Apple releases iOS 10.3 beta 1 update

Apple fans just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone on January 9, and now they have a new reason to celebrate: Apple has just released iOS 10.3 beta 1, the first test version of the next important operating system.

iOS 11 is clearly Apple's most anticipated software release of the year. However, we still have five months until the company officially introduces the operating system update at WWDC 2017 in June. In the meantime, iOS 10.3 will likely be the last major iOS 10 update released, in terms of new features.

As rumored at the start of 2017, Apple has been hatching a major update for iOS 10.3 — the new “theater mode” feature that iPhone and iPad users have been waiting for since the first beta of iOS 10 was released in June 2016. Accessible via the Settings app or a shortcut icon in the Control Center, theater mode is said to be a dark mode for the device, in which whites and other bright colors on the iPhone’s user interface will be replaced with blacks, grays, and other dark colors, making the screen easier on the eyes in low-light conditions.

Unfortunately, iOS 10.3 beta 1 doesn’t have theater mode yet. However, the beta version does add a new feature called Find My AirPods. This utility allows users to send audio to their lost headphones, such as a beep, so they can easily locate them. Users can also see the last location of the headphones before they lost connection to the phone, helping the owner narrow down the search area.

With iOS 10.3, developers will be able to request app ratings in a new way. With the help of the new SKStoreReviewController API, they can set up a separate dialog for users to rate their app without being sent to the App Store.

Some other changes in this OS update include an upgrade to Safari 10.1, widgets for the Podcasts app, support for payments and checking payment status in Siri with the new SiriKit.

Along with the iOS 10.3 beta 1 update, Apple also released macOS 10.12.4 beta 1 for developers.

According to VNN