[goandude]

Just got waze installed on my micromax canvas 2 and impressed with the software and the notifications. however there is no voice navigation though I have turned it ON on settings.

[yogeshnaik]

Originally Posted by goandude

Just got waze installed on my micromax canvas 2 and impressed with the software and the notifications. however there is no voice navigation though I have turned it ON on settings.

This is a good info. I was told that waze has a trial period while downloading. Hence installed MapMyIndia. Are the maps inbuilt or downloaded on the fly? I believe we need to install voice files for voice guided navigation in waze. Will try it now. Thanks!
Apple is trying to acquire Waze, I prefer Android always.

[mjumrani]

Originally Posted by yogeshnaik

This is a good info. I was told that waze has a trial period while downloading. Hence installed MapMyIndia. Are the maps inbuilt or downloaded on the fly? I believe we need to install voice files for voice guided navigation in waze. Will try it now. Thanks!
Apple is trying to acquire Waze, I prefer Android always.

The maps are downloaded on the fly.
I find waze decent as its routing algorithm isn't the best.

Sygic/TomTom is much better.

[msdivy]

Good times are shining on Waze -Facebook in talks to buy Israel's Waze for up to $1 billion

[ampere]

Looks like its Google !

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57588394-93/google-reportedly-close-to-$1.3b-acquisition-of-map-app-waze/

[ampere]

So it IS Google ! They announced

http://www.business-standard.com/art...1200122_1.html

[HillMan]

Originally Posted by mjumrani

The maps are downloaded on the fly.
I find waze decent as its routing algorithm isn't the best.

Sygic/TomTom is much better.

Waze will download latest maps on the fly. Waze downloads the map and keeps it for offline use, dont have to depend on your data connectivity. The best part of Waze is that it can do offline navigation. There is a huge community following that is fixing the routes and improves navigation based on driving patterns of people around you. If there is block en-route, Waze will find you a better route. It gets better day by day.

The best part is you can go online and edit the routes yourself. Like a road that is declared One-Way or some construction blockage. You can use Google, Bing or FourSquare search to find the destination.

While TomTom and Sygic would show you only main roads, Waze will show you short-cuts used by routine users

Originally Posted by yogeshnaik

This is a good info. I was told that waze has a trial period while downloading. Hence installed MapMyIndia. Are the maps inbuilt or downloaded on the fly? I believe we need to install voice files for voice guided navigation in waze. Will try it now. Thanks!
Apple is trying to acquire Waze, I prefer Android always.

There is no trial period on Waze. It is free. And uses concept of crowd sourcing. Waze data is used by many cities to provide live feed to the cops and radios.

The voice feature of Waze does not use the inbuilt text-to-speech. You must increase the media volume on the phone. Android have 3 different volume settings (ringtone, alarm, media). Also make sure the mute option is not selected on Waze.

You must use Waze everyday for your travel. Turn off the display if you know your route, it will help a fellow Wazer. Thats the beauty of it. Waze can warn of traffic jam in advance, you can change your route to avoid it.

You can share your travel so your friends can see where you are on a map.

By by experience of using Waze in Bangalore for over 2years now, the map quality and navigation is one of the best. It learns new routes and find you the quickest or shortest route to your destination.

[pratyush6]

I have a question: I am currently using Waze for the past week. However it keeps asking me to go on routes where my hunch says, its longer, more congusted etc. Like for example, everytime at Silk Board Junction amd I have to go to Baswangudi, it keeps asking me to go through Madiwala (even at 9:45pm!).

I have still however stuck to the roads I know. Do I need to follow Waze to a T for better results maybe?

Another question: It keeps showing me 1 hour to destination from Baswangudi to Graphite India Bus Stop (through ORR) even at 6am in the morning! Is this usual?

I could not find any way to download maps for offline use as well.

Any help or comments?

[HillMan]

The initial time estimate will change as you drive, based on your speed and other users traveling on the stretch ahead of you. It is showing you the calculated route based on previous users who drove that way.

Change the settings to Fastest route instead of Shortest route. If you are familiar with a better route, go that way. Waze will recalculate and learn in the process.

Sometimes the distance we travel extra to avoid traffic jam could be covered in the same duration driving through it. We only get a sense of accomplishment, finally burnt extra fuel and no time saved.

Waze gets better the more you drive with it.

Waze caches the map fit your route automatically. It will refresh if the tiles have changed.

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by HillMan

The initial time estimate will change as you drive, based on your speed and other users traveling on the stretch ahead of you. It is showing you the calculated route based on previous users who drove that way.

Change the settings to Fastest route instead of Shortest route. If you are familiar with a better route, go that way. Waze will recalculate and learn in the process.

Sometimes the distance we travel extra to avoid traffic jam could be covered in the same duration driving through it. We only get a sense of accomplishment, finally burnt extra fuel and no time saved.

Waze gets better the more you drive with it.

Waze caches the map fit your route automatically. It will refresh if the tiles have changed.

Thanks for that. I already have the settings as fastest. I understand it will get better. But, my question, should I perhaps start following the way Waze says? Is there merit in that?

Also, the traffic alerts that you get are auto generated or user based? I did not find any where to set an alert. I am using a Nokia N9 and the version is a test and not stable.

P.S. : I have multiple GPS services running on my phone like Nokia Drive (does a decent Job), Google and Waze.

[HillMan]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

P.S. : I have multiple GPS services running on my phone like Nokia Drive (does a decent Job), Google and Waze.

I'll recommend Waze hands down. Big fan. I follow Waze most of the time. Unless I know a shortcut Waze doesn't know

The messages are both automatic and user generated. Like location of cops or obstruction on road and traffic jams are user. Alerts like road speed ahead is automatic.

Android has option to suppress notification and choose types of alert, not sure of Nokia.

Try under Settings-General-Event radius.
Also Settings- Display settings-Show on map

You can lookup for alternate routes and choose what suites. However no map is perfect for India. Here people build houses on roads. Waze is promising because you can fix the route in your locality yourself.

[pratyush6]

Originally Posted by HillMan

I'll recommend Waze hands down. Big fan. I follow Waze most of the time. Unless I know a shortcut Waze doesn't know

The messages are both automatic and user generated. Like location of cops or obstruction on road and traffic jams are user. Alerts like road speed ahead is automatic.

Android has option to suppress notification and choose types of alert, not sure of Nokia.

Try under Settings-General-Event radius.
Also Settings- Display settings-Show on map

You can lookup for alternate routes and choose what suites. However no map is perfect for India. Here people build houses on roads. Waze is promising because you can fix the route in your locality yourself.

Thanks Buddy! Very good information indeed as provided by you.

I'd probably start looking at follwoing Waze most of the times.

[HillMan]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

I'd probably start looking at follwoing Waze most of the times.

My suggestion, time your self while using Waze and next time your usual route. If your usual route is better, use that with Waze On. Waze will learn from it and show the route to other Wazers too. It needs a couple of times driving on new roads before Waze will register as a frequented one.

Sometime Waze will avoid routes that are less frequented. Unless you select 'Avoid major highways' under navigation settings.

[HillMan]

Waze has now improved with the power of Google

http://www.waze.com/blog/waze-brings...the-community/

Hope its for the good and Google doesn't overshadow what Waze does best. If Google pushes their navigation onto Waze, it will be a disaster.

To me Google navigation is only good for finding long distance routes, as Waze has a 25mile radius limitation. Designed to save time on city drive.

[ankitaggarwal]

Originally Posted by HillMan

Waze has now improved with the power of Google

http://www.waze.com/blog/waze-brings...the-community/

Hope its for the good and Google doesn't overshadow what Waze does best. If Google pushes their navigation onto Waze, it will be a disaster.

To me Google navigation is only good for finding long distance routes, as Waze has a 25mile radius limitation. Designed to save time on city drive.

Somehow, the newupdate has broken my app, i even tried uninstalling and re installing it. Still it fails to work properly.