The update to iOS 9.3 isn’t a full blown update compared to iOS 9 back in September, but it does bring with it a couple of small but important and useful updates.
Here are some of the more noticeable improvements to Apple’s mobile software.
(If you haven’t updated already, go to Settings > General > Software Update and it will appear)
Some important security fixes
The main reason you should install any update and this is more apparent here as iOS 9.3 squashes quite a number of bugs.
Some of the fixes include an iMessage flaw which affected images and videos sent through the service and closing loopholes which could allow a hidden web page to access sensitive user info like device-motion data.
It also got rid of that May 1970 bug which emerged last month so if you haven’t already, update it now for security alone.
Night Shift Mode makes the screen easier on your eyes
The most noticeable feature to be included with iOS, Night Shift follows the same concept as the likes of F.lux and Twilight by changing the warmth of the display from blue to orange. The theory is looking at blue light at nighttime keeps you awake so changing it will help you sleep better.
There are two ways to access it. The first is to bring up the control panel (swipe up from the bottom of the screen) and it will be nestled in-between the timer and calculator button.
Pressing this button will turn it on but it’s better to schedule it by going to Settings > Display and Brightness > Night Shift.
You can either allow it to use your location so it switches on automatically – it tracks both sunrise and sunset - or you can set a custom schedule.
More importantly, you can change the colour temperature from less warm (normal) to more warm.
Keeping your notes secure
A small but important addition to notes is the ability to lock them using a password or Touch ID. When you’ve finished writing up a note, hitting the share button will bring up the Lock Note option.
Tapping this will let you set a password and whether it can be unlocked using Touch ID. Handy if you have sensitive details like passwords to remember.
Duplicate Live Photos
Introduced with the iPhone 6s range in September, Live Photos effectively recorded a small clip before and after a photo was taken, hence the name.
Before the update, if you wanted to save a still image, you would have to disable Live Photos, but now you can get around that.
After you’ve taken your live photo, going into share will bring up the duplicate option. Here you will be given the option to clone the live photo as it is or just the still photo.
3D Touch is expanded
Another feature introduced with the iPhone 6s range, 3D Touch may have had a slow start but it’s slowly expanding to more apps.
Some additional functionality has been added to standard Apple apps like Settings (which has a handy quick option for battery), Weather (if you have two or more locations added), Compass and others. They’re minor updates but can be useful if you remember them.
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