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Apple

Apple iOS 9.3 might help you sleep better

By Stephanie Mlot PCmag
Published | Updated
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There's been a lot of talk about how our devices are disrupting sleep thanks to the blue light they emit. To combat this phenomenon, Amazon recently added "Blue Shade" to its Fire tablets, while Google added "Night Light" to the Google Play books app. Now Apple is following suit on iOS.

Apple iOS 9.3 includes something called Night Shift, which uses your iDevice's clock and geolocation to determine when the sun sets overhead. Once the natural light begins to drain, iOS 9.3 automatically shifts display colors to the warmer end of the spectrum, filtering out the blue light that can suppress your body's production of melatonin and cause sleep problems.

The mobile OS update is not yet available to everyone; Apple released the first beta to developers this week. But it has a preview page on its website that highlights what users can expect from iOS 9.3.

In addition to Night Shift, iOS users will be able to pair multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone and tap into a redesigned Maps app for the wearable. The built-in Health app, meanwhile, is making it easier to find third-party apps to track weight, workouts, and sleep. And it displays your move, exercise, and stand data pulled from Apple Watch.

Did you have an epiphany on the treadmill? Jot it down in the Notes app, which will have added security via a password or fingerprint lock. Users can also sort notes by date created, date modified, or alphabetically.

Apple News, which hit a bump in the road recently, promises a more personalized experience. In iOS 9.3, the For You section offers better-tailored articles, trending topics, and Editors' Picks. Plus, play videos directly from your feed, view everything in landscape on an iPhone, and watch as the latest stories load "much faster," Apple said.

Those with CarPlay will see better Apple Music and Maps integration. Beta users will find the Music app's New and For You sections on their vehicle's infotainment screen, while Maps adds the Nearby feature for help finding gas, parking, restaurants, coffee, and more.

Apple also just released a list of every major automobile manufacturer currently offering (or planning to introduce) models that support CarPlay. That includes Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Suzuki, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Developers, meanwhile, are also now testing OS X El Capitan 10.11.4, watchOS 2.2, and tvOS 9.2.