You guys spoke, we heard you, and as a direct result of your feedback, we’re happy to report that the new Waze version features complete text-to-speech (TTS) voice guidance, so you’ll never need to wonder where to turn again!

Just by enabling the new TTS capabilities on your device, you’ll  receive voice alerts upon approaching potentially dangerous events on the road, as well as voice-based street, exit and highway names, creating a much more convenient – not to mention safe – experience on the road.

In order to gradually introduce and test this new feature, initially, text-to-speech capabilities will be available on iPhone and Android platforms in the US and Canada only, with other countries soon to follow. Note that you’ll have to manually enable ‘Full’ guidance in your settings.

Our new version also features a special treat for users of the Android persuasion…a pioneering desktop commuting widget that displays a constantly-updated commuting time & ETA to work or home right from the phone’s main screen.

A color-coded meter clues users in to whether it’s a good time to leave, or not – red indicating heavy traffic, and green showing that traffic is clear – providing uncommon insight into conditions on the road before you ever get into the car. You can also click on the widget to open a chart view that displays commuting time based on both live information and historical data showing ETA expectations a few hours into the future. Pretty neat, eh?

To install the commuting widget, first make sure to download the most recent version, then select the Waze widget from the Android widget’s menu.

In addition to TTS voice guidance and the Android commuting widget, we’ve also included improved map graphics display, animated display of top-contributing Wazers, automatic centering on map after panning and improved performance due to multiple bug fixes. Give the new version a spin, and don’t forget to let us know whatcha think!

1 Million New Drivers Added in Six Weeks!

Yup, thank you for Wazing everyone!

Have you heard what went down in LA? Waze was used for congestion avoidance at a massive scale during Carmageddon, the potentially epic traffic jam caused by the 10 mile closure of the 405 in Los Angeles from July 15-17th. The widespread adoption of waze by broadcast media, government officials and citizens provided enormous validation and use of waze as a highly useful tool for avoiding traffic because it is real-time and crowd-sourced like no other solution. We crossed 5MM drivers, increased our LA waze community by 70% in one week, received coverage in every major daily in the US and did our first major US broadcast deal. The Waze/ABC-7 collaboration was a terrific success yielding real-time information for citizens, successful congestion avoidance and of course tons of new wazers.

Here is a 10 minute video which looks at the entire program from start to finish (which was only 4 weeks!!) It was an unprecedented citizen traffic program, which could only work with the scale of mobile devices, pervasiveness of smart phones and the waze community. This is a very special point in waze growth and development and we look forward to continuing to connect our cities and our citizens through social technology.

As most Angelenos know already, Carmageddon is almost upon the city of Los Angeles. From July 15-17, the main north/south traffic artery – the 405 – will be closed from the 101 to the 10 freeways, creating one of the biggest traffic disasters in the city’s history…hence the name.

But fear not, LA folks, Waze is on the case. And the good news is that in situations like this, Waze is actually at its best!  Since our maps are 100% live, as drivers share real-time traffic information, the whole local driving community benefits. Other apps might not even register the 405 as non-operational, whereas, with Waze, you’ll get up-to- the-minute traffic and road closure information, as well as the *best* 405 bypassing routes at any given moment. Plus, the more you drive with Waze open during this time, the more you’ll contribute to The Carmageddon Resistance, a grassroots band of LA drivers out there fighting traffic wherever it is found.

Anyone who’d like to participate in the Carmageddon Resistance, can follow it on Twitter – @BeatCarmageddon -  where they’ll gain access to round-the-clock communiqués keeping them up to date on:

• Real-time traffic updates
• Travel time for effective alternative routes via the Canyons
• Other up-to-the-moment, relevant LA road info.

We’ve also put together a website where LA drivers can get Carmageddon-resistant routes, that will take the 405 closure into consideration starting July 15. It’s a link you’ll really want to share with your friends – especially those without smartphones who can’t get this information directly from the Waze app…

Contribute to The Carmageddon Resistance!

• Make sure to open Waze whenever you get into the car
• Take an active role and share road reports as you encounter accidents, heavy traffic, speedcams or any kind of hazard along your way – you’ll be helping out the wider driving community in LA with this information, not just local Wazers (Extra karma points!)
• Spread the word. “Like” the resistance on Facebook, share www.BeatCarmageddon.com with your friends and for those with smartphones, ask them to download Waze to help strengthen the amount of real-time information coming in from drivers on the road. After all, as always, the more people who use Waze, the better it gets!

We’ve also partnered up with ABC7 news to help spread the word. Check out the very cute promo, below, alongside other local  news coverage of Waze’s role in preventing Carmageddon chaos: