Google Maps adds traffic detour support
Announced today, Google has added yet another marvelous feature to it’s already insanely popular Google Maps app for Android: Google Maps Navigation rerouting based on current and historical traffic conditions.
You’ve always been able to change your directions based on things like taking the shortest route or the highway only, and change your mode of travel to driving, public transit, waking, or bicycling, but this is the first time traffic has been included into navigation algorithms in order to give you a smoother ride.
To use the new traffic included Google Maps in North America and Europe, simply “start Navigation like you normally would, either from the Navigation app or from within Google Maps.” That’s all there is too it.
If you happen to live in a busy city, be sure to share your experiences with the new navigation in the comments below.
Via Google
This is the "first time traffic has been included into navigation algorithms in order to give you a smoother ride"? Did you guys even bother doing any research for this article?The Waze product does something similar and has been around since 2008, and infact own patents for some of these ideas.Waze doesnt just allow for traffic diversions, it allows users to contribute any manner of road hazards or detours, including accidents and poor weather as well as monitoring how the traffic speed compares to previous traffic speed records.The Waze service is also global and regional (how well does Google handle interstate travels?) where the Google service is exclusive to the USA and Europe.Nice new feature from Google, but its hardly new technology or ideas, and relies on the google service updating traffic conditions fast enough without user contributions.
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