The dynamic between Google Maps and Waze is most curious. Both come from Google (it was purchased in 2013), but the update policy of each of the applications follows its own path. In fact, their differences allow them to be complementary.
Now, when we talk about in-vehicle navigation and connecting to Android Auto, There is one key difference that may tip the scales in Waze’s favor. Directly, it is something that can save us from discomfort while driving.
Crash notifications can be essential in Android Auto
Depending on what we want to do or what our needs are, we can open one application or another. However, when you go on a trip, you have to choose because it is not ideal to change applications while driving.
In this sense, I am referring to Android Auto. The less we interact with screens while drivingeven if they are systems integrated into the vehicle itself, the better.
Your thing is to configure everything before leaving and that’s when you can have doubts: ¿ Elijo Waze or Google Maps? As they say, each of the applications has its characteristics and, although they will allow us to reach our destination, they have their particularities.
Google Maps on Android Auto is the most intuitive and functional, but the truth is that it is not the one that offers the most options if we want something more advanced. You can use it both on the cell phone and on Android Auto, which can be a good point if you have a co-pilot.
Waze on Android Auto, for its part, takes advantage of its main asset, the community. In Waze, it’s very easy to send route alerts to notify other users of any incidents on the road.
If we want to report road accidents on Google Maps, we have to do it from our cell phone, but If we use Waze it is possible directly from Android Auto. This way, if we are on the road and we find an accident or something on the road, with a few clicks we can notify the rest of the users who are navigating the same road using Waze.
This is undoubtedly a very interesting option and it is curious that, being both from Google, Maps does not implement this option, which is not an extra as such, but a function that affects directly road safety.
Cover photo | Eva Rodriguez
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