Apple iOS 9.3 Download: iPhone Update May Help You Sleep Better

Apple has prepared a good surprise to their users in their upcoming iOS 9.3 release. This new update will come with features that will surely change one's routine, especially at night.

Some people can't keep their hands off their phone even on bed times. They read, check email, play games or check their social media account and chat with friends. This pattern can be unhealthy because too much exposure to light may result to serious health issues.

One study from Ohio state University examined a group of mice housed in a lighted room for 24 hours a day and another group of mice housed in a room with a normal light-dark cycle. The study found out that the group of mice exposed to 24-hour light showed more symptoms of depression, EurekAlert  reported.

"The ability to escape light seemed to quell the depressive effects," said Laura Fonken, lead author of the study and a graduate student in psychology at Ohio State University. "But constant light with no chance of escape increased depressive symptoms."

Aside from this, it could hinder your normal sleeping pattern. Per The Washington Post, when one switch off the bedroom's lamp and keeps the lights from their device, it emits light of all color but the blues pose a danger to sleep. It prevents the release of melatonin, a hormone associated with nighttime.

Normally, the pineal gland, a pea-sized organ in the brain, releases a hormone a couple of hours before your regular bedtime to reduce alertness and make sleep more inviting but, with your device on, sleep is far away.

According to GoodHousekeeping, the latest iPhone update includes the new feature called "Night Shift," to resolve the blue light issue. This feature automatically adjusts the color of the device screen depending on the time of the day for a good night sleep.

In their preview page, Apple recognized the studies that show exposure to bright blue light in the evening can affect one's circadian rhythms and result to difficulty in falling asleep. The new feature "uses your iOS device's clock and geolocation to determine when it's sunset in your location. Then it automatically shifts the colors in your display to the warmer end of the spectrum, making it easier on your eyes," they wrote. In the morning, the phone automatically reset to its regular settings.

Many likened this new feature to F.lux, an app that has been available for Mac and Windows since 2009. This app removes the blue light in the evening, so the screen has a warmer glow and will not impair the user's sleeping pattern.

Apple has not announced when iOS 9.3 would be available, but they are currently testing the new feature.

When do you think this new operating system would be available? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.