Apple released the beta for the upcoming update iOS 9.3 to developers on Monday.
The massive iOS 9.3 update includes small performance tweaks and app upgrades, along with a new feature called Night Shift.
The new Night Shift mode reduces blue light at night, similarly to how f.lux works on a Mac. That means iPhone users can worry less about using their smartphones in bed before falling asleep since studies show that exposure to blue light emitted from devices can affect circadian rhthyms and make it hard to fall asleep. Night Shift works by using the device's clock and geolocation to determine the time of sunset in the user's location, and then automatically shifts the colors in the display to feature warmer tones so that using your device at night is easier on the eyes.
iOS 9.3 also includes features to CarPlay including "New" and "For You" suggestions from Apple Music that include songs, artists and albums that are selected by experts and the user's preferences. The update to CarPlay also features the Nearby feature in Maps to help drivers find gas, restaurants and other locations near them so they know where to make a pit stop.
The update also features Touch ID integration for Notes. Now user's personal information stored in notes will be password protected, requiring them to enter in either a specific Notes password or their fingerprint.
Notes will also be stored by the date they are created, modified and by alphabetical order for better organization.
Apple is also giving News improvements in iOS 9.3, including an update to articles in the "For You" section to be better tailored to the user's personal interest, as well the ability to read stories in landscape mode and the ability to play videos directly from the feed.
There are also improvements to the Health app to make it easier to find third-party apps to track the user's health using the new slider menu added to the dashboard. These include categories such as Weight, Workouts and Sleep.
The Health app will now also display movement, exercise and stand data, along with goals from Apple Watch. With iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2 (which was seeded to developers as well), the iPhone will also be able to pair with more than one Watch when the public versions are released.
Lastly, iOS 9.3 features a preview of the new features for Education including shared iPads for students, a new Classroom app, and Apple School Manager.
Developers can download iOS 9.3 from the Apple Development Center. A public beta is likely to be released in the near future.
Via: MacRumors
