Waze helps Google sell hyper-local ads which sets it apart from Google Maps as a revenue generator from Google's point of view. Also setting Waze apart from Google is a new feature for Waze called Retro Mode. Sounds groovy, man. With Retro Mode, you can change the app's appearance and the sound of the turn-by-turn directions to match the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s.

To activate Retro Mode, open the Waze app. In the bottom left corner tap on My Waze. From the menu that appears, tap on Drive with the 80's. You will then have options to change how you appear on the app by pressing Moods. You can select a lava lamp (1970s), a boom box (1980s), or a Mac (1990s).

 

Enabling Retro Mode

Tap on Car to choose between an iconic "flower power" VW bus, a race car, or an SUV (representing the 79s, 80s and 90s respectively). Keep in mind that your car icon is only visible to you. Next, you can choose Voice directions to pick from a 70's DJ, an 80's Aerobic Instructor, and a 90's Pop Star.

It's Flower Power as you take the VW bus on Waze

With Retro Mode enabled, you can mix and match elements from each era. For example, you can choose to have the VW bus from the 1970s, the voice of the Aerobic instructor from the 1980s, and the SUV from the 1990s. Cool, huh? You won't see Retro Mode on Google Maps.

Once you've finished making your selection, tap on the Done button. You're now ready to drive into another era. Install Waze from the App Store or from the Google Play Store.

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