Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Apple implementing sleep-friendly 'Night Shift' mode in MacOS Sierra 10.12.4

By

apple releases macos sierra 10 12 4 with night shift pac man touch bar macbook pro
Image used with permission by copyright holder
One popular theory lately is that our sleep patterns are detrimentally affected by the blue light emanating from our various digital devices. All of those LCD displays interrupt our body’s production of melatonin and keep us in a state of being constantly awake, or so the theory goes.

Various mobile devices, including iOS devices and some Android iterations, have already implemented “night modes” that reduce the amount of blue light being projected, shifting colors to a generally warmer state that should allow our bodies to more naturally go to sleep. Now, Apple is implementing “Night Shift” mode in MacOS Sierra, introducing it in the latest beta release as 9to5Mac reports.

Recommended Videos

MacOS beta 10.12.4, now released to the public, closely follows the release of MacOS Sierra 10.12.3, which was primarily a bug fix for a number of issues with the 2016 MacBook Pro. Night Shift for Mac works in similar fashion to Night Shift on iPhone and iPads, allowing the function to be scheduled or manually enabled and letting users make the color shift more or less warm.

Other changes coming in the MacOS Sierra 10.12.4 beta include dictation support for the Shanghainese language, the ability to ask Siri for cricket scores, schedules, and player information, and updated PDFKit APIs to improve how supported apps display PDFs using PDFKit.

Apple isn’t alone in implementing a blue shift mode for helping its users get to sleep more naturally. Microsoft is also adding a blue light option in Windows 10 Creators Update, with the feature currently available on the latest Windows Insider builds. It, too, allows scheduling when the feature turns on, enabling it manually, and adjusting how warm the display is allowed to become.

As always, if you want to install the public beta of MacOS Sierra 10.12.4, you can go to Apple’s beta site and sign up. Once you do, then the update will be available to download and install in the Mac App Store on your applicable Apple machines. Signing up for the beta program also installs the Feedback Assistant app that allows you to let Apple know what you think of the latest and greatest MacOS.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Coppock
Mark Coppock
Computing Writer
Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for…
How to download the MacOS Monterey public beta
how to download macos 12 monterey beta 42434 82358 888 xl

During the WWDC 2021 keynote, Apple announced its next version of MacOS. Known as Monterey, this year's MacOS desktop operating system is now available for everyone to download, if you're daring enough to be one of Apple's beta testers.

Though Apple has not given a specific release date for the official release of MacOS Monterey -- the Cupertino, California, tech giant vaguely mentioned that the software will be available this fall -- you can  get your hands on and try out MacOS Monterey through a public beta program. MacOS Monterey, which jumps to version number 12 this year following the release of MacOS 11 Big Sur, was previously available as a closed developer beta earlier this summer following Apple's WWDC keynote, but it is now open to anyone who is interested in trying out the public beta.

Read more
The best new MacOS Monterey features Apple just announced
apple wwdc 2021 everything announced mac os montery2 copy

Apple is fresh off the announcement of a developer preview of MacOS Monterey at WWDC 2021 and there's a lot to be excited about. If you're well invested in the Apple ecosystem of devices, then Apple has your back with this new operating system.

The latest MacOS release brings lots of new features that are all designed to help your iPad and Mac play nicely together. Here's a look at the best new Mac OS Monterey features to try out once the public beta opens up next month -- or with the developer preview that opened up today on June 7.
Universal Control
Universal Control Keynote — MacOS & iPadOS — WWDC 2021

Read more
Everything Apple announced at WWDC 2021: iOS 15, MacOS Monterey, and more
Tim Cook Apple WWDC 2021

The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is one of the biggest events of the year for Apple developers, and this year's show is no different. Apple announced key updates across its entire ecosystem, with new releases for iOS on the iPhone, MacOS on the Mac, iPadOS for its line of tablets, WatchOS on Apple Watch, and so much more.

"We're excited to share our latest technologies with you and with the incredible community of millions of Apple developers around the world," Apple CEO Tim Cook said as he kicked off WWDC 2021 to an audience of developers represented by Memoji. "Your creativity and groundbreaking apps continue to deliver new and meaningful ways to enrich people's lives,"  "We've continued to look for ways to cultivate the next generation of developers, with an emphasis on those underrepresented in technology."

Read more