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Apple Introduces New 'Night Shift' Feature in iOS 9.3
Apple's latest beta, iOS 9.3, brings quite a few changes to iOS 9, including a new "Night Shift" feature. Night Shift is designed to cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS device is putting out during the evening hours, based on studies that have demonstrated that blue light can negatively impact sleep by altering the body's circadian rhythm.
With Night Shift mode enabled, when the sun goes down, the iPhone's screen will automatically change towards the warmer (yellower) colors in the spectrum, reducing blue light. In the morning, the display automatically turns to its normal temperature color, mimicking natural daylight.
Many people who use f.lux on the Mac are likely already familiar with the type of visual changes to expect with Night Shift mode. f.lux is an app that has been available for free on the Mac for several years, successfully cutting down on the amount of blue light that users see at night.
In fact, f.lux recently attempted to introduce an iOS app that featured the same functionality, but because it used private APIs, it skirted the App Store by asking users to side-load the app on their devices using Xcode, something Apple asked f.lux to put a stop to shortly after it was released.
At the time, Apple said that asking users to side-load an app violated the Developer Program Agreement, and f.lux was forced to stop providing the app to iOS users. F.lux appealed and asked Apple to allow the necessary APIs for a legitimate App Store app, but it appears Apple was working on its own in-house solution instead.
Night Shift is currently available to developers who have downloaded the iOS 9.3 beta. Today's beta also includes several other important features, including the ability for an iPhone to connect with more than one Apple Watch and improvements to Apple News, Notes, Health, and CarPlay.
Update: The Night Shift feature appears to be limited to iOS devices that have a 64-bit processor. That includes the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad Air and later, and the iPad mini 2 and later.
With Night Shift mode enabled, when the sun goes down, the iPhone's screen will automatically change towards the warmer (yellower) colors in the spectrum, reducing blue light. In the morning, the display automatically turns to its normal temperature color, mimicking natural daylight.
Many people who use f.lux on the Mac are likely already familiar with the type of visual changes to expect with Night Shift mode. f.lux is an app that has been available for free on the Mac for several years, successfully cutting down on the amount of blue light that users see at night.
In fact, f.lux recently attempted to introduce an iOS app that featured the same functionality, but because it used private APIs, it skirted the App Store by asking users to side-load the app on their devices using Xcode, something Apple asked f.lux to put a stop to shortly after it was released.
At the time, Apple said that asking users to side-load an app violated the Developer Program Agreement, and f.lux was forced to stop providing the app to iOS users. F.lux appealed and asked Apple to allow the necessary APIs for a legitimate App Store app, but it appears Apple was working on its own in-house solution instead.
Night Shift is currently available to developers who have downloaded the iOS 9.3 beta. Today's beta also includes several other important features, including the ability for an iPhone to connect with more than one Apple Watch and improvements to Apple News, Notes, Health, and CarPlay.
Update: The Night Shift feature appears to be limited to iOS devices that have a 64-bit processor. That includes the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad Air and later, and the iPad mini 2 and later.
Tag: iOS 9.3
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10 months ago
assuming they implement as well as f.lux this is mind blowing
[doublepost=1452538792][/doublepost]has anyone tested it yet?
Fantastic, a completely original and innovative idea from Apple. I can't wait for them to implement this....;)
10 months ago
assuming they implement as well as f.lux this is mind blowing
[doublepost=1452538792][/doublepost]has anyone tested it yet?
10 months ago
So basically Apple blocked f.lux from releasing their app and then baked the idea into the OS instead.
10 months ago
Fantastic, a completely original and innovative idea from Apple. I can't wait for them to implement this....;)
Apple didn't create the first personal computer.
Apple didn't create the first MP3 player.
Apple didn't create the first smartphone.
Apple didn't create the first tablet.
Apple didn't create the first smartwatch.
Ford didn't create the first automobile.
Microsoft didn't create the first computer operating system.
Google didn't create the first search engine.
Tesla didn't create the first electric car.
It's not about being the first or coming up with an original idea. It's about implementing it best. That's what all of those above have done.
This isn't about Apple coming up with an original idea, it's about implementing f.lux-like functionality in a better way than f.lux does. Having the functionality built-in to the operating system is far better than anything f.lux could do. It means less system resource requirements and better integration. And that's why their implementation is superior to f.lux.
10 months ago
So basically Apple blocked f.lux from releasing their app and then baked the idea into the OS instead.
Exactly. I'm torn between "finally, well done" and "well aren't you a bunch of lovely lads Apple".
10 months ago
Apple says to f.lux "We know it was your idea and that we're taking it from you. Sorry"
f.lux says to Apple "go f.lux yourself"
f.lux says to Apple "go f.lux yourself"
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