Waze for Android goes hands free.

I’ve given up using Waze a long time ago on my devices for two reasons. First, the app is a resource hog, and second, I live on an island, so I have no use for it. Google Maps and Windows Maps do the job perfectly. And the latter offers offline maps. That is why I still keep my Lumia 1520 close. Even though I don’t use Waze anymore, I still have it installed on my phone because you never know. Plus it’s another post to this blog when it gets updated. Like today.

I assume you all know about the now famous “Ok Google” key words. In today’s update, you now have “Ok Waze”. That’s a long-awaited feature for Waze users. Finally, they’ll be able to talk to Waze and not use their hands while driving, which is not safe and even illegal to use your phone while driving in about every country. Today’s update finally fixes that. Just say “Ok Waze” where’s the closest gas station and it will take you there. Or you can use the key words to tell Waze that you’re stuck in a jam so you’re followers will know to avoid the area. Isn’t that cool?

The other feature in this update is support for motorcycles routing. Riders will know which routes are good for them.

Check out the full change log for details about this update, then use the link below to update.

- Say “OK Waze” and use your voice to navigate, report traffic jams, and more - all hands-free.

- New routing option - HOV! Just add your pass or update your vehicle type (US & Canada only).

- It’s here! Waze now supports routing for motorcycles. Update your vehicle type and hit the road 🏍

- Minor bug fixes and improvements.

Waze is a free download in Google Play Store.

Waze for Android now supports Google Smart Lock for faster login.

Waze has been updated today with support for Google Smart Lock, a feature that lets you sign back into the app without having to remember your Waze login details. I use Google Smart Lock for some of the apps on my phones; I call them the lesser-apps, meaning I do not care if a hacker cracks my password as I do not share sensitive data about myself with these apps and their developer. While Smart Lock is very useful when switching phones or after a factory reset, I prefer to keep sensitive passwords in my head. Just to be clear, I do not use any password manager app on any of my devices.  So what is Google Smart Lock?

Google Smart Lock is an app that will store your passwords on Google's secure servers. Say you have to reinstall Waze on your device, you won't have to remember your password, Google Smart Lock will handle that for you and restore your data.

This update also includes a new way to see if you have new messages and Waze friends online. Those will show up in the "Waze menu navigation list."

Check out the full changelog below and head over to Google Play Store to download or upgrade Waze.

Waze for Android introduces Waze Places.

Version 3.9 of Waze was published today and it introduces a new feature called Places. The largest community-based traffic and navigation app now gets even more social with the ability to make information about local places available for everyone. Members of the community can now share such info as the availability of parking lot or drive-thru. The addition of photos is also supported to add more details to the place being shared. 

Who hasn't ever been in the situation of not remembering where the car was parked? That changes with Waze which will automatically save the location where you parked your car. And there's more. Waze will even learn where to find parking and how much time to account. 

The update also includes the usual bug fixes and the search auto complete is now a worldwide feature. Waze is a multiple platform app available on Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Phone. Google has recently announced that they are stopping development of the app for Windows Phone.

Waze is available free in Google Play store.