Google Maps for iOS Gaining Dark Mode and Messages Integration for Sharing Real-Time Location

[MacRumors]

Google today announced new updates that are coming to the Google Maps app designed for the iPhone. The most notable new feature is dark mode, which Google Maps app users have long been wanting. Dark mode is an alternative to light mode and allows for a darker user interface to match other dark mode apps on iOS devices.

According to Google, dark mode is going to be rolling out "in the coming weeks," and once available to you, it can be enabled in the Settings section of Google Maps. Google says that dark mode in Google Maps will save battery and "give eyes a break."

Apple first introduced the Dark Mode feature with iOS 13, but it has taken Google some time to bring support to its apps. Google earlier this year began rolling out a true dark mode feature to Android users, and the iOS version of dark mode for Google Maps looks similar to the Android version.

Along with dark mode, Google today announced the launch of new Messages integration. With this feature, Google Maps users can share their real-time location with friends in an iMessage using the Google Maps button in the Messages app. Location is shared for one hour by default, but there is an option to extend access by up to three days or stop access at any time.

Google's blog post also highlights the recently introduced widgets feature, which allows iPhone users to add a Google Maps widget to the Home Screen or the Today View. Widgets can be used to check traffic conditions or find nearby places.

The Google Maps app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Google Maps for iOS Gaining Dark Mode and Messages Integration for Sharing Real-Time Location

 

[alexandr]

real-time locations!! now that's something a lot of us have been waiting for.

 

[aforty]

Why is Google always the last to adopt anything on the iOS platform? Out of spite or do they really just have two or three people working on this who don't have the time to implement these things?

 

[jav6454]

real-time locations!! now that's something a lot of us have been waiting for.

You could do it via WhatsApp for a while now.

 

[Capeto]

Pretty sure dark mode has been a thing on Google Maps for years???

Edit: oh, based on system settings rather than time of day.

 

[alexandr]

You could do it via WhatsApp for a while now.

i know, but that would involve using whatsapp, which i hardly ever do. it's not a big deal — just an extra step.

 

[InGen]

Why is Google always the last to adopt anything on the iOS platform? Out of spite or do they really just have two or three people working on this who don't have the time to implement these things?

When you’re at resource and development levels as a company like Google has, your decisions are mostly strategic not creative.

No doubt Google have many other iOS App developments and features fully designed and perfected but not yet implemented due to business/profit related implications.

 

[xxray]

About time. The light interface is horrible at night.

 

[huggyb]

hey guys, did you know that Dark mode is an alternative to light mode and allows for a darker user interface to match other dark mode apps

 

[AnotherOpinion]

What I like MOST about this update is sharing locations using Messages… I really wish Apple would match feature par-for-par with Google Maps, Waze, and others… to make it THE maps app. I will start using Google Maps because it's better and now I will be able to share locations via Messages with my iOS family and friends when I am enroute.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Please fix some of the CarPlay issues... Like naming a favorited place in Google maps doesn't show up in CarPlay.. It just shows the address with no context.

 

[Mrjoedot]

So when is it coming?
it’s not here yet. Nothing in settings either.
Already dark on my phone by default atm

 

[contacos]

So when is it coming?
it’s not here yet. Nothing in settings either.
Already dark on my phone by default atm

based on their track record it may never arrive to some users. Still waiting for the system dark mode on YouTube and I am a paying customer *🏼 Jokes on me but at least I am paying turkey prices

 

[Populus]

I’d like to install Google Maps again, but even after iOS 14.5 and the privacy oriented features, like asking not to track me, I still wonder if Google Maps, even without logging in, is a safe option. In the past, Google syncronized all my activity from Safari, GMaps and YouTube, they did know it was me all the time. And I just want to use GMaps anonymously, without Google tracking me across all their apps and websites.

 

[bluespark]

“Dark mode is an alternative to light mode” = things overheard at Sith onboarding training.

 

[LFC2020]

Means it's coming in the next 5 years, still no system dark mode for YouTube. 😡🤦‍♂️

 

[Col4bin]

Wait…I’ve been using Google Maps on iPhone for years and I swear it’s always been dark mode at night. What am I missing? (I feel like I’m replying to a post from 2013 😂)

 

[timidpimpin]

Why is Google always the last to adopt anything on the iOS platform? Out of spite or do they really just have two or three people working on this who don't have the time to implement these things?

iOS is obviously not their priority. The fact that you're even wondering shows you're out of touch.

 

[zorinlynx]

based on their track record it may never arrive to some users. Still waiting for the system dark mode on YouTube and I am a paying customer *🏼 Jokes on me but at least I am paying turkey prices

There was also talk about PIP on YouTube in iOS but that ended up not happening.

Google really is the worst at rolling out software features. Why can't they just do an update for the app and have it work for everyone right away?

 

[zakarhino]

Why is Google always the last to adopt anything on the iOS platform? Out of spite or do they really just have two or three people working on this who don't have the time to implement these things?

I think it's a combination of workplace bureaucracy getting in the way (which I've heard can be quite a blocker at Google) + potentially purposeful delays of popular capabilities that iOS adopts after Android (i.e, Dark Mode, PiP) so when the average person Googles "google maps dark mode" expecting to find instructions to enable it on their new iOS update they instead find it's not on iOS yet but IS on Android lol.

 

[whirldy]

Why is Google always the last to adopt anything on the iOS platform? Out of spite or do they really just have two or three people working on this who don't have the time to implement these things?

Yes to both 🥸🥳

 

[abhibeckert]

What I like MOST about this update is sharing locations using Messages… I really wish Apple would match feature par-for-par with Google Maps, Waze, and others… to make it THE maps app. I will start using Google Maps because it's better and now I will be able to share locations via Messages with my iOS family and friends when I am enroute.

You do realise Apple already has this feature right? And has had it for years?

It also integrates into the keyboard auto complete system - so if somebody asks where you are, you can simply tap "share my location" and it'll send them a map as a reply.

 

[abhibeckert]

I’d like to install Google Maps again, but even after iOS 14.5 and the privacy oriented features, like asking not to track me, I still wonder if Google Maps, even without logging in, is a safe option. In the past, Google syncronized all my activity from Safari, GMaps and YouTube, they did know it was me all the time. And I just want to use GMaps anonymously, without Google tracking me across all their apps and websites.

Maps and YouTube are from the same developer which means they're allowed to setup shared storage on your device and in iCloud, and google surely uses that to store a unique identifier. So there's nothing you can do to stop them being linked.

For safari, they do that by setting a cookie and comparing it with your IP address. Once you use a google service in safari from a few different IP addresses, and also use maps or youtube in those locations, they correlate the data and uniquely identify you from then on. Safari will block this technique on iOS 15 if iCloud Private Relay is enabled.

 

[Santiago]

Ah, after a brisk two years, Google Maps users can enjoy Dark Mode smug in the knowledge that it still managed to beat Facebook at supporting the feature.

 

[eifelbube]

What I like MOST about this update is sharing locations using Messages… I really wish Apple would match feature par-for-par with Google Maps, Waze, and others… to make it THE maps app. I will start using Google Maps because it's better and now I will be able to share locations via Messages with my iOS family and friends when I am enroute.

… and sharing your location with Google