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In a new update that has been around for years on Android devices, Night Mode is on for Google Maps on iOS, with Apple products now catching up. The new feature will allow the bright white maps to switch into a darker color scheme that will be easier on the eyes during nighttime.
The previously bright backgrounds have been switched to black, lessening the impact for drivers and only highlighting the paths with a contrast orange. It places more focus on the actual roads than anything in between them, allowing for proper view of one’s path.
While drivers are certainly not encouraged to use mobile devices while driving, the app seems to be directed at them. However, they can now choose to either stop and check or place it properly next to them without impairing their view of the road too much. That cannot be entirely prevented though.
The most common cause of death during car accidents is due to the person behind the wheel becoming inattentive of what’s in front of the moving vehicle. The bright light of the phone being replaced by a dark hue and lower contrast will certainly help vision.
It takes time for the eye to adjust from a bright white screen to the darkened roads ahead. While it may not take longer than a few seconds, that’s usually all it takes for a fast object, person or animal to quickly appear in front of the car. So, Apple has now added the nighttime option, along with a few other features that have been less in the public’s attention.
iOS users are now able to pick and label various locations around the map, with titles such as ‘Home’ or ‘Work’ that aren’t official businesses or landmarks. These are reportedly private labels, only for that particular user to view and not made public, as other uses of the app might do. Perhaps understandably though, Night Mode is still the biggest addition.
The switch to a darker schematic color will be working based on your phone’s time, not the luminosity around it. Meaning that Night Mode will not switch itself on when you’re in a darkened room in the afternoon.
It has been a few good years since the feature has become available on Android, so it drew some questions why it took Google Maps so long to optimize itself for iOS. Apple does have its own software of the same GPS-oriented nature, but it’s been a long time and Apple Maps is still the source of many jokes due to faulty representations and glitches.
Image source: gsmarena.com
