Apple releases iOS 9.3 with Night Shift, secure Notes, fix for iMessage security hole

iOS 9.3 packs in a bevy of new features for iPhone and iPad users, including Night Shift for reduced eye strain, a Touch ID-secured version of Notes, additional 3D Touch Quick Actions and various improvements to existing first-party apps and services.

Apple has also built out specialized offerings for schools and enterprise with the upcoming iOS release. For example, the Classroom app and supporting ecosystem for iPad offers teachers and school administrators granular control over software distribution, per-student device management and remote monitoring.

The update also fixes a potentially critical security hole recently discovered by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

iOS 9.3 will also allow third-party apps to add music to a user's iCloud Music Library.

A total of seven beta releases were issued before Monday's public launch of the update, marking a particularly long beta period for a point-one release from Apple. Alongside the release of iOS 9.3, Xcode 7.3 was also made available.