Apple

iOS 9, the mobile OS that powers Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, got a significant update Monday (when Apple also unveiled a new 4-in. iPhone and a 9.7-in. iPad Pro) with the arrival of iOS 9.3. The updated OS introduces several new features, including new 3D Touch shortcuts for existing system apps, Wi-Fi call support for Verizon customers, the ability to encrypt individual Notes, and -- most prominently -- a new Night Shift mode that automatically shifts the white balance on newer iPads and iPhones to a warmer color spectrum to help reduce eye strain and improve sleep. iOS 9.3 also brings updates to CarPlay, as well as enhancements to make the iPad a better tool for educational use.

The development cycle for iOS 9.3 encompassed seven developer betas and several public betas, so this update was a long-time coming. That lengthy gestation period should result in a stable final build, but if you're worried about that, you can just wait a few days to see if any major bugs snuck through Apple's quality assurance process and into the final build.

Not going to wait, are you? Didn't think so.

The update can be installed by tapping Settings: General: Software Update, and then following the necessary prompts. If you're more of an old-school user, you can also upgrade your iOS device through iTunes. Update sizes will vary depending on which device is being upgraded. For the iPhone 6S, iOS 9.3 weighs in at a sizable 1.7GB; for the iPad Pro, it's 1.5GB. Every device compatible with iOS 9 can -- and should -- run this update, but some features are limited to more recent models. (Night Shift, for instance, only works on the iPhone 5s or later, the iPad Pro, iPad Air or later, the iPad mini 2 or later and the sixth-generation iPod touch.)

Night Shift can be set to activate at specific times of day.

Sleep easier with Color Shift?

Night Shift is the most noteworthy feature, and will likely affect the most users. By default, at sunset Night Shift changes the display's color from a cooler spectrum (which emphasizes blue light) to a warmer one (which is more yellow/orange). This is done in an effort to not only reduce eye strain but to help us sleep better. The theory is that blue light disrupts the body's ability to rest, therefore keeping us awake even when we want to sleep. Shifting to a warmer color spectrum cuts back on blue light, and allows the body to naturally produce the chemicals needed to rest.

By default, Night Shift uses your specific location to determine when exactly to kick in at sunset and return the display to the normal color spectrum at sunrise. There's also an option for a more manual approach that lets you schedule Night Shift for a custom set of hours. Or you can toggle it on or off using the new button in the Control Center. (Swipe up from the bottom of the display to show Control Center; the toggle is centered above the Home button.)

Initially, I was uncertain about how well Night Shift would work. The shift takes some getting used to -- and the intensity can be adjusted via a slider under the Night Shift section of Settings: Display & Brightness. Your eyes and the way the brain processes color does grow accustomed to the change, though, and after a while you won't notice it as much.

One thing I found: Scheduling Night Shift to turn on at a particular time is actually a good way to stay more aware of the passing hours. I tend to lose track when working on the latest project, and seeing the device in my hand shift in color reminds me it's about time to put the electronics away.

Night Shift can be activated from the Control Center

iPad for Education

In an effort to keep the iPad a relevant education platform, Apple has added features in iOS 9.3 that addresses earlier shortcomings. These changes include multiple login support for different students; a mobile device management (MDM) portal for easier management of Apple IDs, apps, and other tweaks; school-assigned managed Apple IDs; and a new app called Classroom that allows a teacher to launch an app on every student's iPad, and then guide them through lessons and keep up with each student's progress. Classroom also allows teachers to view students' iPad screens, launch and lock down apps, and even display a student's screen on an AppleTV via AirPlay.

Apple iOS 9.3 rolls out new management features for education that would be useful in the workplace, too.

There are more details about iOS 9.3's education-based features here.

3D Touch additions

For iPhone 6S and 6S Plus users, more system apps get new 3D Touch shortcuts. Those include the Settings app (with shortcuts to Battery, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth panels); the Weather app; the App Store app (including an Update All apps option, as well as shortcuts to Purchased, Redeem, and Search); Compass; Health; and the iTunes Store.

TactioHealth offers a better UI than Apple for quick access to health info.

As well as those 3D Touch shortcuts, many system apps get tweaks of their own, including:

A new Activity tracker dashboard in Health. It syncs with and displays Apple Watch data and goals, similar to the widget in the Activity app. And to encourage and help people discover even more ways to be healthy, the Health app now sports third-party app suggestions for sleep, workout and weight tracking. That's all well and good, but Apple really should take a page from TactioHealth and have Health data that goes beyond simple graph displays, perhaps by explaining what the data means and showing in an easy-to-understand interface how your readings measure up to what's considered medically normal.

An updated Music app that makes it easier to access the album of the currently playing song. Just tap the song title to access the rest of the album. With this change, Apple moved where you tap to change a song rating. To do that, you now tap the album art. (Song ratings will appear above lyrics -- if the song has lyrics -- or are centered in the album art section. Note: third-party apps can now access your music library and even add content.

A tweaked News app. It's faster, and the For You section has been updated to provide more relevant content.

A more secure Notes app; It now supports locking and encrypting individual notes so that only those with a device password or a matching fingerprint via TouchID can access the content.

Other additions include: Wi-Fi calling for Verizon, which will bring Verizon customers up to par with a feature that has been available already for AT&T customers; iBooks can sync PDFs and assorted items through iCloud across devices; support for more than one Apple Watch, as long as that Apple Watch is running watchOS 2.2 and is synced to an iOS device running 9.3; and the device About screen now tells you if your phone is being actively managed.

And finally, CarPlay -- for those lucky enough to own a car that supports it -- has been updated with new features, including updated Maps that will better help you find nearby locations such as gas stations, restaurants, parking, and more and a Music app that now sports New and For You sections. The latter move is designed to make exploring new music that much easier when you're on the go.

Although this was just a point update, iOS 9.3 adds a variety of features, bug fixes and security tweaks that should keep users while we await more information about Apple's direction at this summer's upcoming Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC).