OPINION: A rumoured Apple iOS update may make the awful habit of texting in cinemas ever so slightly less obnoxious.
Anyone who has ever been in the movies and had their experience ruined by someone else using their phone will be eagerly awaiting the day it's made illegal.
Sadly, that's not happening any time soon. But Apple's 'theatre mode' may be a teeny tiny step toward making it less distracting.
Taking a call and talking is of course a horrific thing to do in cinema, but using a mobile device at all is a no-no - in the same way that shining a torch into people's eyes would not be OK there.
You've been transported to another world, only to be yanked out of it with something awfully distracting in the real world, a bit like being needlessly awoken from a pleasant dream.
Tech writer Sonny Dickson, who has leaked a lot of information about Apple products over the years, says theatre mode will be part of the iOS 10.3 update, with the first beta release scheduled for next week.
Presented as a popcorn icon on the control centre, the mode will reportedly be similar to the existing 'do not disturb' mode, but will also dim the screen's brightness considerably.
The leaked information has been discussed on several tech news websites, which have resurfaced an Apple patent revealed in 2012.
Apple Insider noted at the time: "This policy enforcement capability is useful for a variety of reasons, including for example to disable noise and/or light emanating from wireless devices... for preventing wireless devices from communicating with other wireless devices... and for forcing certain electronic devices to enter 'sleep mode' when entering a sensitive area".
Having a theatre mode enforced on iPhone users by cinema management seems unlikely, despite great that would be.
Even if theatre mode blocks communications and lowers the brightness, using a mobile device in a cinema is never going to be discreet enough not to be fully acceptable.
But as long as cinema chains keep refusing to kick out offenders, Apple's update may just make them a bit more bearable.
According the leak, iOS 10.3 beta 1 will seed on January 10.
Newshub.
