I have just read an article on Forbes.com in which they are foretelling the death of Waze - any thoughts?
Until Google Maps gets new road added as quick as we do on Waze, then I’m sorry, Google Maps will not get a look in from me.
Surely the added USP of Waze is it’s simplified client map with associated small data download.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
I’ve been running both side by side for a while ( :geek: ). Usually Waze on Android Auto and Google on my work phone, so I’ve got some experience of both. The pros and cons of each IMO:
- Google’s knowledge of live traffic conditions is way superior to Waze, understandable given the far greater number of users I suppose. I think there is some sharing of data between Maps and Waze, but google knows about it a lot sooner
- Waze is too slow to respond to traffic. Google updates its ETA and adjusts routing more often than Waze. Waze has that frustrating habit of making you arrive at the back of a queue and only then adding 15 mins to your ETA.
- When Waze does know about traffic, or there is a major event such as a motorway closure, then Waze is far superior in routing around it. Google’s algorithm seems to favour using major roads more than Waze.
- Googles new features mentioned in the article (they’ve actually been live in the UK for a few months) are a bit rubbish. Notification of fixed speed cameras is very patchy, same for mobile cameras. Waze is streets ahead and more up to date. I assume the Google user reporting features will improve over time.
- Road closures are poor on Google…they seem to have the same ideas of the recent automatic Elgin closures and Waze_roadclosures(staff). e.g. major roads and motorways closed during the day when only night closures actually apply, or roads closed for months when actually they are only closed for a few days for resurfacing.
- As Kkervin said, Waze is more up to date
- Waze is too buggy. Google Maps has never once failed to calculate a route. Waze has too many “uh-oh” errors and server communication problems. I think if it had a Blackberry moment and had server issues for a few days, it would loose many users to Maps.
I think if Google were to embrace the Waze principle of user driven improvements and editing, it would make Waze obsolete. But they are probably too protective of their map to allow that.
Indeed, until Google get onboard with the idea of crowdsourcing (even if it’s just to a select few trusted users and not the entire planet) the maintenance of their map data, then anyone with an interest in ensuring their satnav is using the most accurate mapping data possible would do well to steer clear of them. Even back in the days when the Google Map Maker programme was still operational, getting stuff fixed in their map data was often an exercise in utter frustration, and these days unless it’s something simple that I know can get resolved quickly via the more restrictive error reporting UI provided in the Maps website itself, I just don’t bother even trying to report it.
Also, fuel prices…
Also also, situational awareness and overall clarity of mapping - whilst I’ve not been overly complimentary about some of the visual changes Waze have foisted upon us in the past, the current Waze app renders the map in what is to me a far more appealing manner than Google’s attempts, and also brings in additional data (railway lines, green spaces etc.) that helps to fix the onscreen map against the real world you’re seeing through the car windows.
Hmm… kinda worrying from an editing point of view. Maybe this explains why development has been pretty much non-existent for a while now.
On the contrary, there’s a lot of stuff being worked on, some of which will address some of the more regular criticisms of Waze compared with other satnavs, but until HQ allow us to talk about it all in public then unfortunately we just have to keep quiet.
Which is bloody frustrating at times when you’re seeing end users complaining that “Waze doesn’t do this or that, what’s up with that?”, knowing that Waze will do this or that soon, but being unable to give them any sort of firm reassurance that if they can just be patient a little bit longer their complaint will be addressed…
Yes, Waze is still a small company in terms.of how much development resources it can throw at things, which does mean they have to be more careful in prioritising the stuff they do end up working on. But there is some genuinely exciting stuff coming, we all just need to give them the time to get it ready and keep the faith that HQ haven’t started to abandon us due to the lack of any interesting news leaking out from behind their wall of development secrecy.