In the endless race of which system is better, there are always so many ways where Android takes the score, but there are a few things where iOS trumps the former. When it comes to Google Maps, Android pulled a fast one over Apple users when it comes to the Night Mode feature. This is one point that’s going to have to be given to both operating systems now though, as Google finally finds a way to offer the same service to iOS users.
As the name implies, the new Night Mode feature allows iOS users to drive around at night with the assistance of Google Maps without having to adjust their phone screens’ brightness settings. It basically switches to a darker display as the light around it lowers down, eliminating the threat of vision issues as drivers switch from the glaring map on their screen to the dark road that they see beyond their windshield.
Of course, this feature does it by syncing with your iPhone’s clock. This means that when you enter a dark room during the day, you cannot expect it to adjust its brightness even when you are in navigation mode.
Does the new feature sound familiar for Apple users? Of course, it does. Apple Maps has actually had this feature for quite some time now. The thing is, a lot of iOS users still prefer using Google Maps over their mobile device’s default map app.
This update is available for iOS 7 and later versions. It is fully optimized for the iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, but it is also compatible with the iPad and the iPod Touch. Does the feature make Google Maps safer for drivers to use? Only experience will tell. Of course, seeing that it could improve night vision for drivers could mean that they would have to deal with the adjustment period involved as their eyes switch from the road to the screen. However, there are other things that people who are not fond of this technology worry about as well, such as loss of focus on their actual driving.
Of course, knowing Google, such an update will not only give users a single additional feature. There is so much to expect from the update aside from the new Night Mode feature, and users will definitely find their Google Maps experience to be a little more personalized from hereon. For example, users now have the ability to add private places through the app on iOS. Although the app did allow new places to be added before, this feature was only available for public places. This time, the place previously labeled would come up on the screen automatically the moment the user searches for it on the app.
It also adds a whole lot of personalization for users who love uploading their own pictures on Google Maps. Where these images used to be generic and caption less before, iPhone users can finally edit the caption and give their Google Map pictures more specific names. With this whole new list of features to watch out for, Android users would probably find themselves wondering if this update is enough to make them run to stores that sell iPhone units and switch over to the other side.
