Google Maps has always had a blinding white interface that made it hard for drivers to adjust from looking at the screen to looking at the road.
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Google Maps 4.9.0 adds several new features, but the most prominent is a night mode option, which has been available in other options of the app, that makes it easier to see the route while you’re driving at night. Click on a place name to view it, open up the additional menu (three vertical dots) and select Place details to bring it up on Maps.
Google Maps remains the popular alternative to the Cupertino-based giant’s proprietary maps application Apple Maps which suffered from a controversial and much-maligned launch in 2012. The feature automatically turns on at night time, so you’ll have to travel somewhere after the sun sets to check it out.
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The update also included a handful of other interesting features, such as the ability to label places to see them on your map and in search suggestions, which offers a more personalized experience, and the ability to edit the captions of photos you’ve uploaded to Google Maps. This feature allows a darker theme during navigation with out stressing your eyes. The one minor annoyance is that it only activates at night, so you’ll have to wait until nighttime (or manually change the clock on your iPhone, like I did) to try it yourself.
