So, the long wait is over and Version 3.0 – for Android – is available right now on the Android Market and ready to rumble…
When you download the new version, you’ll see that it’s an entirely redesigned wazing experience, that we hope you’ll really enjoy. Take some time to get used to the new look and feel, and once you’ve got a sense of it, we’ll love to hear any feedback you have in the comments section, below. Happy wazing, Android friends. We know it took a little longer than you’d have liked, but, as always, good things come to those who wait!

It’s an announcement that’s been a long time coming…the new Waze map editor is now live!

For map editing veterans: First off, thank you. Mainly, for your patience. We know that the old version was…hard-to-love…and following your regular feedback on the matter, we made this upgrade a priority. We spent lots of time on this project, and we hope you’re very pleased with the results!

Newbie editors: You may be asking yourself, “Am *I* a newbie editor?” And the answer is: if you want to start editing the map, we’ll be more than glad to have you on board. The new user interface is much more intuitive and there’s a lot of incentive to put in the effort, as far as we can see it; each little edit you make has the capacity  to save members of your local driving community lots of time out there on the road. But for you do-gooders who love helping others, take note, we’re told people really love solving the map problems and that it can be somewhat addictive, so don’t forget to come up for air now and then!

To get going, log in here. If you’ve forgotten your log in details, though, visit My Waze>My Profile in the app for a reminder. And, as always, let us know what you think in the comments section, below. Your voice matters.

For months, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes over here to bring you what’s probably our most exciting new version yet…version 3.0 for iPhone!

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!

]]> http://www.waze.com/blog/great-new-waze-version-features-tts-voice-guidance-android-commuting-widget/feed/ 10 http://www.waze.com/blog/new-version-at-the-toppa-the-free-nav-category-w-5-stars/ http://www.waze.com/blog/new-version-at-the-toppa-the-free-nav-category-w-5-stars/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 13:48:24 +0000 Alli http://www.waze.com/blog/?p=3866

We’ve got a new version up and out in the Appstore with a glorious 5 star rating – and that’s what we like to see! Did you know that with each new version the reviews and ratings start from scratch? We’d love to keep those 5 stars shining below our name for as long as possible, so if you wanna help with the effort, don’t forget to search for ‘Waze’ on the Appstore, visit our page, scroll down and click our Ratings button and leave your feedback and star-rating, too…Many thanks, in advance, for your help, Wazers!

Awwww, yeah…with this new release waze just got one step more awesome. Why’s that? ‘Cause now we’re offering community voice alerts to warn you when there are road hazards ahead. It’s only on the iPhone, for now, but sit tight the rest of you, eventually you’ll be able to enjoy this capability, too.

The new feature allows users to report on a wide range of road hazards, weather conditions, and potentially dangerous obstacles with minimal interaction with the app. For instance, once you spot a hazard, you’ll be able to record a brief voice-description and share it with others in your area. Then, when those heading towards the hazard approach, they’ll be warned by your voice-alert in advance to avoid any potential danger. We think it’s a pretty cool way to “pay it forward,” and we hope you do, too.

Make sure to visit the Appstore and update your version today. And, as always, feel free to let us know what you think in the comments section, below…

We’ve got a lot shakin’ over here at waze and wanted to give you a bit of a sneak peak as to what we’re working on, since it’s nothing short of a complete overhaul. We’ve heard all of your comments over the last year loud and clear and we’re working hard to incorporate your feedback and great ideas to make waze the best it can be for 2011 – and beyond. Over the next few months you can expect a release with a fully redesigned graphic interface and flow, making waze easier to use (and prettier) than ever before. We’ve also heard the voice of all you map editors, and a cartouche upgrade is very much in the works, to boot. While we don’t have anything to announce for the immediate future, we just wanted to get you a little excited about what’s to come. Make sure to keep tuned to the blog for updates, as we have them. At the present, it’s all still in the oven cooking, but we can humbly tell you, this stuff smells delicious…

In addition to being able to participate in driving groups, you’ll also notice some very considerable performance and stability improvements, including enhancements such as multi-touch support, zoom and rotations.

As always, we want to know what you think about the new version. If you have any comments, suggestions, or bug reports – please feel free to drop us a line: alpha@waze.com

And Android users – don’t fret – stay tuned to the blog for some big news coming next week… 

Man, you kids are crazy… Less than a day after the launch of the new waze driving groups and already there are about 450 groups set up and ready to go (200 stateside, 250 around the globe) – you guys never fail to amaze us! So far, we see the groups broken up in these three categories: location-based, brand-orientated, and socially-driven groupings. Take a look at a tiny sampling of the driving groups that have popped up so far…Respect!

Location–Based Driving Groups

Mississippi Road Warriors
Wazer da bologna italy
Sherwood to west Little Rock Commute
Poland Wazers
East Bay to SF
New Jersey Commuters                          

Brand–Orientated Driving Groups

BMW Bimmer Group Atlanta
Mustangs Just for Mustang drivers with Waze on board
Subaru Lovers
Honda Wazers
Subaru Enthusiasts
Mini Cooper Wazers

Social Driving Groups (!)

Retro Gamers of Los Angeles
Sexy while driving!!
Pasadena Nightlife
Art Center Students
Final Fantasy XIV Wazers
New lesbian friends in mass