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Waze for iPhone has a ways to go

by Mel Martin Oct 14th 2009 at 7:30PM

Several of our readers suggested that we take a look at Waze, a free navigation app [iTunes link] that depends on other users for reports of traffic tie ups, accidents, and speed traps. It also functions as a turn-by-turn navigator with spoken directions, although it doesn't have text to speech capabilities for naming streets or points of interest.

As a navigator Waze is fine, but it seems to be missing a lot of residential addresses. Waze had a nasty habit of jumping my vehicle icon to a nearby parallel street, and while it was nice to have both 2D and 3D maps, the software seemed to change the zoom factor without me telling it to. This erratic zooming seemed to happen when I went to a menu and then returned to the map.

The maps aren't very attractive. There are both day and night views for the Waze maps, but even when set to 'auto,' the night map comes up no matter what time of day it is. The maps and POI data are all downloaded from the internet, so if you're in a "dead zone" for data, you have no navigation.

As for the social functions of the app, they are a great idea, but in reality you're only going to get information in a densely populated areas. Even then, you may not get much of anything in terms of reported incidents. If you go to the Waze web page and look at the national map for reported incidents, it is pretty lightly populated. Of course, that should get better as more and more people use Waze. A clever aspect of the app is that it keeps track of where you are while you're navigating, and uses your speed to add to its database of road conditions.

I think Waze is promising, and if you don't want to spend money on a turn-by-turn nav app, it's a start. To be really useful some of the bugs need to be fixed, the address data needs to be more complete, and there need to be a heck of a lot more people using Waze so there is more incident reporting.

This app is free and implements some creative ideas. If you're thinking about getting a nav app, but you're on the fence, make the risk-free download of Waze and see if it enhances your driving.



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Several of our readers suggested that we take a look at Waze, a free navigation app [iTunes link] that depends on other users for reports...
 

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alxndr

"see if it enhances your driving"?? I can guarantee staring at a small screen will NOT enhance your driving in any way. (It may improve your navigation skills, though.)

October 16 2009 at 6:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mitchramos1

I think the idea behind the app is great. With enough people using it, the live traffic updates would be superior to any other nav system out there. At this point it is just a baby app but soon enough it will climb to the top of the app store.

October 16 2009 at 12:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jbrown510

Inhavent tried this app yet, but I just noticed GPS-X Drive, which is a similarly inexpensive nav app. It interesting they charge $20-30 per year for voice nav if you want to upgrade via an in app purchase, also availble monthly IIRC. I downloaded thier free GPS-X Sport app months ago but have never really used it, looks good though.

October 15 2009 at 12:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

I have been using Waze for a few weeks also, and have found all these issues. The routing is way off, limited to 200 miles and doesn't really have every address. There are issues with maps loading fast enough and just not knowing where it is. But...I use it because I believe in the potential of this app to be great once the maps are verified and there are more users for the real time information. Keep on it Waze!!

October 15 2009 at 8:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lebow

WAZE has been out in israel for over a year ( on nokia phones, I don't know about iphone ) and it is great!

It is aware of traffic conditions in real time and routes you accordingly. It is constantly updating it's maps based on users gps tracks and has a feature that you can add new roads. Waze showed me roads that I weren't up on any of the map sites yet.

It seems like the israeli version is much further along that what you guys in the US are using.

October 15 2009 at 3:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PowerHouse

As of right now, it only has a 200 mile trip routing limit... They say they are working on improving that.

October 15 2009 at 2:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Sandberg

Waze is awesome. I'm an area manager, and it's great I can help fix issues that other users report, and do my best to fix the major roads. There's a lot to go through, but it's great when you're dead bored. :) It's also great to know that you're helping out other people. I was able to save about 30 minutes in traffic already, and there's not a lot of people using it. :D

October 15 2009 at 12:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Randy

I've been using this app for about 3 weeks now. There is some truth the fact that the routing improves over time, the more you use it. but don't expect that to happen overnight.

My biggest gripe with this app is the routing. It seems to have problems with on/off ramps. It tells me to make turns where it's not possible.

On my route to work there are sections of road where the route ends and the app gets confused. but then it re-establishes again. I'm just not confident yet that this app will get me where I want to go.

If you need a working Nav App stay away from this one. However, if you're will to put up with some quirky routing, and want to help and to see this improve, then jump in.

October 14 2009 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ALan

Take Campbell up past River, all the way up to Skyline, make a left, and you're at the Tucson Apple store! Yes, Mel lives in the Tucson area!

October 14 2009 at 9:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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