It looks like Google Maps is getting incident reporting, just like Waze

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Google bought the popular travel app Waze nearly five years ago. During that time, it never brought Waze’s best feature to the official Google Maps app — until now.

Two weeks ago, Android Police discovered Waze’s incident reporting feature was featured in a Google Maps APK teardown. Now some users, at least on Android, say the feature has arrived for the public. With the feature, users can report road closures, accidents, police cars, and other traffic problems.

The Verge explains,

Though both mapping apps are owned by the same company, many drivers prefer using Waze because the incident reporting feature is accurate and timely. But the two apps shouldn’t clash with each other too hard in terms of fighting for users; Waze is specifically designed for drivers, while Google Maps is used for walking, public transit, biking directions in addition to searches for local business information and recommendations.

Waze is GPS navigation software that was first introduced in 2006 as FreeMap Israel. It provides turn-by-turn navigation information and user-submitted travel times and route details while downloading location-dependent information over a mobile telephone network. Google purchased Waze in 2013 for $966 million.

Earlier this week, Google Maps for Android gained a new AR feature that uses your phone’s camera to overlay walking directions on top of the real world. In doing so, it helps you figure out which way you should go. Besides directions, the mode also helps identify nearby places, so you have a better feel for the neighborhood.

Google Maps also gaining a new “For You” feature where you’ll find recommendations based on your past travel. Recommendations are scored using a “match number” system based on your likes and reviews.

Google hasn’t officially confirmed whether the incident reporting feature has indeed come to Google Maps, or whether this is a test. Hopefully, it’s released to everyone soon, including iOS users.

Do you use Waze? How about Google Maps? Let us know below.

See also: 

• You can no longer book an Uber through Google Maps
• Google Maps is going to help you stop looking like a lost tourist
• It looks like Google is finally ready to enter the video game market

Bryan M. Wolfe

Bryan considers himself a well-rounded techie, having written articles for MakeUseOf, KnowTechie, AppAdvice, iDownload Blog. When he's not writing, he's being a single dad and rooting for his alma mater, Penn State, or cheering on the Patriots.