[De Clarke]

Yippee, new more modern/powerful cell phone is here so I am at last able to try Android Auto. The setup process is a little odd and had me frustrated for a while: many access permission options are offered, but if I Deny any of them the app doesn't work Seems like it should tell the user that all these access permissions are Required. But anyway, finally got it all working and talking to the car.

Immediate disappointment with Google Maps projection: looks totally different from normal google maps on my phone or tablet. Really minimalist -- the background is black, roads gray, route is blue -- no green for parks, blue for water, yellow for major highways etc. No palette config option in menus? Is this because I'm keeping my displays in Night mode, or because the projected version is grossly simplified for whatever reason (faster plotting?)? Also, a chunk of the screen is obscured by a not-very-useful infobox which I can't seem to get rid of. Oh well, at least it is a big screen navigation view; I'm not really all that fussy, just expected it to look more like the phone screen. It'll be easier and safer than sneaking furtive glances at the iPad propped up on the passenger seat

At any rate I can now report that AA does seem to work as advertised. I am setting out on the longest-yet road trip this Weds (will actually have to locate and use level 3 charging station(s) for the first time!) and hoping to be navigating by google maps on the console -- but of course bringing an iPad just in case

Other than that, I am quietly happy with my Bolt. It does everything I expected and more. Now and then I give some EV newbie a ride and (if the road is clear and no one is watching) show them the acceleration curve. They are always amazed. Just lovin' my little "invisible sports car".

 

[Sibilance]

I really like using Waze in addition to Google Maps.

Waze is very useful when you are out and about in an area you are familiar with. Around here, at least, other Wazers regularly report things like massive potholes, road hazards, road closures that haven't made it to Google Maps yet, etc. (The last one is really handy, because my area has a lot of low water crossings.)

Another tip that, yes, is mentioned in the manual somewhere: Once Android Auto is up and running, and you go back to the Bolt's home screen or elsewhere? You can LONG press the physical home button to return to Android Auto. This is very handy for flipping to the Bolt's GUI for checking on power consumption or fiddling with options, then flipping back to the map or app you had running in AA.

 

[Usain]

Another vote for Waze, but I use both.


Sometimes, Waze seems to lock up or have other issues and I need to use Google as a backup. But when it's working, Waze is superior.

 

[KeithMoon]

Another vote for Waze, but I use both.


Sometimes, Waze seems to lock up or have other issues and I need to use Google as a backup. But when it's working, Waze is superior.

Waze is not long for the world, Google bought Waze several years ago and has been steadily integrating Waze features into maps. Maps now has everything other than the ability to report accidents. I don't believe google wants to encourage use of the phone at all while driving so I think they'll wait until the automakers provide access to the video streams from the cars camera so that maps can identify accidents on the road automatically before they kill off Waze (right now Waze is just for getting the crowd source data maps uses it).

 

[MarksBolt]

Waze is not long for the world, Google bought Waze several years ago and has been steadily integrating Waze features into maps. Maps now has everything other than the ability to report accidents. I don't believe google wants to encourage use of the phone at all while driving so I think they'll wait until the automakers provide access to the video streams from the cars camera so that maps can identify accidents on the road automatically before they kill off Waze (right now Waze is just for getting the crowd source data maps uses it).

I took a trip to Boston in March and for the first time, I could see Waze reports of speed traps and accidents on Google Maps- pretty cool.

I agree that Waze will probably be disappearing soon. Here's a brief article about it: https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2013/06/11/four-reasons-for-google-to-buy-waze/#5f93efd6726f

 

[Sibilance]

Waze is not long for the world, Google bought Waze several years ago and has been steadily integrating Waze features into maps. Maps now has everything other than the ability to report accidents. I don't believe google wants to encourage use of the phone at all while driving so I think they'll wait until the automakers provide access to the video streams from the cars camera so that maps can identify accidents on the road automatically before they kill off Waze (right now Waze is just for getting the crowd source data maps uses it).

Right now Google Maps does NOT show me the speed of the road I am travelling on and my current speed when displayed by Android Auto on my Bolt screen.

It also doesn't seem to show reports of road debris, potholes, cars stopped on the side of the road, things like that. Those things may be uncommon where you live, but I seem to have to dodge these a lot. So I use Waze locally, and Google Maps when travelling somewhere I am not familiar with.

Google Maps is superior for Navigation, but not as good (currently) as a co pilot / heads up.

I'm sure those other features will get incorporated soon though. For now I just run both.

 

[PhilR]

Immediate disappointment with Google Maps projection: looks totally different from normal google maps on my phone or tablet. Really minimalist -- the background is black, roads gray, route is blue -- no green for parks, blue for water, yellow for major highways etc. No palette config option in menus? Is this because I'm keeping my displays in Night mode, or because the projected version is grossly simplified for whatever reason (faster plotting?)? Also, a chunk of the screen is obscured by a not-very-useful infobox which I can't seem to get rid of. Oh well, at least it is a big screen navigation view; I'm not really all that fussy, just expected it to look more like the phone screen. It'll be easier and safer than sneaking furtive glances at the iPad propped up on the passenger seat

try these steps in these pics, and sorry for the lousy crop job - I was in a hurry

 

[DesertSprings]

The Waze AA interface is missing so many important features though, meanwhile the Google Maps AA interface is great. I've actually been moving away from Waze to GMaps.

 

[Edchris]

Yes, part of the problem is “night view “.
Mine looks exactly like my phone screen, (using Google Maps), same colours & details. It will auto change to night view when the light intensity decreases
If you change to “satellite view”, as shown by PhilR, you will get the same things as using satellite on your phone/computer, all the trees etc.
I personally find satellite to be way to cluttered, I don’t want to see beaches & trees when navigating.
You can also pinch the Bolts screen on/out, or tapping the screen, then using the +/- buttons on the screen.

 

[rlhammon]

try these steps in these pics, and sorry for the lousy crop job - I was in a hurry

Thanks for the pics! As odd as it sounds, I've never even looked into the settings on the Bolt screen. Part of that is because I can't see that box at all when driving. I wish I could move that box to the right hand side, it's completely behind the right side of the steering wheel, my hand, and my arm. I'll have to sit in the car and make some adjustments now.

 

[rlhammon]

Right now Google Maps does NOT show me the speed of the road I am travelling on and my current speed when displayed by Android Auto on my Bolt screen.

It also doesn't seem to show reports of road debris, potholes, cars stopped on the side of the road, things like that. Those things may be uncommon where you live, but I seem to have to dodge these a lot. So I use Waze locally, and Google Maps when travelling somewhere I am not familiar with.

Google Maps is superior for Navigation, but not as good (currently) as a co pilot / heads up.

I'm sure those other features will get incorporated soon though. For now I just run both.

I do see the speed limit shown on screen using Maps with AA. It's not on every surface street, but on major roads I'd say it's there 80% of the time, and highway / interstates seems 95% of the time. I am getting "speed trap" ahead visuals and audio warnings. Unfortunately the speed trap ones are 90% of the time in the wrong spot, and 50% of the time there is no police around at all. Having never used Waze I'm not sure how quickly those get updated... but it's been a nice addition to Maps.

 

[Sibilance]

I do see the speed limit shown on screen using Maps with AA. It's not on every surface street, but on major roads I'd say it's there 80% of the time, and highway / interstates seems 95% of the time. I am getting "speed trap" ahead visuals and audio warnings. Unfortunately the speed trap ones are 90% of the time in the wrong spot, and 50% of the time there is no police around at all. Having never used Waze I'm not sure how quickly those get updated... but it's been a nice addition to Maps.

Just spent all day driving around Austin (from North, South, East and West, busy day) and I could NOT get Google Maps on AA to display my speed or the speed limit.

I've double checked, and I'm up to date for AA and Maps. Not sure what the problem is.

I'd miss all the other warnings that Waze has, but if I could just get a speedometer up on the Google Maps display, I would probably use it way more often.

Edited to add: MAYBE the problem is that I don't have a destination set. When Waze is running, even if I don't have a destination set, I can see my speed and the speed limit. Perhaps Google Maps only does that when there's a destination and route set. I'll check it out after vacation.

 

[rlhammon]

Just spent all day driving around Austin (from North, South, East and West, busy day) and I could NOT get Google Maps on AA to display my speed or the speed limit.

I've double checked, and I'm up to date for AA and Maps. Not sure what the problem is.

I'd miss all the other warnings that Waze has, but if I could just get a speedometer up on the Google Maps display, I would probably use it way more often.

Edited to add: MAYBE the problem is that I don't have a destination set. When Waze is running, even if I don't have a destination set, I can see my speed and the speed limit. Perhaps Google Maps only does that when there's a destination and route set. I'll check it out after vacation.

Bottom right hand corner... shows the speed limit on the road I was traveling is 40 MPH. Perhaps this is a data issue, and the roads you're on don't have the information... unless of course you're going to say it works fine in Waze and just not in Google Maps. I've never installed Waze, so I can't compare the two on my end. Note: I did have a destination set here. I don't believe I use maps without a destination set, but after I took the picture out I cancelled out my destination and I didn't see the speed limit anymore.

 

[rlhammon]

Confirmation: Speed limit only shows when a destination is selected. I verified by canceling the destination and seeing the speed limit disappear, and then setting a new destination and the speed limit reappeared all on the same street.