Google Maps for iOS just got the most useful new feature

By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

<h1>iOS 7, June 2013</h1>
Apple users were outraged with the iOS 6 upgrade that eliminated YouTube and Google Maps apps. Apple's maps app was so bad, in fact, that CEO Tim Cook issued an apology to customers in September and even encouraged them to try competitor's apps until the problem could be resolved. Factor in the management shakeup that resulted in the firing of mobile software chief Scott Forstall, and the pressure is on Apple to come back strong with iOS 7. Look for Passbook, the mobile wallet feature of Apple's operating system, to play a more prominent role in the upgrade.

iOS 7, June 2013

Apple users were outraged with the iOS 6 upgrade that eliminated YouTube and Google Maps apps. Apple's maps app was so bad, in fact, that CEO Tim Cook issued an apology to customers in September and even encouraged them to try competitor's apps until the problem could be resolved. Factor in the management shakeup that resulted in the firing of mobile software chief Scott Forstall, and the pressure is on Apple to come back strong with iOS 7. Look for Passbook, the mobile wallet feature of Apple's operating system, to play a more prominent role in the upgrade.
Photo: John R. Coughlin/CNNMoney

Apple’s maps app used to trumpet its nighttime version, or the map’s darker graphics after the sun goes down, over Google Maps. But not any longer, as Google Maps added the feature to its ever-growing arsenal of functions on Thursday.

The Verge reported that there’s now a night mode in its iOS app, meaning it automatically switches to darker colors when it’s being used during the evening.

But as the publication noted, this isn’t the first time Google Maps has had this capability. In fact, Android users apparently enjoyed the feature for years previously.