Apple has released a minor software update to fix location tracking issues and hopefully quell some of the Apple hate that has arisen from the whole situation.
iOS 4.3.3 was released late last night, and can be downloaded via iTunes to update your GSM iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad and 3rd and 4th Gen iPod Touch. Apple promises that iOS 4.3.3 makes the following changes, fixing the serious issues within iOS 4 that caused the location tracking scandal:
- Reduces the size of the cache (where locations are stored)
- No longer backs up the cache to iTunes when iDevice is connected to PC or Mac
- Deletes the cache fully when you turn ‘Location Services’ off
A Research Team location data was being stored on iOS devices even after the Location Services setting was turned off, and the data was being stored for up to and over a year instead of a few weeks. Apple responded to this by releasing an official Q&A, explaining that the reason for this is a bug within iOS 4, one which they planned to rectify with a software update.
Apple also stated that in the next major iteration of iOS (Likely iOS 5), the Location Cache will be fully encrypted to ensure maximum security and hopefully calm customers’ concerns.
You can update your device right now simply by plugging it in to your PC and firing up iTunes. Let us know how you get on by dropping a comment below.