.0 or earlier, meaning no new features or safety updates will be available on those phones.
To improve safety near schools, Waze is adding School Zones, with alerts when approaching schools during open hours. Waze has also enhanced driver safety with Conversational Reporting, allowing users to report incidents by speaking naturally. School Zones will be available on Android and iOS later this year.
Waze's focus on driver-specific real-time data and safety alerts makes it a valuable tool for those prioritizing speed and safety on the road. However, its limited information compared to Google Maps' immersive views and broader travel experiences means that both apps serve complementary but distinct purposes for navigation and safety.
Summary of Key Points
| Feature Area | Google Maps | Waze | |---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Real-time Map Updates | New screenshot-based location planning on iOS | Crowdsourced alerts for real-time hazards & faster routes| | Curated Suggestions | Recommendations for food, lodging, entertainment | Focused on driver-centric route optimization | | Streamlined Driving | Emphasis on main roads, removes social features | Dynamic rerouting based on live user reports | | Immersive Views | Continues to evolve, details not in latest updates | Limited info; focuses more on practical navigation | | Safety Features | Removing some features, but ongoing updates continue | Alerts for black spots and hazards | | Device Support | Supports Android 8.0+ | Ending updates for Android 9.0 or lower soon |
In essence, Google Maps is enhancing usability especially on iOS with novel screenshot features and focusing on combined navigation and destination discovery, while Waze doubles down on driver-specific real-time data and safety alerts but will reduce support for older devices soon. Both apps continue to serve complementary but distinct purposes for navigation and safety.
[1] Google Maps Blog: What's New
[2] Waze Blog: What's New
[3] Google Maps Support: System Requirements
[4] Waze Support: System Requirements
[5] Waze Blog: Waze Safety
Here are the sentences containing the words 'lifestyle' and 'technology':
- The app is designed for users interested in staying on main roads and provides not only navigation but also suggestions for dining, entertainment, lodging, and landmarks at the destination, combining navigation with a broader travel experience. (Google Maps)
- However, its limited information compared to Google Maps' immersive views and broader travel experiences means that both apps serve complementary but distinct purposes for navigation and lifestyle. (Summary of Key Points)
