Waze For Android Adds New Maps, Driver-Friendly UI, More Social Features


Android: Turn-by-turn navigation Waze updated today to include an entirely new UI that minimises buttons and tools, so that they’re all accessible under one spring-out on-screen menu. Maps are now easier to navigate, so you can easily spin around and navigate with one hand, and there is also new location-based information from services like Yelp and FourSquare.

The first thing you’ll notice when you update Waze is the updated interface. All of the buttons and widgets and lingering pop-ups on the maps are gone. The text is sharp and clear, you can twist the maps around and move them with two fingers on the screen instead of double-tapping or dragging, and all of your menu options are available under one button that lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Driver icons are large and clear — tapping them brings up their current speed and direction, and that window goes away quickly without you having to dismiss it. The app is faster, looks better and is easier to use, especially if you’re on the go.

In addition to he UI, Waze has also hooked up with FourSquare and Yelp to provide more detailed location information, so users can share where they’re checked in and their opinions of different locations through Waze, as well as those social networks. As more users leverage the new social integration, you won’t need to leave Waze to find out where there’s a good place to get a cup of coffee if you see the road home ahead is jammed with traffic. Waze’s Australian information still doesn’t seem very comprehensive; if you’ve found a useful location where it works well in Australia, tell us about it in the comments.

Waze 3.0 is free and available in the in the Android App Market or at the developer’s website.

Waze


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