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

After seven beta releases, iOS 9.3 is now available to download by members of the public, bringing the new easy-on-the-eyes Night Shift mode, Touch ID integration with the Notes app, new iPhone 6s 3D Touch functions, and much more.

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.



35 Comments

koop 13 Years · 337 comments

Just want to drop a friendly reminder that Google has had their night mode in some beta form or another for a year now. So let's no drop the ol copying accusation when Android N hits later this summer please.

useruser 8 Years · 1 comment

How do we know for sure that this update does not contain secret spying update what govt is looking for?

Nikil 8 Years · 1 comment

useruser said:
How do we know for sure that this update does not contain secret spying update what govt is looking for?

If they do then the security researchers out there will have a field trip in less than a week from now

Nikil 8 Years · 1 comment

koop said:
Just want to drop a friendly reminder that Google has had their night mode in some beta form or another for a year now. So let's no drop the ol copying accusation when Android N hits later this summer please.

Well since 2% of the android user base has the latest version of Android, Googles kinda taking it slow waiting for more OEM's to catch up

profssrfink 10 Years · 24 comments

I just downloaded 9.3 and the features listed in your article are not part of this release. 3d touch functions have not changed and the size of the update was ~300 MB, not 1.5GB