I’ve been known to tell people that Google Maps is better than Waze because Google Maps gives me much more detail when the voice gives me turn-by-turn directions.
When Waze would tell us “In 1/4 mile turn right,” Google Maps would say “In 1/4 mile, use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto West Lake Rd.” I so prefer the latter – the one in the blue bubble above. We are usually in areas where we’ve never been and we need all the detail we can get to be sure we’re taking the right roads.
Change the voice
What I’ve learned is that both Google and Waze can navigate with or without street names. It just depends on which voice you choose.
In Google Maps:
- 3-line menu, Settings, Navigation
- Voice selection – choose Default (English), speak street names
In Waze:
- Search then tap Gear in upper left
- Voice and Sound – choose English (US) – Jane, Including street names
No more wrong turns!
Chris Guld is President and Teacher-in-Chief at GeeksOnTour.com. She and her husband, Jim, produce a free weekly YouTube show called What Does This Button Do? They have been Fulltime RVers, popular seminar presenters at RV Rallies, and regular contributors to RVtravel.com for many years.
I stopped using Google Maps. Something happened to mine and I can’t figure it out. Suddenly it started giving me directions that were way out of the way that took 3-4 times longer than the straight directions that I always used and new. It took me through neighborhoods that were way out of the way. Any info on that I’d appreciate.
That’s great for google and waze… but is there ‘street name’ options for Here?
Read? A road map. There is no sentence structure, just lines and little colored figures. Just kidding, Don’t forget your compass. Can’t (read) a map if you don’t know up from down.
Learning HOW TO READ a Road MAP in conjunction with the GPS, will save your BUTT! Depending on a GPS all the time is a Very Bad Idea!
Spot on, Jeff! Using only a GPS does not give you the ‘big picture’. Only a map of some kind does, and the big picture is what you want for actually knowing where you are and what is coming up.
you are right. There were a few times I landed at someone’s house instead of an office.
I always carry an atlas but on one trip I forgot to pack it. What a mistake. Went S E part of the country. GPS always took us to the next place but never knew how what route we were going to take and in may cases probably not the way we wanted to go. The trip ended well and got a few nice surprises but I will never forget that atlas again.