Google has announced a series of new features for its two main navigation apps, Google Maps and Waze. The updates introduced seem to bring the two services ever closer, offering users an even more complete and personalized navigation experience.
On the one hand, Google Maps is about to receive a major update that will simplify the reporting of incidents, making it similar to that of Waze. Users will now be able to report road closures, construction, speed cameras and the presence of law enforcement more easily, thanks to larger and more intuitive icons. In addition, it will be possible to confirm incidents reported by other drivers with a simple tap, improving the accuracy of real-time information.
Another exciting new feature is the destination guidance: the app will highlight the destination building in red, with a green marker pointing to the main entrance, making it easier to get to your destination even in unfamiliar places. Finally, Maps will start showing nearby parking lots, helping drivers find a free spot.
Waze is also getting new features. Users will now be able to report new types of traffic cameras, such as those that detect improper use of preferential lanes or HOVs, and those that monitor the use of seat belts or the use of the phone while driving.
Additionally, Waze will introduce a dedicated event information experience, informing users of road closures related to marathons, concerts, or sports games. Push notifications will be sent after the first road closure is detected near locations the user frequents, all while the phone remains safely locked. Lock screen navigation will launch globally on Waze for Android this month and will come to iOS this fall.
The updates announced by Google for Maps and Waze promise to improve the user’s browsing experience, offering increasingly advanced and personalized features. The integration of some features between the two apps could lead to greater uniformity and better synergy between the two services: what do you think? Tell us your opinion in the comments; in the meantime, Google has also changed the privacy of Google Maps, which will delete the Movement history from December.
