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iOS 9.3 is available now with new Night Shift feature

iOS 9.3 is available now with new Night Shift feature

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Apple's iOS 9.3 is now available to download. While it's only a minor release, it does have a surprising amount of features for iPads and iPhones. The biggest addition is a new Night Shift mode that shifts the color temperature of the display based on the time and location of your device. It's very similar to the popular F.lux tool, and it works by reducing the amount of blue light emitting from the screen. It's believed that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can make it harder to sleep, so you can automatically schedule Night Shift to turn on in the evenings.

Adding multi-user support

Alongside Night Shift, Apple is also improving the security of its Notes app and adding some multi-user support for iOS. Notes can now be password protected and unlocked using Touch ID, a useful addition if you have bank account details you want to protect with an extra layer of security. The first signs of multi-user support for iOS are also present, allowing students with iPads to share the devices easily.

Apple is also tweaking its News app with iOS 9.3. The "For You" section is now more personalized with interests, suggestions, and trending topics. Apple Health and CarPlay also get updates in iOS 9.3. Health now has Apple Watch integration, alongside improvements to tracking third-party apps. CarPlay is getting some minor improvements to add song suggestions for music, and a nearby point of interests feature for finding things like gas stations easily.

Other minor improvements include new 3D Touch shortcuts for Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, Stocks, and Store.


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Update March 21st, 3:10PM ET: This story has been updated to reflect that iOS 9.3 has been released.