Google Traffic Widget

[blackdog]

Am I alone in only just noticing this widget?

If you haven't seen it yet it's a widget that you set up as a live traffic indicator for say your commute to work. It's colour indicates any traffic issues and it tells you how long the drive should take, and it links into Google maps!

I can't believe I've missed this so it must be new??

 

[Harry2]

I think, it came with one of last updates of Google Maps

http://androidfc.com/2011/06/using-google-maps-traffic-widgets-to-save-you-some-serious-time/

Harry

 

[blackdog]

Ah, I think you're right. What a really neat idea!

 

[coos lick]

I'd just noticed this as well. Glad I'm not the only one!

 

[Tyseyh]

ooohhhh, i noticed that too, but honestly, i thought it was just something to do with the ROM i installed.

 

[firedesire]

I can see a use for this.... suprised I missed this !

 

[badboybubby]

I too missed this one so thanks, just set it up for my commute to and from work.

thanks very much

 

[madhatter1689]

It is under the Maps widget. You are given a choice of 3 widgets.

 

[OFI]

Wow thanks for pointing that out

 

[SiHa]

Great! Thanks.

 

[Pinmac1]

Would this have any/much effect on battery life? Presumably it doesn't have to turn on GPS to work?

 

[flashsam]

It doesn't appear to have any negative effects on battery life. I have 4 of these widgets (for different locations) on one of my home screens and after a while it shows zzz on the widget like it's gone to sleep.

Then when I click on it it instantly refreshes which by the way only uses a few kb of data.

You don't have to have GPS turned on but you get a more accurate time if you do otherwise i think it just uses the cell towers to work out your current location which isn't always 100% accurate.

 

[Pinmac1]

Thanks very much.

 

[davo26]

i dont seem to have this anywhere. ive got maps, but not traffic. looked in the market but not there either.

can anyone tell me how to get this please? (using redux rom if that makes any difference)

thanks

 

[madhatter1689]

so when you long press on a screen, choose widgets, scroll down to Maps it doesn't say Maps [3 options]? When you press it you don't get 3 options? Hmm, have you gone to My Apps in the Market and got the latest update for Maps?

 

[davo26]

so when you long press on a screen, choose widgets, scroll down to Maps it doesn't say Maps [3 options]? When you press it you don't get 3 options? Hmm, have you gone to My Apps in the Market and got the latest update for Maps?

it gives me 2 options, latitude and rate places. i maybe havent got the latest update then. i went into maps looking for an update but cant see access to one.

thanks

 

[madhatter1689]

okay, that might be the reason. If you go to settings/applications/manage applications/all/maps what version do you have? Mine is 5.6.0

 

[davo26]

okay, that might be the reason. If you go to settings/applications/manage applications/all/maps what version do you have? Mine is 5.6.0

5.0.0 so needs an update. before its usually prompted me for updates when i switch on, but it doesnt seem to be doing that now. how do i find what can be updated. doesnt seem to be in the app itself.

thanks

 

[partridge]

I have the latest Maps, but it doesn't appear as a widget, I can see Traffic but it's listed alone, not under Maps.

It seems to require you to be at your start point when setting it up though, you can only set destination.

 

[coos lick]

so when you long press on a screen, choose widgets, scroll down to Maps it doesn't say Maps [3 options]? When you press it you don't get 3 options? Hmm, have you gone to My Apps in the Market and got the latest update for Maps?

Mine seems to be a bit different. I don't have Maps (3 options) in my widget list when I long press and scroll down - it just shows the traffic widget with Android below.
Checked the Maps version as well - it is 5.6.0.

What are the other Maps widget options?

 

[davo26]

Mine seems to be a bit different. I don't have Maps (3 options) in my widget list when I long press and scroll down - it just shows the traffic widget with Android below.
Checked the Maps version as well - it is 5.6.0.

What are the other Maps widget options?

ah i went into market and luckily it prompted me for a maps update. im now running latest too, and theres the traffic widget in there. the other 2 are latitude and rate places.

quick look at it amazes me i know of 2 lots of roadworks nearby and ts showing red in both places, so that really is a useful little app.
the only confusing thing for me is i dont have the widget screen like the link in the second post on this thread, where it suggests alternatives with times to arrival, and a black and grey chequered background.
mines just a roadmap with red and amber lines on the road where theres jams. no actual info.

anyone care to explain if im missing something, or how to make best use of the app?

 

[coos lick]

So the other ones are new separate widgets - get it now - yes I have those. I thought they were always there.

On the image in the link - that is the wallpaper on the phone - nothing to do with the widgets

Tried it out a few times. This is my take on it. When you place the widget, you give it a name and a destination. The widget then displays how long it takes to drive there. The different colours refer to if there any delays on the route. Pressing it takes you into google maps with the traffic layer switched on (those are the coloured lines on the map).

 

[davo26]

So the other ones are new separate widgets - get it now - yes I have those. I thought they were always there.

On the image in the link - that is the wallpaper on the phone - nothing to do with the widgets

Tried it out a few times. This is my take on it. When you place the widget, you give it a name and a destination. The widget then displays how long it takes to drive there. The different colours refer to if there any delays on the route. Pressing it takes you into google maps with the traffic layer switched on (those are the coloured lines on the map).

yep, your quite right, i think i understand it a bit better now. my problem at the minute is.....ive got it as a widget on the homescreen, but its always greyed out. it doesnt open maps when i click it.

its closed with a few z's on it to show its asleep, but when i click it it stays grey but this time with the 'sync' rotating arrows. but doesnt light up and open maps.

any ideas? am i doing something wrong? or is it a problem with redux rom maybe? it wouldnt be my first :-/

cheers

 

[Deleted User]

only problem I've found with it, is I dont take the main road route to work, would be good if you could set it for specific routes, unless someone knows how I can do this??

 

[davo26]

theres one thing im not understanding about it at the moment, and thats the network settings. mines been greyed out for ages, and ive been trying different things to get it to spring into life. if i go into maps, theres still red lines for traffic jams, but still the widgets greyed out, so im not sure how up to date it is.

then i think i got it.in the network settings, theres 'use wireless networks (location determined by wifi and/or mobile networks)' and 'use gps satellites (locate to street level, requires more battery)'

in general i dont have gps on, to save battery. and i found that the traffic widget lit up when i ticked the 'use wireless networks' box.

can anyone explain why? it still seemed to work without it. and if i leave that ticked, will it be eating my battery away, as in theory, itll be updating jams all day long and surely destroying battery life!!!!
and in that case, how would i switch it off? go into settings and untick the box? go into applications and force stop the maps app?

whats the best way of using this traffic app?

thanks