Apple seeds fourth betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and watchOS 3.2 to developers

Apple today seededĀ fourth betas of iOS 10.3, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and watchOS 3.2 to members of the Apple Developer Program. iOS 10.3 beta 4 (build number 14E5260b), macOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta 4 (build number 16E175b) and watchOS 3.2 are now all available as over-the-air downloadsĀ through the Software Update mechanism on devices with an appropriate configuration profile. We’ll update the article if we find new features or important under-the-hood changes in the new betas.

iOS 10.3

Aside from the usual assortment of bug fixes,Ā performance improvements and security enhancements,Ā iOS 10.3 packs in more than a dozen improvements, nice-to-haves and other user-facing enhancements.

One of the bigger onesĀ isĀ a new Find MyĀ AirPods feature for locating your misplaced earbud through the Find My iPhone app and service.Ā AĀ one-handed floating iPad keyboard wasĀ discovered in iOS 10.3 beta as well, but it’s unclear if it will be exposed to users when the software update launches for public consumption.

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iOS 10.3 includesĀ aĀ new App Compatibility sectionĀ in Settings where legacy 32-bit apps are named and shamed. A reworded system prompt now states thatĀ 32-bit apps may slow down 64-bit devices, essentially confirmingĀ that 32-bit apps won’t work with future versions of iOS unless they’reĀ updated.

This is yet another indication that iOS 11 will most likely be 64-bit only.

Read more about the new App Compatibility section in beta 3 here.

iOS 10.3 also lets your favoriteĀ appsĀ update their icon dynamically.Ā This will letĀ third-party apps convey theirĀ states right onĀ their Home screen icon. For example, uponĀ upgrading to the full version of an app via the In-App Purchase mechanism its Home screen icon mightĀ change as a result.

These are butĀ a few of the more than a dozenĀ useful improvements and productivity-enhancing changes that iOS 10.3 will bring to the table when it becomes available publicly this spring, including stuffĀ like:

  • Apple File System
  • iCloud Analytics opt-in feature
  • Redesigned iCloud section, now at the top of the Settings app
  • Siri and CarPlay improvements
  • Reduce Motion for websites
  • Disabling in-app ratings and reviews
  • Hourly forecast in Maps
  • Navigation improvements forĀ Mailā€™s Conversation View
  • EasierĀ typing onĀ Chinese and Japanese keyboards

ā€œWhen iOS 10.3 ships to customers, you will be able to respond to customer reviews on the App Store in a way that is available for all customers to see,ā€ notes Apple.

For the full list of changesĀ inĀ iOS 10.3, be sure toĀ check out thisĀ article.

Before I forget, iOS 10.3 updates yourĀ AirPods firmware toĀ versionĀ 3.5.1.

Consult ourĀ tutorialsĀ toĀ learn how toĀ find out your AirPods firmware version number, install AirPods software updates manuallyĀ and use your AirPods like a pro.

macOS Sierra 10.12.4

Night Shift Mode is coming to your Mac with the newĀ Sierra 10.12.4 update.

The feature was originallyĀ designed to help iOS usersĀ adjust the temperature of their device’s display from cool to warm, either manually or based on the time of day.

You can access Night Shift in System Preferences, Notification Center or via Siri.

AĀ dedicated preference pane lets you adjust whenĀ your Macā€™s display will begin gradually shifting from blue to yellow toĀ cut down on exposure to blue light, which is said to cause sleeping problems.

In addition to Night Shift, macOS Sierra 10.12.4 includesĀ Dictation support forĀ Shanghainese, an updatedĀ PDF API fixing a few annoying bugs and a new iCloudĀ Analytics feature while enablingĀ Siri look-ups of Cricket schedules, scores and rosters for twoĀ new cricket leagues.

TheĀ macOS Sierra 10.12.4 software update ā€œimproves the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac,ā€ according toĀ Appleā€™s official release notes.

watchOS 3.2

watchOS 3.2 beta includes Theater Mode, a new toggle in Control center that lets you quickly disable the Raise to Wake feature and mute alerts on your Apple Watch.

According to Apple:

Theater Mode lets users quickly mute the sound on their Apple Watch and avoid waking the screen on wrist raise. Users still receive notifications (including haptics) while in Theater Mode, which they can view by tapping the screen or pressing the Digital Crown.

Be sure to read our fullĀ coverageĀ of Theater Mode in watchOS 3.2.

Aside from Theater Mode, watchOS 3.2 will let youĀ control your favorite watch apps with SiriĀ so that you canĀ send a message, make a payment, book a ride, start a workout, call a contact or search photos by using your voice, like on iOS 10.

iOS 10.3Ā and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 are also available to those who wouldĀ apply for Apple’s Beta Software Program. watchOS and tvOS betas are not currently available through Apple’s public beta program.

If you’ve discovered other tidbits in theĀ newĀ betas, tip us via tips@iDownloadBlog.com.