Waze has officially announced a new version of their Android app that completely refreshes the user interface and adds numerous new features. The Android version of the Google-owned service that allows drivers to create a real-time map has long been due for an overhaul.
While the interface will be new to Android users, version 4.0 of their iOS app has had this interface since last October. The announcement video shows off a refreshed UI that is heavy in its use of animations. While more like a direct iOS port than a native built Material Design app, it is a great improvement over the current dated look.
A panel on the left side of the screen provides users with quicker access to preset destinations, and there’s a better navigation experience that shows alerts for what’s coming up ahead. In turn, it is quicker to report road events like traffic jams and accidents. The app also has a feature to send your travel ETA, with the ability to have a preset contact for faster sharing.
The updated app is not yet available to download, but will be coming soon. In the past months, Waze has been testing out a ride-sharing feature that would be distinctively different from Uber or Lyft. Furthermore, the latter service has signed an agreement to have their drivers use Waze for more efficient navigation.
