New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Rumored to Begin Seeding iOS 10.3 With New 'Theatre' Mode on January 10

Friday December 30, 2016 1:33 pm PST by Eric Slivka
Apple is preparing to begin seeding builds of iOS 10.3 to developers as soon as next month, according to Sonny Dickson, who has occasionally offered accurate information on Apple's plans from supply chain sources and other contacts. Dickson says iOS 10.3 will include a new "Theatre" mode with a "popcorn-shaped" icon in the Control Center, although he does not explain what exactly this mode will entail.



The most recent significant iOS update was iOS 10.2, which was released to the public earlier this month and included a new TV app and a number of new and updated emoji, among other changes. A new iOS 10.2.1 update is currently in beta testing.

ios_10_3_traffic
Trend of visits to MacRumors from devices claiming to be running iOS 10.3

We've seen a steady increase in visits to MacRumors from devices claiming to be running iOS 10.3 over past several months with visits now numbering in the hundreds per day, suggesting a developer release could indeed be coming in the near future.

Apple has been rumored to be launching updated iPad models in the March or April timeframe, with the company reportedly developing some new iPad-specific software features such as improved Apple Pencil support to accompany the hardware updates. It's possible iOS 10.3 could be the update that delivers these features, although it may not be apparent in the early stages of developer seeding if the new features are exclusive to unreleased hardware.

Tag: iOS 10.3
[ 131 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
mnsportsgeek
34 months ago
How about being able to change the volume without missing 3 seconds of whatever you're watching?
Rating: 91 Votes
Avatar
Carmenia83
34 months ago
Hopefully, once activated, a boxing glove comes out and punches you in the face if you touch your phone before the movie ends.
Rating: 26 Votes
Avatar
andy.ringwood
34 months ago
Hoping it's Apple's name for a dark mode but it's probably just a button that disables sounds and vibration and turns down the brightness, all in one click.
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
007 Junior
34 months ago
Dark mode confirmed?
[doublepost=1483137474][/doublepost]

Hoping it's Apple's name for a dark mode but it's probably just a button that disables sounds and vibration and turns down the brightness, all in one click.


That would not make a lot of sense as we already have the Do Not Disturb option for occasions like going to a movie.
Rating: 16 Votes
Avatar
WiseAJ
34 months ago
Popcorn button? My iPhone can microwave popcorn now?
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
Mikey44
34 months ago
One can only assume that since theaters are dark, it must be dark mode.... ;)

But seriously. Dark mode would be amazing, and it seems smart to put it in control center.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
Cougarcat
34 months ago
Now we know why the Night Shift button is comically large: they're going to make it half the size and put theater mode on the other half.

This will probably be yet another button I don't use. I hate the two panes in iOS 10. I want it down to one with everything I don't use gone. Bring on the customization already.

"Theatre mode" = Orientation lock except for full-screen video?


They need to fix this problem, but I would do it by implementing YouTube's orientation functionality, not yet another toggle in Control Center.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
69Mustang
34 months ago

This is actually a brilliant idea. So many people don't turn down their brightness in theaters and concerts and blind half the audience when they use their phone.

So theaters would request patrons to put their phones onto theater mode. Silences it and restricts the brightness. I like it and the world needs it. These dot releases are getting better and better.

I don't want to be the one to Larry David your enthusiasm, but can we get the actual releases before we deem them better and better?;) You said theater mode, created a scenario for what it would be, and said the world needed it. What we need is more of your unbridled enthusiasm. Theater mode... not so much.:)

Theater mode could just as easily resemble Samsung's Cinema Mode on it's Galaxy S line of devices where the color saturation is more suited to movies and video.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
tigerstaden
34 months ago

Dickson says iOS 10.3 will include a new "Theatre" mode with a "popcorn-shaped" icon in the Control Center, although he does not explain what exactly this mode will entail


Pressing the popcorn icon will immediately send you to the comment section of the latest Macrumors article.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
Relentless Power
34 months ago
I like Sonny. He has a decent track record with predictions. Curious to see what this is about.
Rating: 6 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]