Demi Li

Hi Demi,

I loved reading your post. I am for sure a google maps girl but my mom is a Waze type of person. I think a lot of people like the Waze app because of the in app features. For example, my mom loves that when you are driving, this app will tell you when and where a cop is located. It also tells you when a construction site is coming up or even where a pot hole is in the road. In my opinion, these app features are pretty cool, but google maps is just so much more convenient for me to use. It is the same app, but I think google maps is way more compatible with updated roads then Waze. Although I have used both of these apps before, I have never once gotten lost using one of them. They are both very reliable to get me to point A to point B and I am so thankful we have this type of technology at our fingertips everyday.

Really appreciate the story-telling here. It’s crystal clear the challenge you are facing, reinforced because there are few assumptions that “it just doesn’t work”. I really appreciated your efforts to troubleshoot even though driving is well outside of your comfort zone.

As an EV driver, I’ve come to rely on mapping software more than ever. It’s not because I don’t know where I am going. While most drives are routine, it’s helpful to observe how much energy it takes to get from point A to point B in a variety of conditions. My car uses a different software than Maps, but the Android Auto integration allows me to use Maps or Waze.

I haven’t experienced the same issues with lag or lost signal that you have, but I am amazed at the seemingly random reasons one app will re-route when the other does not or where one will prioritize backroads in certain cases.

When I am taking longer trips, I need to understand this margin for error because my car will automatically route to what it perceives to be the best charging options. Given the nascent state of infrastructure, you need to gameplan those stops in different apps. Understanding the experience and when and when not to trust it is key.

I’m curious what the class thinks of Demi’s POV. Her review as a “non-standard” user still counts against your ratings and word of mouth. Do you design a UX for drivers of all levels, or do you design for your core “loyalists”? Depending on your response, how do you handle a review like this?

Great read! Also just validating because I thought I was wearing the tin foil hat of Google map and Waze purposely trying to confuse me.
Personally, I gave up with Waze because of the delays in updating my location became too much, especially while driving in areas that needs quick decision making. So, I’ve been using Apple maps for most of my local trips because there has been more success in updating the traffic patterns, whereas Google struggles and would leads me to heavy traffic areas or questionable intersections. However, during longer trips like when I’m visiting family in Northern Jersey or when traveling I relay on Google maps for their highway mapping and estimating traffic accidents delay that are a bit further away.

Hi Demi, awesome post.
I use both of these apps when I’m driving but use to be a huge Waze fan and have recently moved over to Google maps.
Like you noted, I think a huge part of the Waze appeal is the fun colors, icons, choice of voices, etc that make it more fun to use a GPS. The problem I have found is that all the cool things that make it fun seem to slow down the app. Every time I go to open the app it takes at least five minutes to open and shows a messaging that says “fetching current traffic trends”… which I’m not even sure what that means. Regardless, I see your point and agree with your points that both of the apps have major downfalls but I do think that Google Maps has a better UX and more reliable information.