There is life beyond Google Maps and Waze. Google browsers are a great option for not getting lost while driving, but there are so many compatible apps on Android Auto that it’s worth giving them a chance to find some real gems. So, in the category of navigators there are gems for lovers of simplicity like Maps.me and others as reliable as the legendary TomTom AmiGo. I tested Here WeGo, a free GPS navigator compatible with Android Autoand that has been my experience.
Installation and first steps
As with any application compatible with Android Auto, to install it in my car’s infotainment system you just have to download it to your Android phone from the Google Play Store so that the next time we get in the vehicle and that the two are in sync, see it on the screen.
There’s no need to create an account, but it’s worth keeping in mind. some previous recommendations: to be able to use it we will first have to grant the relevant permissions on the mobile (for example, location) and spend some time configuring our favorite places and take advantage of one of its functions, download offline maps of the specific geographical area for which we are going to travel.
From there we tap on the app on the car screen to open it and we will see the environment map. We can now enter a destination in the search box (the one with a magnifying glass), which can either be among our favorite places or write it down, provided the car is stationary. If we are on the way, we will have to provide the destination vocally for security reasons.
When selecting the destination, a series of suggested routes will appear where information on time required, distance and traffic will be displayed, with the trajectory superimposed on the map in Google Maps style.
A simple and attractive interface with a pleasant surprise
This browser adapts the screen to night/day mode by default, which at this time of year when it’s quite common to drive in low light conditions, we’re grateful we’re not dazzled by the bright mode. Of course it is compatible with Android Auto Coolwalk in case we want to have navigation and other applications such as music streaming at the same time and suddenly a WhatsApp message appears.
What you see below these lines is its interface when we follow a route, quite clear and functional. As for the colors, they remind me a lot of the new Google Maps for Android Auto due to its sobriety, quite far from the flashy color palette of Waze.
Although the colors are different, the reality is that thanks to this familiarity it takes little time to get used to the appearance. Yes, it turns out less baroque than Google Maps in terms of information on the screenwith a clear screen and schematic maps that help you avoid getting lost in unnecessary things.
For your information : Here the WeGo map is that of Nokia and although it is more economical in terms of additional information such as businesses, it compensates by displaying street numbers, which is not bad at all for getting around large towns. Of course, with a few new streets, the layouts failed, which didn’t happen to me with Waze or Google Maps.
From navigation I liked how intuitive it is to follow itwith a somewhat classic aesthetic: with
Hay two bubbles at any time on the screen: the top one provides concise information about the route and the next maneuver and the bottom one shows how much distance and time remains and the estimated arrival time. The good thing is that you have a lot of information and it is clear, the not so good thing is that in my opinion it takes up too much space, which hinders visualization.
When you touch the screen they appear a few more buttons: the one which allows you to end the route, zoom to zoom out or zoom in on the map, the volume of the routes, change the point of view, the settings or the layers. Something that I didn’t really like either: it is not possible to modify the route once chosen.
One of the strong points of this browser is the satellite viewvery practical if like me you tend to get lost, not very well oriented and tend to get lost.
Despite the large amount of information it dumps on the screen, it offers decent quality and It is practical used with aerial view. In fact, it’s one of the few things I miss in Waze that I found in this app.
The bone The settings are well provided And while the default configuration is good, you can turn off avoiding tolls or unpaved roads, turn off voice guidance (a bit bland), turn satellite view on or off, and turn off speed limits.
I spoke above that Here WeGo shows the traffic conditions but also radars or closed roads, but in my experience it is not as precise or as comprehensive as Google Maps or Waze, with its active community to warn you of traffic jams, passing dangers on the road or occasional police checks (or to warn you , something you can’t do either). So if real-time information is important to you, there are better options.
Here WeGo on Android Auto
When you simply want to get from point A to point B without getting lost, you don’t expect more and you want simplicity, Here WeGo is an excellent free candidate. This classic and intuitive browser makes its simplicity its greatest virtue, being recommended to move without too many complications.
Having said this, What I liked the most was by far this satellite viewsomething that Waze does not offer and that this free application solves in a more schematic way than Google Maps, which is a success when you are more interested in finding your way than in enjoying the details.
But we can’t ignore something: Here, WeGo lags behind in terms of information. Google is a lot of Google and it shows in the amount of information provided, whether it’s real-time incidents or just the environment. Real-time information is essential for me for someone who normally travels or leaves/enters Madrid, but probably in other areas less affected by traffic it is not so critical (although the information is power).
HERE WeGo: Maps and navigation
A free browser with clear, easy-to-use navigation
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