iOS 9.3 Public Beta 1 Now Available

Ladies and gentlemen, start your downloads: the public beta of iOS 9.3 is now available! Visit Apple’s beta program website using the device you wish to enroll, install the beta software profile, then update your device to the beta software.

In addition to performance and stability improvements, 9.3 brings a surprisingly large number of features for a mid-cycle release:

• Night Shift – White point adjustment with optional sunset schedule
• Additional 3D Touch actions, including quick Settings access
• Password (and TouchID) protected notes
• The return of quick album access for currently playing song in Music
• Major enhancements for education deployments, including multi-user mode
• New Activity view for the Health app
• Inline video and landscape mode for the News app
• Support for pairing multiple Apple Watches
• Additional languages for Siri
• App launching support from Apple Wallet
• Extract a single photo from Live Photos

This is an unprecedented list of updates for a mid-cycle release. They run the gamut from major changes to the architecture of iOS to small enhancements to improve the user experience. Personally, I’m surprised to see such a laundry list of improvements to a point release like this – it suggests Apple is moving away from bundling everything in one large version update and towards a series of smaller releases throughout the year.

Normally, I’d hesitate before installing beta software. With iOS, it’s another story. Every version of iOS for the past few years has felt like beta software – beta versions generally don’t feel any more or less stable. In fact, this 9.3 beta feels faster and smoother to me than any previous version of iOS 9. I say go for it.