Waze - Android / iPhone App

[My Name is URL]

Hi folks,

Anyone out there using the Waze app for their smart phone?

Tek did mention it previously but I have just started using it and it seems great.

For those who don't know what it is, its basically a free sat nav, with built in social functionality to share info i.e. if you're stuck in traffic then you tell the app and it relays it to all other users (who might need to know). Can also warn of speed cameras, doughnut patrol, accidents and more.

Plus there is a game side to it whereby you get points for reporting stuff / using the app / even a pac-man type side to it where you munch spots (is there a technical name for them) from roads that have not been travelled before just like Pacman...

At first I thought it would be heavily US biased and hardly any UK users but to be fair there seems to be a fair few UK users and quite a few Staffordians using it.

Check it out

 

[gdavies]

will give it a blast

 

[gdavies]

it has scope but seems like it needs a fan base for it to be of any use, not tried the sat nav function on it as yet though

 

[darben]

Out of curiosity I used it the other day for a long awkward journey, alongside a good old fashioned sat nav, it was late with instructions & it drained the battery so it's ok for what it is which is a bit of fun and an emergency back up but I wouldn't rely on it.
I'm also a bit wary of why it's free and the lack of advertising on it, on one of those if it's too good to be true it probably is kind of things, I'm considering deleting it because of this.

 

[gdavies]

i did think where are the adverts to be honest, the chat seems to be a bit of odd thing to add to it too i use google street view too much to bother to test the sat nav functions but now i know it drains battery i will not bother

 

[My Name is URL]

It does drain the battery, but IMHO not much more than using Google Maps does... what can you expect having GPS on, data constantly downloading and uploading, and screen/backlight constantly on. Get a car charger.. like anyone with a normal satnav would have.

Quite amusing Darben that you are deleting it because it doesn't have advertising on it At the end of the day if it was "paid for" or had adverts, people would use Google Maps instead... they need to build up their community because thats what makes their app unique. I would imagine that the hope is they build it up then sell out to TomTom or the like.

BTW anyone using this today might have saved themselves a £60 fine and 3 points with my report of a speed camera van on the A34 just coming into Stafford.

 

[My Name is URL]

Forgot to say GDavies, the thing that Google Maps / Navigation is missing is traffic info and intelligent routing for navigation. Thats why I prefer Waze at the moment.

 

[darben]

Well that's me told!

But something that's happy to collate my movements for no apparent gain, I have every right to be suspicious of! Nothing is free, like I said if something looks to good to be true it probably is.

People shouldn't be speeding anyway, however if you've prevented an accident by discouraging someone from doing so well done! And BTW I hope you weren't driving whilst sharing the info via your phone as that would be rather silly wouldn't it! I've just realised how totally sad the app is as it also encourages people to use their phone whilst driving and I'm definitely going to delete it now.

 

[gdavies]

Forgot to say GDavies, the thing that Google Maps / Navigation is missing is traffic info and intelligent routing for navigation. Thats why I prefer Waze at the moment.

on my phone i have the option of layers, 1 click then i get to choose sat view, traffic view etc hence i use google street way more, I have a dell streak for a phone my display rapes my battery enough, gps is nothing compared to the screen on my phone lol, cant wait for my upgrade next month

 

[My Name is URL]

Well that's me told!

Huh? I thought we were having a discussion, I wasn't aiming to tell anyone anything.

I also use GMaps occasionally and I haven't ever noticed any advertising on that.

on my phone i have the option of layers, 1 click then i get to choose sat view, traffic view etc hence i use google street way more, I have a dell streak for a phone my display rapes my battery enough, gps is nothing compared to the screen on my phone lol, cant wait for my upgrade next month

I do use the traffic view on my GMaps, and the little red / amber / green light is useful, but I think that is based on historical data i.e. Google having info saying "M6 is usually screwed between 7am and 9am, so we'll say that its busy" rather than actual data.

Perhaps Google will buy Waze, or rip the idea off and better it if they want to

 

[darben]

Huh? I thought we were having a discussion, I wasn't aiming to tell anyone

Sorry, but it came over as a bit of lecture rather than a discussion, but it's never easy to tell the tone of something when it's in writing, and you don't know the person!