On Monday, January 11, Apple officially seeded the first beta for its upcoming iOS release, iOS 9.3 to developers for testing purposes.
The iOS 9.3 beta is available for download immediately from the Apple Developer Center, and a public beta is likely to be available in the near future. With iOS 9.3, developers can also download the update over-the-air using the new iOS 9.3 Configuration Profile.
iOS 9.3 contains a new Night Shift mode, which basically Sherlock’s f.lux, along with new Touch ID security options for the Notes app, improved CarPlay functionality, an upcoming Multi User mode for schools, and much, much more.
What’s new in iOS 9.3:
Apple Watch – With iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2, the iPhone is able to pair with more than one Apple Watch. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and the iPhone running iOS 9.3. WatchOS 2.2 was seeded to developers alongside iOS 9.3.
Night Shift – iOS 9.3 includes a feature that reduces blue light at night, much like f.lux does on a Mac.
Notes – Notes is now password protected and there are new features for sorting by date created, date modified, or alphabetically.
Apple News – News algorithms have been improved to offer more tailored articles in the For You section. There’s also a new landscape mode and in-line video playback.
Health – Health has been updated with a new interface that makes it easier to see move, exercise, and stand data. There’s also a new menu in certain categories to help users discover apps that can be used to track health data.
CarPlay – CarPlay includes iOS 9 features like New and For You sections in Apple Music along with a Nearby feature in Maps for discovering the best local restaurants, coffee shops, and more.
Education – iOS 9.3 includes multiple Education-oriented features including shared iPads for students, a new Classroom app, and an Apple School Manager.
Apple seeds new iOS 9.3 beta to developers