iOS 10.3 Features: Why New Mobile OS Update Will Feel 'Snappier'

By Jessica Ferrera, Christian Post Contributor Friday, March 31, 2017

iOS 10.3 is now live and can be installed by anyone who has a compatible device. And recently, an Apple employee confirmed that the software update will feel "snappier" because of some tweaks they made.

iPhone and iPad users are understandably excited about the iOS 10.3 for the usual reasons, such as it provides much needed security patches and additional features. However, the unusual but welcomed change that BGR noted is the faster animation that happens during app transition.

The news outlet's iOS 10.3 review mentioned that navigation to and from various apps feels faster, which has also boosted the user interface operation. BGR added that the icons were visually changed and now sport much rounder edges.

Apple engineer Renaud Lienhart confirmed that app transitions do not just feel faster because they were actually adjusted to move quicker than before. In a Twitter post, Lienhart who works on iOS development (according to The Verge) revealed, "iOS 10.3 feels 'snappier' because many animations were slightly tweaked & shortened, for the better."

Lienhart followed through on the same tweet and added, "To be clear: I don't think the intent was to 'fool' anyone, but simply that adjustments were due."

Meanwhile, one of his followers also asked if the new file system management would actually make a device running with iOS 10.3 operate faster. The Apple engineer explained, "Yes, it's optimized for access latency."

Apart from the faster app transitions and new file system, iOS 10.3 has also added a feature that lets owners locate their AirPods with the Find My AirPods function. However, as the same BGR report explained, this does not show the AirPods' owners the real-time location of their AirPods, considering that the wireless audio device does not sport its own GPS. It just merely reminds owners where they last used their AirPods by keeping a log of the location whenever these are connected or activated.

Some of the other new features brought by the iOS 10.3 include adding the local weather forecast feature on Maps app; a new section for the Apple ID Profile on the Settings app; a new view of one's iCloud storage breakdown readily available on the iCloud settings page; a new widget for Podcast; and the ability for Verizon subscribers to receive calls through Apple devices like Mac, iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple Watch.