Waze joins Google

[AlanOfTheBerg]

...Our employees, managers, founders and I are all committed to our vision for many years to come.

Except those who take the $1.2mil and leave?

[mr1492]

Since Waze has sold out to Google, I will not be a Wazer anymore. All it will bring is more targeted ad placement and spying. Too bad because I was actually enjoying the app.

This post captures some of my concerns. I'm relatively new to Waze but have enjoyed using it an participating in the community spirit. Joining Google, while it begins relatively benignly, will inevitably cause a joining to the Google corporate culture. I wonder how long Waze will remain. As soon as the founders begin to regret joining the Googleplex and jump ship, the Waze identity will fade.

I am also concerned as an iPhone user that Waze will switch to an Android-centric system. Nothing has been said but I can see Google pushing the developers to make the Android based system a little "better" than their competitors application.

I'll stick around for a while but wonder for how long.

[georgenqueiroz]

I wonder how long Waze will remain. As soon as the founders begin to regret joining the Googleplex and jump ship, the Waze identity will fade.

Well, Waze may die in mid term, but I think it's not likely. When Google bought Youtube, they had their own video service, the Google Videos. After seven years, Youtube is alive and Google Videos does not exist anymore. Another example is Panoramio.com. When Google bought this website, they already had the PicasaWeb and today Panoramio is the main source of photos of Google Maps.

As soon as the founders begin to regret joining the Googleplex and jump ship.

Waze was sold for U$1 bi. They definitely will not regret.

I am also concerned as an iPhone user that Waze will switch to an Android-centric system. Nothing has been said but I can see Google pushing the developers to make the Android based system a little "better" than their competitors application.

In my opinion, if Apple had bought Waze, it would be much more likely they stopped developing new versions of the App for Android.

I guess what I'm going to say is not true for you, but I think several IPhone users tend not to be happy knowing that Google has bought Waze. In addition, I think Android users would tend not to be happy if Apple had bought Waze.

By the way, I'm an Android user.

[sketch]

I am also concerned as an iPhone user that Waze will switch to an Android-centric system. Nothing has been said but I can see Google pushing the developers to make the Android based system a little "better" than their competitors application.

Waze started out as an "Android-centric system", back in 2009. It was out for Android months before it made it to iOS, and Android development was ahead. It took a year or so for iOS to catch up and then take the lead.

Google's iOS app library is pretty strong. There's no reason for them to stiff their iOS userbase now.


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[z00mb1e]

Waze had some problem in my area, in West Midlands and recently noticed in Cornwall, UK the Google Maps had a better traffic information and the maps were better. My editor level got stuck on 3 cones as there is not much to edit in my area (plus some corrections I tried to do were rolled back by someone else) and when I tried to fix the maps in Cornwall my level was to low ;( and, from experience, if I'll ask to unlock the other user will make a correction and gain all the points, leaving me behind on mid level. And, frankly, I was switching between Google Maps, Copilot and Waze on my holidays due to incorrect maps (Waze), no mobile reception (Waze, Google) and... actually the Copilot was the best - no problem on the maps, no relay on mobile data (only for the traffic info). I'm really cures for where this Google+Waze mirage will end.

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[juksemaker]

Since Waze has sold out to Google, I will not be a Wazer anymore. All it will bring is more targeted ad placement and spying. Too bad because I was actually enjoying the app.

Google, NSA etc already know enough about me. They have my mail. They know about every website i visit. They know where i am when i surf. They know everything i search for. They know everything i do online.

I don't need them to know where i am when i'm offline.

I have asked to be deleted from Waze.
http://tinyurl.com/delWaze

Bye,
Juks

[edsonajj]

I am also concerned as an iPhone user that Waze will switch to an Android-centric system. Nothing has been said but I can see Google pushing the developers to make the Android based system a little "better" than their competitors application.

Waze started out as an "Android-centric system", back in 2009. It was out for Android months before it made it to iOS, and Android development was ahead. It took a year or so for iOS to catch up and then take the lead.

Google's iOS app library is pretty strong. There's no reason for them to stiff their iOS userbase now.


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What has been true is that Google apps are just "a bit better" on Android than on iOS, for example… maps. I guess we iOS users just worry that new functions will be added to Android first ant then take their time to make it to iOS. The way it is right now, with almost simultaneous feature releases, is my preferred one.

[sketch]

And, frankly, I was switching between Google Maps, Copilot and Waze on my holidays due to incorrect maps (Waze), no mobile reception (Waze, Google) and... actually the Copilot was the best - no problem on the maps, no relay on mobile data (only for the traffic info).

Copilot's maps are pretty awful in the US in my experience. And while it's good that they don't use any data, they also take up a lot of space on the phone.

What has been true is that Google apps are just "a bit better" on Android than on iOS, for example… maps. I guess we iOS users just worry that new functions will be added to Android first ant then take their time to make it to iOS. The way it is right now, with almost simultaneous feature releases, is my preferred one.

Well, yes, but Google typically has a pretty big head-start on things like this. Android has had a fully-functional Google Maps app for years. iOS, until last year, had an extremely functionally limited Apple-developed maps app which used Google's maps. Even after that was gone, it took Google a couple months before they released their Google Maps app for the iPhone, so they've been playing catch-up with themselves ever since.

[z00mb1e]

Copilot's maps are pretty awful in the US in my experience. And while it's good that they don't use any data, they also take up a lot of space on the phone.

I've tried few satnavs incl stand alone TomTom and have to admit the Copilot was never wrong with routing me trough the UK and polish country roads. Never been in the states so can't judge that but here my friend was driving me around airport in Liverpool using TomTom everywhere but not to the airport lol

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[zappee]

This really sucks.

Now Google will take the Waze-team and the data and "integrate" them into Google. Then they will close down the app and continue with Google Maps and everyone who is not using Android will not get the latest features.

So, can anyone recommend me a new navigation app?