Apple rolls out Find My AirPods to iOS, Night Shift to Macs

Apple has released new software updates that bring much-requested features.

The first update, called iOS 10.3, is for iPhone and iPad users. It’s the third major update to the iOS 10 operating system since it released in September. Apple has been testing iOS 10.3 since January. It is now available as a free over-the-air update for all iOS 10 users. The most significant change it brings is Find My AirPods, which has been added to the Find My iPhone function.

With this new feature, AirPods owners locate a lost earphone should one be accidentally lost or stolen. The feature basically plays a sound to help users find an AirPod nearby. You can read more about how the feature works from here. The latest version of iOS also adds a new Apple File System, which is optimised for flash/SSD storage and includes improved support for encryption.

Apple has also released MacOS Sierra 10.12.4, the fourth major update to the MacOS Sierra operating system, which debuted in September. It has been in testing since January. It is now available as a free over-the-air update for all customers who are running macOS Sierra. It can be downloaded using the Software Update function in the Mac App Store on your Mac laptop or desktop.

The biggest change it brings is Night Shift mode to the Mac. We first saw Night Shift on iOS devices, with the release of iOS 9.3. It can subtly shift the display of a device from blue-emitting hues to more yellowish, thereby reducing your exposure to blue light. Blue light is thought to interrupt your circadian rhythm and may disrupt sleep patterns and may even cause insomnia.

To activate Night Shift, go to the Displays section of System Preferences. It can also be enabled through the Notification Center or Siri. The latest version of MacOS Sierra and iOS 10 add several other changes and smaller tweaks. We will update this post when we’ve had a chance to comb through all the additions and can better tell which ones are worth mentioning.