Google simultaneously updated two of its navigation apps, Maps and Waze, with a host of new features. The company continues to integrate Waze tools directly into Maps, adding improved traffic incident reporting, larger icons for reporting road closures, construction, traffic cameras or police presence. The Waze app, in turn, received a new interface for informing about local events.
Image source: Google
Google Maps has a new building entrance search tool that will identify the desired building and highlight the main entrance green when approaching it. Nearby parking lots will be displayed at the same time. The improved traffic incident reporting system is already available in Google Maps on Android, iOS, cars with Google built-in, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and destination search assistance will be available “in the coming weeks.”
Waze has also added several significant updates. Users of the service can now report new types of traffic cameras that record driving in dedicated lanes, texting while driving, and the absence of seat belts.
Waze’s new dedicated interface will help you get information about local events that affect traffic, such as a marathon, bike ride, concert and other public events. Users will receive a push notification immediately after a road closure near their office, home, or place they recently traveled. The launch of the new tool is timed to coincide with the start of the 2024 Olympic Games.
It may appear that Waze and Google Maps are on the path to full integration, but company managers deny this. The head of Google Maps, Can Comertoglu, emphasized that Waze users are very dedicated to their work. According to Waze CEO Tim Queenan, Waze now has more than 500,000 active members.