Apple makes iPads easier to use in the classroom
Apple, perhaps feeling the pressure from the mounting popularity of Google’s Chromebook in American education, has announced multiple new upgrades via i0S 9.3 that will make it easier for educators to use iPads as learning tools in the classroom. The Mirror reports that students "will be able to get access to their apps, books and documents from any iPad, and the device will display the student's picture once they have logged, to avoid them getting mixed up during the class.” According to the article, there is now also "a dedicated ‘Classroom' app, which allows a teacher to control all the iPads of the students in their class, and even jump to individual students' iPads to monitor their work.”

Apple's new operating system software is available now. Here's how to prepare your iPhone or iPad for the update

iOS 9.3: How to prepare your iPhone or iPad for Apple's latest iOS software update

Apple released the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 9.3, alongside the iPhone SE and a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro at an event in California yesterday.

First unveiled in January, iOS 9.3 offers several improvements over the previous version of the software, iOS 9.2.1.

The first of these is Night Shift , a new mode that is designed to counteract the negative effects of exposure to bright blue light, which comes with staring at screen before you go to bed.

Night Shift uses your iOS device's clock and geolocation to determine when it's sunset in your location.

Then it automatically shifts the colours in your display to the warmer end of the spectrum, making it easier on your eyes. In the morning, it returns the display to its normal settings.

Image: Getty) Getty)

Apple has also updated its News, Health, Notes and Carplay apps, to make them more customisable and personalised to the user.

For example, many people use Notes to jot down personal data - such as financial details, medical information and website logins.

With iOS 9.3, you can secure those notes with a password or fingerprint. You can also sort notes by date created, date modified or alphabetically.

The News app is better tailored to your particular interests in iOS 9.3, and the Health app lets you see all your health metrics in one place and easily share your data with third‑party apps.

Meanwhile, the Carplay app offers a selection of songs, artists and albums based on your preferences, and the "Nearby" feature in Maps lets you find petrol, parking, restaurants, coffee and more with a tap.

iOS 9.3 also comes with a suite of new Education features, designed to make it easier for iPads to be shared between students in the classroom.

For example, pupils will be able to get access to their apps, books and documents from any iPad, and the device will display the student's picture once they have logged, to avoid them getting mixed up during the class.

There is also a dedicated "Classroom" app, which allows a teacher to control all the iPads of the students in their class, and even jump to individual students' iPads to monitor their work.

Image: Getty) Getty)

As well as these new features, iOS 9.3 fixes a critical security bug in iMessages that could allow hackers to steal private pictures and videos.

In order to fully patch the security bug and no longer be vulnerable, you and everyone you message with has to update to iOS 9.3.

Apple's mobile software updates often include fixes for security bugs, which is one of the reasons it's important to be using the latest version.

How to prepare your iPhone or iPad

If you want to be one of the first to get the iOS 9.3 update, it's a good idea to prepare your iPhone or iPad in advance.

When the update is ready, you will get a notification on your iPhone or iPad. You can also check manually by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

Check that you have at least 2GB of free space on your device and, if you don't, you may need to delete some apps and games to make room.

You should also backup all of your files, photos, music and videos to your PC or Mac, in case something goes wrong during the update process.

Make sure your device is fully charged before you start the download, as it can take some time, and if your iPhone or iPad dies in the middle, you may have to start again from the beginning.

You should also decide in advance whether you're going to install the update over the air (OTA) or by plugging your device into iTunes.

Installing it fresh through iTunes will ensure you get the maximum performance benefits of the new software but, be warned, you will lose all your apps and settings in the process.