The latest version of Waze brings some new features, especially in terms of its interface, which gains simplicity and responsiveness. It even offers a small dose of AI to analyze the driver’s habits.
When Google bought Waze in 2013, many motorists feared that the famous application was neglected. Or worse, that it is gradually absorbed by another application of the American giant, Maps. More than a year after this major change of direction, users were finally reassured. The Mountain View firm has indeed deployed several updates to improve the interface and streamline its use in recent months. And she does not intend to stop there, since we have the right to a new update which introduces a fast navigation button and reorganizes certain interface elements, as reported Auto Plus.
Waze new features: anticipate user habits
The first novelty concerns Apple Carplay users. Waze now has a button, placed on the side of the interface, allowing access to your home or your place of work with a simple finger press, without having to manually enter its destination. A shortcut that did not exist on the version of Apple Carplay, although it is a much appreciated function. This button is just above the search option, itself moved to the main interface, and only appears when navigation is not activated.
Waze belonging to Google, the application is now entitled to a small dose of artificial intelligence in order to better analyze user driving habits. The application can now offer suitable routes depending on the time of day, the habits of each and the traffic analyzed in real time. For example, if a person takes the same journey to work every morning daily, the application will automatically suggest the usual route as soon as it is launched during the corresponding hours. Ditto when the time comes to go home at the end of the day. The purpose of this novelty is really to anticipate user needs.
Finally, the upper bar of the application was entitled to some changes. Thus, the search option and the favorite locations have been moved and a new audio icon dedicated to the management of sound alerts has been added at the top right, in order to be able to deactivate the sound more easily during navigation. The goal is to reduce the number of necessary manipulations.