As an avid iPhone user, my default navigation choice has long been Apple Maps. Despite its early stumbles, Apple’s app has matured into a reliable and well-integrated tool within iOS. However, my wife often opts for Waze, drawn to its dynamic features and flexibility, and I might soon be joining her, especially for certain trips.
Waze recently unveiled five compelling new options, none of which are currently available in Apple Maps to the same extent. While I may not utilize every single one of these updates, enough of them are intriguing to make me seriously consider firing up Waze for my upcoming journeys.
Navigate Smarter with New Waze Features
First on the list is a brand-new motorcycle mode. While I don’t personally ride, any innovation that benefits motorcyclists ultimately makes the roads safer for everyone. This specialized mode leverages Waze’s AI to factor in unique shortcuts and restrictions, crafting routes specifically designed for two-wheel travel.
Motorcyclists will receive more accurate ETAs and crucial warnings about hazards like potholes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and narrow bridges. Currently, this mode is rolling out in select countries including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, with more global availability promised soon for both Android and iOS users.
Personalized Routes, Fewer Interruptions
One feature that truly resonates with me is personalized navigation. When I’m heading into or out of New York City, I consistently try to avoid the George Washington Bridge, even if it means a slightly longer drive. With Apple Maps, I’d often resort to tricking the app with an incorrect destination to skirt around it, but Waze aims to eliminate this inconvenience.
Waze will now suggest routes based on your past trips and an analysis of local traffic patterns, prioritizing your preferred roads, whether highways or local streets. To enable this, simply go to Settings in the Waze app, select General, tap Personalization, and toggle “Get personalized ETA” and “Get personalized routes” to on.
Another welcome addition is the “less chatty” mode. Like many drivers, I enjoy listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks during my commute. Frequent voice interruptions from navigation apps can be quite disruptive, especially on trips with numerous turns.
This new mode minimizes the frequency and length of spoken directions, ensuring your audio isn’t constantly interrupted. You’ll still receive essential alerts about hazards and turns, but they’ll be delivered more judiciously, allowing you to enjoy your audio experience without constant breaks. This feature is now globally available on both Waze iOS and Android apps.
Enhanced Communication and Search
Waze is also empowering users with more intuitive reporting. Building on its existing conversational reporting for traffic slowdowns, you can now verbally suggest updates to the map itself. If you spot a road closure, an outdated address, or any other map inaccuracy, simply speak your findings to Waze.
The app will then relay your suggestion to local map editors, who will verify your discovery and implement the necessary updates. This convenient feature is currently rolling out to both iOS and Android versions of the app.
Finally, Waze is introducing a more conversational search experience. Sometimes you know the exact destination, but other times you’re just looking for a general category, like the nearest coffee shop or gas station. With this update, you can tap the search voice icon on the dashboard and ask questions such as “Find me a coffee shop that’s open right now” or “Find me a nearby gas station with the lowest prices.”
Waze will present you with a list of relevant options, and you can then verbally select your preferred choice. This intelligent search functionality is currently being rolled out to Waze beta testers on both Android and iOS, promising a more fluid and intuitive way to find what you need while on the go.
While some of these features, like personalized navigation, are already at my fingertips, others may take a little longer to reach all users. However, I’m genuinely excited to explore Waze’s full suite of new capabilities on my next adventure.
Source: ZDNet – AI
