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Apple Maps Adds Waze-Like Features in iOS 14.5 for Crowdsourcing Accidents, Speed Traps and Hazards
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I seldom use WAZE as our car has a big fat geek GPS. But I travel (well I did until 2020 came) by train up/down east coast and even to Montreal. WAZE is excellent for tracking and viewing speed on the train, sometimes far from a mapped road or interstate and seeing the speed (like 200KMPH in each carriage in Europe). I think doing this might drive this new Maps feature bananas. It IS cool though - and I AM looking fwd to seeing more of the new bike routes for all the Atlantic cities.
What I want is for Apple maps to keep my iPhone unlocked and open when I’m using CarPlay and my phone is in the cradle, displaying the upcoming directions.
Google Maps allows me to do this - and I dearly want to ditch google maps... I can’t live without this feature when I’m driving around for work.
Google Maps allows me to do this - and I dearly want to ditch google maps... I can’t live without this feature when I’m driving around for work.
I think it's you who doesn't understand how it works.
I've no idea where you live but here in the UK Waze users highlight everything to a stranded vehicle on the shoulder to police locations & literally every kind of scenario.
Anyone can use Waze, even with a very old Android or iOS device. It's alerting is powered by the users and the sheer number of Android & iOS users who use Waze are what makes it so effective.
My point is that Apple Maps isn't even the default navigation app for a lot of users, whereas Waze has an active community of millions acrossmultiple platforms.
I honestly hope Apple Maps will be a Waze killer, but without the massive active community Waze has, it can't be as effective. In time perhaps, but can you see those who use Google Maps/Waze on iOS switching? I can't. Google Maps data is the standard.
Again…what is the percentage of active Waze users that actually input data? Versus those that just download the app and “use” it…getting the benefit of folks that actually mark events?
You'd be wrong. It's all about making money, otherwise the speed limits wouldn't be 65 mph in NY state and some others. 65 mph in today's cars is 2nd gear. Who wants to drive in 2nd gear for long lengths of time? Time for the government to modernize itself and its outdated policies.
In my state. Tons of people do. I confirm police, enter hazards. Millions of people do everyday. I drive slot for work and see things pop up all the time. Sometimes the police have moved on and I click that.
geez do you understand that’s it’s ok for other apps to be better at somethings than Apple. The worship here is crazy sometimes.
And maybe if you read the post you would realize the question isn’t about which app is better, it’s about how quickly Apple Maps will have active users marking events.
With the inference from current Waze users on here that it has “millions of users marking events because the app has been around so long and is so popular.”
I’m only saying that Apple Maps (which is actually used more than Waze at this point even though it is only available on Apple devices) will gain traction with this feature in no time at all…weeks, not years.
There is also an assumption like in your post that “millions of people” submit events in Waze. I’m sure out of the 25 million or so active Waze users in the world, yes, at least 10% are submitting events “regularly”…but that doesn’t mean I’m one of less than 50 in West Michigan that do on a regular basis. And that’s fine…it doesn’t take many to make this a success on ANY app that offers these features.
Waze’s only real benefit over Google and Apple at this point is a few extra more detailed event options (nice to haves, but really won’t be missed by the vast majority) and of course, it’s crowd sourced mapping updates. With Google stealing the most popular options from Waze and both Apple and Google stepping up with quicker mapping updates, I think Waze’s impending death has sped up just a little.
It’s an app that depends on people knowing about it and downloading it…Google Maps and Apple Maps do not. And with it losing exclusivity on features that made it so popular in the first place, I doubt Waze’s active users will number more than 5 million people in a year or two.
Basically everyone I know uses Waze. That’s all I know. The crowdsourcing feature is amazing. I love knowing that a car or truck is off the road. great feature. Do you have a source that only 10% of users report items. Will Apple Maps users use it more?
I rarely use Apple maps as I find it lacking this feature.
you are one the Google is evil people. That explains everything. I find it amusing that some Apple users here are always telling us how Apple cares about their users and is a morally awesome company. Then cheer when a company goes out of business and lays of hundreds of not thousands of employees.
Seems that this is what your doing. If I’m wrong in apologize.
Google offers many great features and offers them for money. They never denied using your data for payment. They are a marketing company. I use limited Google for this reason. But don’t run my life based on a tech company.
I am a Apple user my family uses them also as the ecosystem is great. But I won’t defend them to no end. Both ecosystems have their pluses and minuses. Use what works for you.
How useable are any/all of these apps/features via voice only?
I'm not being snippy, I'm genuinely asking, because I don't know. I don't use Waze, I don't even know if it's available here, I doubt the concept would translate well for most local drivers. The vast majority seem to think there's nothing wrong with driving on the wrong side of the road, ignoring any combination of give way (yield) or stop signs, red lights, round-abouts etc - essentially YOLO and DILIGAF combined with a licence that you can get in one day, if you even bother to do that.
Anyway, the reason I asked about how data is captured:
If Jill has to physically interact with her phone to mark that a ladder fell off a truck, it's just as likely Joe behind her will have to interact with his phone to mark that Jill drifted into the wrong lane and caused a pile-up, because she was looking at her phone... and so on and so forth.
You know that Waze is owned by Google right? If Waze suddenly loses a substantial amount of market share, Google will do what Google does best, and discontinue the service, and the people working on it will be re-assigned to other projects.
So then, and I understand why, should be illegal as both Waze and AM will be using it. I use car play so reporting on waze is as easy as pressing play
edited my post to remove hazards as AM will be offering this. Siri is useless in the car. I use it for light in my house with my homepods. Not much else.
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I’m aware. I’m not that concerned if Google sees that I drive to work. Apple Maps keeps this data too so to each there own. Google isn’t going anywhere.
there are many many post here of cheerleading for a company to fail because Apple is now doing what they offered.
The other plus for waze is as stated above. All smart phone users can crowdsource for waze. Not limited to iPhones only. This can only be seen a a plus. The more the better.
I would love to know the number of people that would use Apple Maps if it wasn’t the default app on iPhones. not slamming Apple just asking for some data
same with TV+. Would love to know how many paying customers they have, not users with the extended free extensions. But that’s another topic all together.
I would love to know the number of people that would use Apple Maps if it wasn’t the default app on iPhones. not slamming Apple just asking for some data
same with TV+. Would love to know how many paying customers they have, not users with the extended free extensions. But that’s another topic all together.
We all know the reality of why they are there...but in areas, cops will self-report...
I use Waze for commuting, but would never use it for directions if I am going somewhere I don't know.
You sound like you don't use Waze? You almost never see something not reported anymore.
Wow…I’m glad you apologized in advance as you made quite a leap from what I explained as “Google is evil.”
To be clear…I use Google quite a bit. And I use Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps. I’m a map geek and love comparing them.
I prefer Apple Maps from UI experience and because I’m in the USA, benefit from all of their advances they’ve introduced (mainly since ios11 and 12).
As far as how many users actually input data, I don’t think that number has ever been made publicly available. I was saying more in the lines that it really doesn’t take many to input data versus number of total users for the app to be successful…and despite your personal experience and while my opinion is that Waze has more active users that input data than Google or Apple, there is a point of diminishing returns and it really is okay having only 10% input data while the other 90% are along for the ride/benefit.
We will see how missed details like pothole or car on the side of the road notifications are actually missed, but it think the general “hazard” notification in Apple Maps will suffice for most.
And to clarify (seems like the 10th time in this thread alone), Apple Maps IS crowdsourced traffic data as nearly every single Apple device tracks traffic movement. And yes, it DOES re-route due to traffic…and has done this for years.
Read my response above…while not as active as I was when I was actually commuting to work, my point is that not everyone that is running Waze is inputting data…and that’s just fine.
Logic tells you that it is the first active user on a route that does the heavy lifting reporting all of the issues. The followers simply may confirm his/her post or add new ones or any changes.
Again my mistake and I apologize. I see so many ridiculous post here about Google Facebook etc. I roll my eyes so hard it hurts sometimes. If you “hate” a tech company you have issues. I’m sorry. Stop using the device or service and be done with it.
I do zero social media other than a few forums. Dont see the point.
I’m not worried about tracking that much. I go to work and come home. Not involved in illegal activities. I don’t buy into the whole deal. Apple tracks me too. Whatever.
Apple Maps already has "faster route available" prompts while driving (i.e. its not just about showing you the best options when you plan the route), which is presumably tied in with the traffic condition reporting.
This is why I asked if Waze supports voice commands. Saying "Hey <autonomous overlord>, report a disturbance in the force for this location" doesn't take your eyes off the road or hands your hands off the wheel.
In civilised countries, using a phone in your hand while driving is already illegal, but e.g. having a hands-free kit and talking on the phone is not. I don't know if any country has yet criminalised talking to an AI-ish entity while driving but it seems unlikely.
I don't believe Apple do keep this data (they specifically do more work on-device, to make make sure of this), but that is not what I was talking about anyway.
This is what I was talking about. In what universe does "Google discontinues Waze, adding it to the hundreds of other things they've either built or bought and then summarily given up on" somehow mean those employees, will not just be re-assigned to some other as-yet-not-cancelled Google team?