Social Navigation App Waze Drives Toward Being More Social With New Update
October 31, 2012
When Waze picked up its last major update, the popular social navigation app added a rather useful feature. With that update, Waze let you and the millions of other drivers who use it gas up for less. Now, another update has made its way to Waze. Not surprisingly, it brings a set of features that are bound to be of good use to a lot of Wazers.
These new features are decidedly slanted toward making Waze even more social. Apparently, they are implemented in response to a recent survey commissioned by the Waze team.
According to the survey, more than half of drivers regularly drive to pick up friends and family. This suggests that most driving activities are for attending to social commitments, rather than navigating to unknown destinations.
In line with by this idea, Waze has been updated with new features that make driving more social.
If you can't see the video embedded above, please click here.
Basically, with the new version of Waze, you can see your friends' and family's live map info as well as let them see yours. Below are three excellent examples of how you can apply Waze's new social features:
Of course, with great social features come great privacy protection measures. Waze gives you full control of which features you want to use and even lets you go invisible on the map anytime. The new version of Waze is available now in the App Store for free. It's compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and requires iOS 4.0 or later. The updated app also includes Facebook single sign-on as well as redesigned maps and interface. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"]
- Driving to a restaurant with friends: See everyone on the way, with their real-time ETAs. When you arrive, you’ll see where friends have parked, and know who’s still on the way
- Picking up your spouse: No more painstakingly explaining where they are. Send a Waze pick up request to instantly grab their location and navigate directly to them. They’ll get a live map of your route and ETA, and watch as you approach -- even if they don’t have Waze.
- Let the kids know you’ll be home for dinner: The days of “Mom, when are you coming home?” are over. Share your drive by sending a URL to a live map of your location and route, and let them see exactly where you are and when you’ll be there.
