WAZE not so great?

 

Waze Wants What WTOP Has and We Can See Why
June 21, 2014 18:00 rlanctot

Okay, I'll admit it. I was one of many that praised Waze for its clever use of crowd sourced traffic information to create an application that attracted millions of users and a billion dollars, from Google. I have saluted Waze as a disrupter of the traffic information industry. And I have recognized its contribution to moving traffic technology forward by calling attention to the transformational role that mobile apps can play in the traffic industry.

Well, after a Friday ride along with WTOP's traffic and weather director Jim Battagliese I can honestly say Google overpaid for Waze. And it is no surprise that Waze is now knocking on the doors of radio and television broadcasters and state DOTs looking for incident data. Waze has discovered what competitors such as INRIX, HERE and TomTom already knew - you need detailed, accurate and reliable incident data to create a viable traffic business.

Read the full report here:
http://blogs.strategyanalytics.com/AMCS/post/2014/06/21/Waze...

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Illiterate? Write for free help.
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Interesting article. Thanks for the link.

My understanding is that Waze was designed to monitor traffic conditions automatically by periodically reporting its users' location and speed. That is, even if users don't necessarily submit a report saying "accident blocking right lane" Waze can still know that something is holding up traffic on that particular stretch of road.

If that is true, and if Waze offers an option for users to turn off the "report my location" feature, then I wonder if the accuracy of Waze traffic suffers from a "free rider" problem. Especially in America where a large proportion of its citizens are acutely aware of privacy issues, perhaps a significant number of users are opting out of the crowd-sourcing part of the game, hoping to benefit from the other users who do let Waze share their location and speed.

I prefer...

I prefer offline maps when using my phone...sygic etc.

Good article.

Good article.

Big Brother

VersatileGuy wrote:

Interesting article. Thanks for the link.

My understanding is that Waze was designed to monitor traffic conditions automatically by periodically reporting its users' location and speed. That is, even if users don't necessarily submit a report saying "accident blocking right lane" Waze can still know that something is holding up traffic on that particular stretch of road.

If that is true, and if Waze offers an option for users to turn off the "report my location" feature, then I wonder if the accuracy of Waze traffic suffers from a "free rider" problem. Especially in America where a large proportion of its citizens are acutely aware of privacy issues, perhaps a significant number of users are opting out of the crowd-sourcing part of the game, hoping to benefit from the other users who do let Waze share their location and speed.

I'm one of them not being a fan of the big brother apps but you can tie in an email address w/o giving too much info. I have two complaints RE: Waze and that is I sometimes find the app to be so sluggish, it reports that I'm miles back from where I actually am and then other times it's right on target staying with me all the way through so perhaps it's a drop in cell signal in certain spots. The other is that there is no posted speed limit info like in the Garmin. This has been one of the most requested features and it still does not exist. Must have either a high cost or legal block (I don't know) that's preventing this from coming around.

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Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

Not Applicable Everywhere

Interesting article but seems to apply mainly to metro areas. I'd like to see the same comparison made somewhere on the thousands of miles of rural interstate highway where over the air traffic is spotty or non existent.

Waze is far from perfect but where I live, it's the only traffic source available.

Interesting

This is an interesting article, and on principle Waze has a lot of potential. I hope they stay afloat long enought to fix their shortcomings and to become a viable source in the market place.

WTOP doesn't help me

WTOP covers the entire Washington DC Metro area, including Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, I-270 to Frederick, etc. When they report traffic, I don't care what's going on in Virginia or PG County, I want to know what's going on where I'm driving. And I'd have to listen to a lot of reports for a long time to find out any tidbit of information about slow traffic where I'm going.
Waze provides information for the route I selected. Immediately.
Just like Garmin and other GPS units are on the way out because of smartphone apps doing a better job, I suspect WTOP is behind the article trying to smear Waze because, as indicated in the article, traffic reporting is their main attraction.

i also live in the DC area

TWC42 wrote:

WTOP covers the entire Washington DC Metro area, including Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, I-270 to Frederick, etc. When they report traffic, I don't care what's going on in Virginia or PG County, I want to know what's going on where I'm driving. And I'd have to listen to a lot of reports for a long time to find out any tidbit of information about slow traffic where I'm going.
Waze provides information for the route I selected. Immediately.
Just like Garmin and other GPS units are on the way out because of smartphone apps doing a better job, I suspect WTOP is behind the article trying to smear Waze because, as indicated in the article, traffic reporting is their main attraction.

and haven't relied on WTOP for several years. A lot of that is due to their shift from Shadow Traffic to their current provider. While I doubt WTOP had anything to do with the authorship of the article it pointed out, to me at least, the problems with crowd-sourced traffic data in there is no interpretation of the data being received. It goes back to the now 60 year old data processing saw of Garbage In, Garbage Out.

There is a lot to interpreting traffic flows and delays. What we don't see being in the queue at ground level is the effect a slowdown has on the traffic behind. Back in the day when airborne traffic spotters were the norm, words such as "accordion effect" became part of the commuter's language. The accordion started when one driver slowed causing cars behind to bunch. as the bunching spread, it would travel against the flow of traffic and, depending on the volume, go on for up to 5 miles. Another cause for an accordion is the always present "rubber-necker" of having to slow to see what an incident is on the side of the road. That affects traffic flow in both directions. The bane of all traffic watchers is a lane closure. The backup, or as our British friends say, the tail-back, is an accident waiting to happen. The odds change astronomically within the queue. You are more likely to be rear-ended on the freeway during a lane closure than at any other time. Statistically, one minute of lane closure is roughly equal to 5 minutes of backup, and that backup grows exponentially with the volume of traffic carried on the road.

The point being brought out in the article was no one filters the WAZE data so what you get may be "instantaneous" but is it correct in the first place?

--
Illiterate? Write for free help.

Playing with Waze

I played with Waze for a few weeks, as I have a 24 mile commute to work. Waze had some good and not so good points, and I eventually quit using it. After Google bought Waze, Google navigation started using the Waze data and coloring the route lines according to traffic flow.

The traffic monitoring/reporting was fairly good. Lots better than the traffic receiver I had on my Nuvi. It also covered secondary streets and the far suburban areas, which were absent on Nuvi. Pretty cool were the real-time updates of "car on shoulder", "object on highway", "accident" and stuff like that.

Not so good: At times, so many people would send updates that the screen would get cluttered with numerous icons around the accident area. Seriously, only one is necessary, please.

Not so good: I often got "no network" error messages from the software, when I certainly had network connectivity for everything else. I suspect it had trouble switching to 3G to 4G and back again as I travelled and the coverage changed.

I think reporting the traffic flow is something that can be easily and accurately generated by software. Not much different than sensors in the roadway. Explaining WHY and for HOW LONG will require human reporting to augment the sensory data that is obtained.

Sluggish

I just updated to the latest version and still find the app to be sluggish at times. I like how it reports I am still 4 miles back from where I actually am. I don't know if it's due to loss of signal or a buggy app.

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Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

The traffic updates are

The traffic updates are pretty good.

Tried It

I tried Waze a couple of times. It just never did the trick for me.

--
Bob: My toys: Nüvi 1390T, Droid X2, Nook Color (rooted), Motorola Xoom, Kindle 2, a Yo-Yo and a Slinky. Gotta have toys.

Your Phone, Maybe?

Preroll wrote:

I just updated to the latest version and still find the app to be sluggish at times. I like how it reports I am still 4 miles back from where I actually am. I don't know if it's due to loss of signal or a buggy app.

I use an iPhone5 and the position is in synch with my Garmin. Turn off all the background apps you are using. Do you have a strong cell signal?

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Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

I've used WAZE for several

I've used WAZE for several years and I'm currently BETA testing the next version.

The app is the best traffic app available (even better than Garmin's HD traffic).

The routing is the same as my Garmin but better most of the time. In Atlanta and Chicago the app has saved my butt numerous times with all traffic jams that Garmin couldn't report.

Never tried it.

I've never tried it since traffic already works great for me on my Garmin

I still enjoy WAZE. I think

I still enjoy WAZE. I think it's better than GARMINS traffic.

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+1

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If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. - Yogi Berra

Agree

gadget_man wrote:

I've used WAZE for several years and I'm currently BETA testing the next version.

The app is the best traffic app available (even better than Garmin's HD traffic).

The routing is the same as my Garmin but better most of the time. In Atlanta and Chicago the app has saved my butt numerous times with all traffic jams that Garmin couldn't report.

-We used WAZE going to Myrtle Beach last year and it saved us big time. There was a huge wreck on I-95 and it told us to get off of the next exit. My father-in-law reluctantly got off of the interstate. We were traveling down a road that ran parallel and low and behold there was a pile up about 5 miles ahead. People were standing outside of their vehicles and throwing footballs around. My Garmin never picked it up. That was when I had my 1690 and relied on nulink services. It has its purpose on some things but I still enjoy and like my Garmin overall.

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Dwayne, Nuvi 1690

Thanks - good info

The phone apps, to include Waze are helpful, but local guidance - especially in areas like DC and Baltimore - is the goto source...

Same Area

phranc wrote:
Preroll wrote:

I just updated to the latest version and still find the app to be sluggish at times. I like how it reports I am still 4 miles back from where I actually am. I don't know if it's due to loss of signal or a buggy app.

I use an iPhone5 and the position is in synch with my Garmin. Turn off all the background apps you are using. Do you have a strong cell signal?

It seems to drop off around the same area each time so maybe it is a cell signal issue although I have 3-4 apps max running simultaneously since the iPhone 5 is plugged into my Pioneer head unit running App Radio. I use Waze from the head unit (not the phone itself) but that's not the issue since it's just a mirror of the phone's display. Probably the cell signal.

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Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

I've used Waze sparingly and

I've used Waze sparingly and while I understand it has the potential to be even better, the times I used it, it never really "clicked" with me. I never felt comfortable with the app, maybe I need to use it more.

Adjust settings

team.rocket wrote:

I've used Waze sparingly and while I understand it has the potential to be even better, the times I used it, it never really "clicked" with me. I never felt comfortable with the app, maybe I need to use it more.

The first time I used Waze, I found it to be "information overload" and stopped using it. Then I gave it a second try after going into the settings and eliminating some of the features, like showing nearby Wazers. Now the only annoyance is the frequent reports of "vehicle on the shoulder". But Waze's benefits far outweigh any problems. As others have mentioned, I've been rerouted due to traffic jams and warned of police and other problems ahead. I won't leave home without it.

Has its Uses

I like INRX for traffic before heading out, but Waze for accidents and speed traps on the road. Wish Waze wasn't so cartoonish.

Wow...I didn't know that

I use Waze for redlight camera option but now I need to think about it when using it.

copilot

I use I-95 in delaware everyday, for traffic I now use CoPilot app from android and it's the best traffic app I found and is the best 10.00 I spent. And is WAY BETTER THAN GARMIN TRAFFIC.

cool!

Steve620 wrote:

I use I-95 in delaware everyday, for traffic I now use CoPilot app from android and it's the best traffic app I found and is the best 10.00 I spent. And is WAY BETTER THAN GARMIN TRAFFIC.

I will want to try this, thanks!

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~Jim~ Nuvi-660, & Nuvi-680

me too

jimcaulfield wrote:
Steve620 wrote:

I use I-95 in delaware everyday, for traffic I now use CoPilot app from android and it's the best traffic app I found and is the best 10.00 I spent. And is WAY BETTER THAN GARMIN TRAFFIC.

I will want to try this, thanks!

Yea, me too, but could you tell me if there is any ongoing subscription cost, of is it just the $10 and yer good from now on, thanks.

--
nightrider --Nuvi's 660 & 680--

waze?

Why do they call it waze anyway ? They should had called WAZUP..lol

I like it but there is no

I like it but there is no way to avoid HOV lanes. Not a fan of that

Will i get traffic updates

if I don't include my phone number to setup an account with username and password? Also, I have a plan with a very limited amount of data. Does WAZE require much data for its traffic updates?

Maybe it's an Israeli thing,

"Why do they call it waze anyway ? They should had called WAZUP..lol"

Maybe it's an Israeli thing, that's where the app originated.

--
Lost on LI

About 4 MB in 2 hours

oldpal wrote:

if I don't include my phone number to setup an account with username and password? Also, I have a plan with a very limited amount of data. Does WAZE require much data for its traffic updates?

IIRC, you set up an "account" with a username and password and you are linked to Waze over your data channel. I don't know if they can get your phone number out of that link.
With different things going on in your phone at the same time, it can be difficult to pinpoint how much data is being used by Waze, but I have noticed on a frequent, two hour trip from home to a vacation spot, we use about 4 MB with Waze. That's with no communication with other Wazers and infrequently entering warnings of "vehicle on shoulder" or "police, visible".

Ways

Ways

ways

ways

When trying to setup an account

TWC42 wrote:
oldpal wrote:

if I don't include my phone number to setup an account with username and password? Also, I have a plan with a very limited amount of data. Does WAZE require much data for its traffic updates?

IIRC, you set up an "account" with a username and password and you are linked to Waze over your data channel. I don't know if they can get your phone number out of that link.
With different things going on in your phone at the same time, it can be difficult to pinpoint how much data is being used by Waze, but I have noticed on a frequent, two hour trip from home to a vacation spot, we use about 4 MB with Waze. That's with no communication with other Wazers and infrequently entering warnings of "vehicle on shoulder" or "police, visible".

a phone number was required before I could get a username/password. Is this the situation now?

local station

We have a local station that uses WAZE for a lot of the traffic info seems like it is pretty interesting and with all the users signing on to it that thing should be pretty accurate.

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Jerry...Jacksonville,Fl Nüvi1450,Nuvi650,Nuvi 2495 and Mapsource.

No phone number required

oldpal wrote:

a phone number was required before I could get a username/password. Is this the situation now?

No

here too

adcusnret wrote:

We have a local station that uses WAZE for a lot of the traffic info seems like it is pretty interesting and with all the users signing on to it that thing should be pretty accurate.

The Philadelphia ABC affiliate includes waze in the traffic report, looks kind of cartoony and complicated to use while driving. The Garmin isn't much better though, tells me "traffic ahead" when I've been in it for a few minutes. The Garmin will help me get around it better though.

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. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

Cops and traffic

I don't us4e Waze as a navigation app, but just use it to let me know where the traffic and cops are.
Generally I am happy with that.

Same

donbadabon wrote:

I don't us4e Waze as a navigation app, but just use it to let me know where the traffic and cops are.
Generally I am happy with that.

I couldn't rely on it as a nav app since it gets sluggish and holds back several miles from where I actually am. Good for the alerts only.

--
Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

Same

donbadabon wrote:

I don't us4e Waze as a navigation app, but just use it to let me know where the traffic and cops are.
Generally I am happy with that.

I couldn't rely on it as a nav app since it gets sluggish and holds back several miles from where I actually am. Good for the alerts only.

--
Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

Your Phone, Maybe?

Preroll wrote:
donbadabon wrote:

I don't us4e Waze as a navigation app, but just use it to let me know where the traffic and cops are.
Generally I am happy with that.

I couldn't rely on it as a nav app since it gets sluggish and holds back several miles from where I actually am. Good for the alerts only.

It's probably your phone. Too many background apps running. I use it all the time and it keeps position perfectly.

--
Frank DriveSmart55 37.322760, -79.511267

I use it quite often

I use it quite often and it's always spot on in showing where I am.
It does a reasonable job of navigation, but I still think Garmin does a little better.
The traffic and police / hazard reports are great.

--
Live every day like it's your last. Some day you'll be right - Benny Hill

--definitely to be considered...

phranc wrote:
Preroll wrote:
donbadabon wrote:

I don't us4e Waze as a navigation app, but just use it to let me know where the traffic and cops are.
Generally I am happy with that.

I couldn't rely on it as a nav app since it gets sluggish and holds back several miles from where I actually am. Good for the alerts only.

It's probably your phone. Too many background apps running. I use it all the time and it keeps position perfectly.

-Good to know, thanks-

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~Jim~ Nuvi-660, & Nuvi-680

Just graduated to an iPhone

The second day I loaded Waze, and it alerted me to a road closing on the way to work. Saved my bacon and about an hour's time. I like it. No delayed location here. Also, it provides alternate routes faster than my own nuvi 500. Like stated above, it shows traffic backups, road speeds (by color), accidents, floods, and where the police may be hiding. Real time by real people. Me like!

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Striving to make the NYC Metro area project the best.

Does anyone have problems

Does anyone have problems where the routing randomly disappears and loses the location and address that was entered?

apps running

mikemab2 wrote:

Does anyone have problems where the routing randomly disappears and loses the location and address that was entered?

Make sure you don't have tons of apps running on your phone. I have used waze since the beginning and have never experienced that issue.

Only one issue I have persists

When using Waze and either a text comes in or the camera is being used (may be any native iPhone app), then the screen lock again takes effect. It will shut off the screen in the pre allotted time. I have to go back into settings, and toggle the prevent screen lock setting off and back on.

--
Striving to make the NYC Metro area project the best.

Volume Inconsistent

I also noticed that the volume is either very loud or very soft w/o adjusting the volume slider. It's inconsistent to what is displayed by the GUI. This app still needs some work IMO.

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Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX

Funny

So I'm driving and see a Police Icon in the middle of the Hudson River. I'm thinking, this app is really off today. How can this be right? As I drive across the bridge, sure enough, there was a police boat in the river where the icon was. Someone on a boat must have marked it for other boaters. Why I don't know but it was funny none the less.

--
Garmin: GPSIII / StreetPilot / StreetPilot Color Map / StreetPilot III / StreetPilot 2610 / GPSMAP 60CSx / Nuvi 770 / Nuvi 765T / Nuvi 3490LMT / Drivesmart 55 / GPSMAP 66st * Pioneer: AVIC-80 / N3 / X950BH / W8600NEX
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