Apple has released the iOS 10.3 beta 1 update.

Apple enthusiasts just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone's launch on January 9th, and now they have another reason to celebrate: Apple has just released iOS 10.3 beta 1, the first beta version of its next major operating system.

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

According to rumors that surfaced at the beginning of 2017, Apple was preparing a major update for iOS 10.3 – a new "theater mode" feature that all iPhone and iPad users have been waiting for since the first beta version of iOS 10 was released in June 2016. Accessible through the Settings app or a shortcut icon in the Control Center, Theater Mode is said to be a dark mode for the device. In this mode, white and other bright colors on the iPhone's user interface will be changed to black, gray, and other dark colors, making the screen more comfortable for the eyes in low light conditions.

Unfortunately, iOS 10.3 beta 1 doesn't yet have Theater Mode. However, the beta version adds a new feature called Find My AirPods. This utility allows users to send a sound, such as a beep, to a lost earbud, making it easier to locate it. Users can also see the last known location of the earbuds before they lost connection with the phone, helping to narrow down the search area.

With iOS 10.3, developers will be able to request app ratings in a new way. Specifically, with the help of the new SKStoreReviewController API, they can place a separate dialog box for users to rate their apps without submitting it to the App Store.

Other changes in this operating system update include an upgrade to Safari 10.1, widgets for the Podcasts app, payment support, and the ability to check 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