Apple’s officially started rolling out iOS 10.3, tvOS 10.2, watchOS 3.2, and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 to the public after a lengthy beta period. As always, each should arrive as an OTA update and can be downloaded via iTunes as well.
iOS 10.3 offers a mix of major and minor upgrades. One of the biggest members of the former is a new Find My AirPods feature which can be found in the Find My iPhone app. Once activated, you can play a sound to locate your lost earphones as long as it’s within range. The tool further saves its last known location.
The other big change is the switch to the Apple File System (APFS) from the ancient Hierarchical File System (HFS). The leap to a more modern base may result in iPhones having more room than before because of improved space efficiency. It might even result in a speed boost since the new infrastructure is optimized for flash storage and boasts of low latency.
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APFS also brings with it better support for encryption and snapshots for freezing the state of a file system for superior backups. Speaking of backups, it’s best to make one before updating to iOS 10.3 since it’s a completely new file system which is incompatible with the old.
Other useful iOS 10.3 modifications include App Store revamps that allow you to limit the number of times a developer can ask you for a review and switch off such prompts permanently. Developers in turn can respond to customer reviews now.
Even Siri’s gotten upgraded, flush with the ability to dig out scores and statistics for Indian Premier League and International Cricket Council matches. It can also check the status of bills in payment apps, check the car fuel level or lock status in automaker apps, and schedule rides.