Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 9.3.3 to Developers
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3.3 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after the public release of iOS 9.3.2, a minor bug fix update.
The first iOS 9.3.3 beta, build 13G12, can be downloaded immediately from the Apple Developer Center.
We don’t yet know what changes iOS 9.3.3 will bring to iOS 9, but as a minor 9.x.x update, it’s unlikely to introduce any major tweaks. There is no iOS 9.3.3 update available for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, suggesting the new beta does not fix an issue that bricked some 9.7-inch iPad Pro devices. Apple has also pulled the iOS 9.3.2 update for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and has not re-released it.
The previous update, iOS 9.3.2, introduced support for using Night Shift and Low Power mode simultaneously and fixed a Bluetooth bug that caused iPhone SE devices to experience poor audio when connected to a Bluetooth device.
We will update this post with any changes that are found in the new beta.
Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3.3
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Pulls iOS 9.3.2 Update for 9.7-Inch iPad Pro After Bricking Complaints
Amid a growing number of complaints over iOS 9.3.2 bricking some 9.7-inch iPad Pro models, Apple yesterday pulled the iOS 9.3.2 update. 9.7-inch iPad Pro users who have not installed iOS 9.3.2 no longer see the update, with iOS 9.3.1 now listed as the most current version of iOS 9 available for download.
Shortly after iOS 9.3.2 was released, MacRumors began receiving reports that the update was causing an “Error 56” message on some 9.7-inch iPad Pro devices. Not all iPad Pro users were affected, but those who were saw their devices rendered unusable. The error message instructed users to plug their devices into iTunes to restore, but restoring did not fix the problem, leaving the iPad Pros bricked.
An iPad Pro bricked after installing iOS 9.3.2. Image via Twitter.
Since then, MacRumors has heard several reports suggesting Apple is replacing iPad Pros bricked by the update, with no other simpler fix readily available. Users who are affected should contact Apple Support for assistance.
Apple has said it is looking into the issue, but did not offer details on what was causing the problem. The iOS 9.3.2 update will remain unavailable on the iPad Pro until a fix is found.
Update: Apple told iMore it is working on a fix and plans to issue an update soon.
We’re working on a fix for an issue impacting a small number of iPad units that are receiving an error when trying to update the software. We’ll issue an update as quickly as possible.
Related Roundups: iPad Pro, iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3.2
Buyer’s Guide: 12.9″ iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums
iOS 9.3.2 Bricking Some 9.7-inch iPad Pro Devices With ‘Error 56’ Message
iOS 9.3.2 is causing problems for some 9.7-inch iPad Pro owners, with multiple MacRumors readers and Twitter users reporting issues shortly after installing the update over the air. Affected users are seeing an “Error 56” message that instructs them to plug their devices into iTunes.
An iPad Pro bricked after installing iOS 9.3.2. Image via Twitter.
While not all 9.7-inch iPad Pro users have reported problems, there have been a number of reports on the MacRumors forums and on social networks, suggesting the problem is widespread. Attempting to restore through iTunes doesn’t appear to resolve the issue. From MacRumors user NewtypeCJ:
Mine is bricked. Says it needs to be plugged into iTunes, won’t restore or update, just a big loop. Fantastic.
According to Apple’s error code support document, error 56 is a hardware issue. The document recommends installing the latest version of iTunes, checking for issues with third-party security software, and attempting a restore twice. Apple recommends customers who are still seeing the error message contact Apple support.
With a number of users affected by the bricking issue, Apple will likely need to release an updated version of iOS 9.3.2 that solves the problem.
Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3.2
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Releases iOS 9.3.2 With Support for Simultaneous Night Shift/Low Power Mode Usage
Apple today released iOS 9.3.2 to the public, marking the second update to iOS 9 since iOS 9.3 launched in March of 2016. In testing since April 6, Apple seeded a total of four iOS 9.3.2 betas to developers and public beta testers prior to releasing the update to the public.
Today’s iOS 9.3.2 release is available as an over-the-air update for all iOS 9 users and it can also be downloaded through iTunes.
iOS 9.3.2, as a minor 9.x.x update, focuses mainly on under-the-hood performance improvements and bug fixes rather than outward-facing changes. One of the biggest bug fixes resolves an ongoing issue that caused Bluetooth accessories to experience audio quality issues when paired with an iPhone SE.
– Fixes an issue where some Bluetooth accessories could experience audio quality issues when paired to the iPhone SE
– Fixes an issue where looking up dictionary definitions could fail
– Addresses an issue that prevented typing email addresses when using the Japanese Kana keyboard in Mail and Messages
– Fixes an issue for VoiceOver users using the Alex voice, where the device switches to a different voice to announce punctuation or spaces
– Fixes an issue that prevented MDM servers from installing Custom B2B apps
In addition to the bug fixes listed above, the update also introduces support for using Night Shift and Low Power Mode simultaneously. During the first few iOS 9.3 betas, the two features were able to be turned on simultaneously, but later betas removed that functionality. With iOS 9.3.2, devices capable of using Night Shift can turn it on with Low Power Mode enabled.
iOS 9.3.2 is the eighth update to the iOS 9 operating system, following iOS 9.0.1, iOS 9.0.2, iOS 9.1, iOS 9.2, iOS 9.2.1, iOS 9.3, and iOS 9.3.1.
Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3.2
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Third Beta of iOS 9.3 to Developers
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the second iOS 9.3 beta and two months after the public release of iOS 9.2. iOS 9.3 has been in testing since January 11.
The third iOS 9.3 beta is available as an over-the-air update and through the iOS section of the Apple Developer Center.
As a major .1 update to the iOS 9 operating system, iOS 9.3 introduces several new features. There’s a Night Shift mode to reduce the amount of blue light iOS users are exposed to in the evening by shifting the iPad or iPhone display to a warmer (yellower) color spectrum, and there are several features designed to improve the iPad for Education program, such as multi-user login.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Multiple apps and features are also seeing updates in iOS 9.3. Apple News includes more personalized recommendations, faster updates, a landscape view on the iPhone, and support for in-line video, while Health includes a new Apple Watch-style “Activity” view and Notes has an option to password protect individual entries.
Apple Music for CarPlay offers “New” and “For You” sections for better music discovery, and a Nearby Feature in CarPlay Maps offers more information about what’s close by. Paired with watchOS 2.2, an iPhone running iOS 9.3 is able to support multiple Apple Watches, and for iPhone 6s users, there are new Quick Actions for Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, App Store, and iTunes Store.
The second iOS 9.3 beta added a Control Center toggle for the Night Shift feature, and new additions in the third iOS 9.3 beta will be listed below.
What’s new in iOS 9.3 beta 3:
Verizon Wi-Fi calling – The third beta of iOS 9.3 adds Wi-Fi calling for Verizon users, allowing them to place calls over a wireless connection when cellular connectivity is poor.
T-Mobile bug fix – Today’s beta includes a carrier update for T-Mobile users, fixing a bug that prevented apps from loading over a cellular connection.
Discuss this article in our forums
iOS 9.3 Beta 2 Allows iPad Pro’s Smart Connector to Update Accessory Firmware
The second beta of iOS 9.3, which was seeded to developers on Monday and the public earlier today, includes a new feature that allows the iPad Pro’s Smart Connector to update accessory firmware. The new feature was first spotted by German developer Stefan Wolfrum (via Cult of Mac) when he plugged his Logitech Create keyboard case into his iPad Pro.
In the past month, several users in the MacRumors forums have noted that the Create keyboard case suffers from lag and dropped keystrokes. Forum member iwill424, who also reported that his Create keyboard had its firmware updated when plugged into an iPad Pro running iOS 9.3 beta 2, said that both issues were resolved by the firmware update.
MacRumors was able to recreate the steps that led to the update by updating our iPad Pro to beta 2 and connecting the keyboard. When the keyboard is connected, a pop-up is displayed alerting users to an “accessory update”, asking whether they want to update the “Smart Connector Accessory”. If a user chooses to update, the pop-up stays on the screen and displays the update progress. Once progress hits 100 percent the dialog box disappears; the update took 30 – 40 seconds. However, there was no dialog or indication of what the update changed once the process was complete.
The Smart Connector’s ability to transmit both data and power at the same time has been on full display with keyboard accessories like the Smart Keyboard and Logitech Create, but it was unknown whether the port could be used to update firmware for accessories. It’s unclear whether the new iOS beta housed the firmware update or whether it quickly pinged a server to download the update before applying it.
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Second iOS 9.3 Beta to Public Beta Testers With Night Shift Control Center Toggle
Apple today released the second beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3 update for public beta testers, just a few days after seeding the second iOS 9.3 beta to developers. iOS 9.3’s second public beta comes a week after Apple released iOS 9.2.1, a minor update, to the public.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will receive the second iOS 9.3 update over-the-air after installing the proper certificate on their iOS device.
Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and OS X betas.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
iOS 9.3 is a major update to the iOS 9 operating system, introducing a long list of new features and improvements. iOS 9.3’s biggest new feature is Night Shift mode, which is designed to automatically cut down on the amount of blue light an iOS user is exposed to at night by shifting to more yellow tones for the iPhone or iPad’s display. With iOS 9.3, there’s a number of changes for educational users, and the iPhone is now able to pair with multiple Apple Watches.
The update also includes new 3D Touch Quick Actions for stock apps like Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, App Store, and iTunes Store, plus it introduces password protection for individual notes in the Notes app. News in iOS 9.3 includes in-line video playback, landscape mode on the iPhone, and more personalization, while the Health app introduces a new Apple Watch-style “Activity” interface.
Today’s second beta includes support for a Night Shift toggle in the Control Center on iOS devices. Night Shift is denoted by a new eye-shaped icon in between the icons for the timer and the calculator on the iPhone. Tapping on the icon brings up options to turn the feature on or disable it until the next day.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
A full list of changes in iOS 9.3 can be found in our “What’s New” post. iOS 9.3 will launch to the public this spring.
Discuss this article in our forums
How to Download the iOS 9.3 Beta to Your iPhone or iPad
Ahead of new software releases for iOS devices, Apple provides early copies to both developers and public beta testers to work out bugs and refine features. Major updates often include exciting new additions that people are eager to try out right away, such as iOS 9.3’s Night Shift Mode and all of its other new features.
If you want to get your hands on iOS 9.3 ahead of its prospective spring public launch date, there are two legitimate ways to do it: a developer license or a public beta invitation. We’ll outline both ways to get iOS 9.3 below, plus we’ll include some instructions on downgrading in case you run into bugs.
Both those who sign up for a developer license and those who test betas through Apple’s public beta testing program should use caution when installing beta software. It’s called a beta because it’s unfinished, and there are often significant issues and problems that can prevent apps and features from working, especially in the early beta testing process.
iOS 9.3, though relatively stable, should not be installed on a main iOS device that’s used on a daily basis. Testing should be done on an extra device that can be easily wiped should something go wrong.
Apple Seeds Second iOS 9.3 Beta to Developers With Night Shift Toggle in Control Center
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 9.3 beta and more than a month since the public release of iOS 9.2.
The second iOS 9.3 beta is available as an over-the-air update and through the Apple Developer Center.
As a major .1 update to the iOS 9 operating system, iOS 9.3 introduces quite a few new features. There’s a new Night Shift mode that cuts down on the amount of blue light iOS users are exposed to in the evening hours by automatically shifting the iPhone or iPad display to a warmer (yellower) color spectrum, and there are several new features designed to improve the iPad for Education program.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Several apps and features are also being updated. In-line video and a landscape view for the iPhone are available in the News app, which now offers more personalized recommendations and faster updates. Health includes a new Apple Watch-style “Activity” view that displays activity and goals, while Notes now has an open to password protect individual entries.
Apple Music on CarPlay now includes New and For You sections for better music discovery, and a Nearby feature in CarPlay Maps offers improved access to information about what’s close by. Paired with watchOS 2.2, an iPhone running iOS 9.3 is able to support multiple Apple Watches, and for iPhone 6s users, there are new Quick Actions for Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, App Store, and iTunes Store.
What’s new in iOS 9.3 beta 2:
Control Center Night Shift Toggle – As hinted at in the iOS 9.3 preview page provided to Canadian users, iOS 9.2 beta 2 introduces Night Shift controls in the iOS Control Center, accessible by swiping up from the bottom of an iOS device.
Discuss this article in our forums
Facebook iOS App Update Expands 3D Touch Support
Facebook has begun rolling out support for further 3D Touch actions on compatible iPhones in the latest update to its primary iOS app.
The newest iteration in the social media company’s series of weekly app updates allows iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus owners to use “peek” and “pop” gestures directly from within a Facebook timeline. A light press or “peek” on a profile, link, page, group or photo triggers a preview of the content in question, while a harder press or “pop” opens the link, photo, profile or group.
A new “Quick Action” also comes to the Facebook app icon, with a homescreen shortcut that takes users directly to their account’s profile page.
Original Quick Actions (left); a new Action takes users to their Facebook profile (right).
The introduction of new 3D Touch features follows support for several Quick Actions that Facebook brought to its app back in October. However, unlike the first 3D Touch-equipped update, the company is limiting access to the latest features to “a small group of people,” before rolling them out globally “over the coming months,” reports The Verge.
Despite the potential for frustrating some of its users, Facebook’s gradual rollout strategy is in line with last month’s muted announcement of staggered support for Live Photos, which allows Facebook users to share motion-enabled pictures taken on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices with followers running iOS 9.
Increased support for 3D Touch comes on the heels of similar features introduced in other Facebook-owned apps, including Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, while other third-party developers continue to implement and deploy their own support for the pressure-sensitive technology following Apple’s own encouragement to do so.
Facebook is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]
Tags: App Store, Facebook, 3D Touch
Buyer’s Guide: iPhone (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums
AIVAnet 