Missing iOS' Night Shift feature on your other devices? Try f.lux and Twilight

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

One of the biggest updates in iOS 9.3 is Night Shift which shifts the colour spectrum or temperature from blue tinged light to a warmer yellow glow which can aid human eyes and the brain relax a bit since blue light from digital devices tends to mess with our circadian rhythm. 

I've been testing various betas of iOS 9.3 and Night Shift has been one of the features that has really worked for me. I tend to read on my iPhone or iPad at night and with Night Shift in effect, found that I was sleeping earlier and more spontaneously.

f.lux for desktops

Naturally, I wanted to get Night Shift or a similar application on my other devices like my MacBook, my Windows Desktop as well as various Android powered devices I need to test from time to time. Getting a similar feature on Mac and PC was easy thanks to f.lux which is available for free (download here). Once installed, f.lux can be programmed to automatically turn on at a determined time and can be toggled in the menu bar.

The first few times, f.lux might look and feel a bit weird and yellow but it is easy to get used to. f.lux does get in the way if you want to watch a movie or look at photos and desire colour accuracy, the good thing is it easy to postpone f.lux for an hour or longer. I can't recommend f.lux enough and will likely use it indefinitely.

Twilight for Android

Google's Android N preview has been around for a few weeks and it has a Night Mode feature which, unsurprisingly, mimics what Night Shift offers on iOS. Since Android N still has a way to go (and is only available for select Nexus devices), the Twilight app is the best option I have found to shift blue light to warmer yellow tones.

Twilight has a high level of customisation and works on most Android devices. I purchased the pro version of the app to use on devices I am testing and don't regret buying it. 

These solutions may not be ideal for everyone but it is good to know that there are third party options on devices and platforms that Night Shift does not yet work with.