Drivers warned popular map app used by 130 MILLION is being discontinued on some mobiles as updates stop
WRONG TURN Drivers warned popular map app used by 130 MILLION is being discontinued on some mobiles as updates stop
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DRIVERS have been issued a warning as a popular app used by 130 million motorists is being discontinued on some mobiles.
Many drivers now choose to use smartphone navigation apps to help them find the best routes and avoid traffic jams.
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Waze is a popular alternative to Google Maps
Credit: Getty
However, users of Google owned app Waze, may soon be unable to access the latest software.
The popular app is ending support for million of Android devices, with the newest versions of the app requiring devices to be running Android 10 or newer.
This means that if your device runs Android 9 or older, you will not be able to download any new features or updates.
This will also apply to any built in car screens that run on Android.
Those with devices running Android 9 or lower will still be able to use the app, but over time it will become less and less reliable.
Waze is often used by motorists for for real time traffic updates, that are sourced from Waze users.
It also has features such as petrol price comparison, making it a popular alternative to Google Maps.
Currently, only the beta version of Waze requires devices to be running Android 10.
The beta version of the app is a preview version you can opt in to that allows you to see new features and updates before anyone else.
However, when changes appear on the beta app, they are likely to end up on the regular version.
Over 10 million Android users told to turn off devices after Google exposes 'infection' – exact list of models affected
Android 10 was released back in 2019, but since there are billions of Android devices in use across the world, it is likely that may of them are still using Android 9.
If your phone is still running on Android 9 or lower, you may want to think about purchasing a new mobile, as more apps are likely to also stop supporting these devices.
More Android news
This follows the news that Google has ended support for three Android devices.
At the end of March, Google quietly ended support for Android 12 and Android 12L - this is the software that some devices run on.
That means the Google Pixel 3a, Samsung Galaxy S10 series, and OnePlus 7 series will no longer receive security updates from Google, according to Android Authority.
If there are future updates for affected phones, they will have to come directly from the manufacturers, Samsung and OnePlus.
However, Samsung only offers seven years worth of security patches, and OnePlus typically offers three.
People with phones still running Android 12 are advised to consider upgrading to a newer device.
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