F.lux app wants back on iPhone as iOS 9.3 beta adds Night Shift

Back in November, Apple politely told the makers of the popular screen-dimming tool f.lux to take down its iOS iteration as it broke developer guidelines.

This week we learned what could be real reason for the omission; Apple was working on its own version of the tech, released as Night Shift in the latest iOS 9.3 beta.

Following the revelation, f.lux has praised Apple for ‘joining the fight to use technology to improve sleep,’ which is a very polite way of saying mimicking its app.

On a blog post on Friday, the company has asked Apple to allow its app, which replaces harmful blue light with a warm amber glow, back on the platform. 

Related: iOS 10 release date

The husband and wife team of Michael and Lorna Herf wrote: “Today we call on Apple to allow us to release f.lux on iOS, to open up access to the features announced this week, and to support our goal of furthering research in sleep and chronobiology.”

“Apple’s involvement in fixing this problem is a big commitment and an important first step.

“We’re proud that we are the original innovators and leaders in this area. In our continued work over the last seven years, we have learned how complicated people actually are. The next phase of f.lux is something we cannot wait to ship to the world.”

See also: Apple iOS 9 review

The pair pointed out those working on night shifts have double the risk of cancer as those working during the day, which it says has been linked to exposure to bright light at the right time.

In its release notes Apple wrote: “Many studies have shown that exposure to bright blue light in the evening can affect your circadian rhythms and make it harder to fall asleep. Night Shift uses your iOS device’s clock and geolocation to determine when it’s sunset in your location.”

It would be nice if Apple would allow the originator of the tech back onto the platform rather than simply borrowing another company’s innovations.