If your device is on iOS iOS 6.1, you are likely aware of several issues that have plagued the operating system upon launch, including a serious security exploit that made data within an iPhone accessible to any unintended user. Another vulnerability has now been discovered which allows any user to access the internal data of the iPhone device running iOS 6.1 or 6.1.2 by simply plugging it into a computer via USB. Worse even, it is not too difficult to perform.
The iPad mini is most certainly far from a perfect device. The lack of a Retina display and high cost have both been pointed out as glaring issues with the scaled-down Cupertino slate, yet one aspect that doesn't seem to have divided opinion is the design and form factor of the device. Doubtlessly, it's beautiful to hold and use, and for the last few months, it has been reported that the full-sized iPad may be treated to similar design traits. Following on from the supposed Retina iPad mini case leaks, the first cases of a redesigned iPad 5 have leaked via case maker MiniSuit, which seem to further substantiate the notion of the iPad mini and regular iPad adopting a uniform look moving forward.
A recent study carried out by the parent company of tech problem-solvers FixYa has found that Apple's iPhone is far and away the most reliable on the market, and compared with arch-rival Samsung, is a full 300% more reliable. Earlier this week, we learned the Cupertino handset was the best-selling smartphone in the world based on Q4 sales figures, but while that is a seasonal affair which often swings in favor of the company which has most recently dropped a flagship, the depth of the FixYa study makes the outcome even more damning. It took into account a total 722,558 combined problem reports, along with market share data from StatCounter, in order to obtain reliability scores; and in short, Apple excelled while competitors faltered.
Apple's decision not to opt for the Retina display with the iPad mini was met with disappointment by many, but recent reports have suggested the second generation of the downscaled slab will indeed feature a much higher resolution in line with the rest of the iDevice range. With this in mind, further images have today been sourced from a Chinese forum depicting what is said to represent the rear shell of an iPad mini featuring a high-density display.
The long-awaited release of iTunes 11 ran fairly smoothly for Apple towards the close of last year, and although the completely overhauled UI does take a bit of getting used to, it would seem as though the vast majority of users have now managed to adapt. Following on from the hurried release of iTunes 11.0.1 to alleviate a bunch of teething issues back in December, Apple has just released iTunes 11.0.2 which, among a bunch of bug fixes, also adds a new Composer view, and improves playlist responses.
Not too long ago, Apple released iOS 6.1 to the public, yet this one was plagued with issues ranging from a lock screen exploit to numerous connectivity problems affecting Microsoft Exchange users. While the recently released iOS 6.1.1 update for the iPhone 4S, which Apple rushed quickly, addressed the critical connectivity issue which stopped many business users from upgrading, this new 6.1.2 release fixes many other small problems that were still left.
Concept ideas help us to visualize a specific new feature or piece of software or hardware, rather than just imagining, and with the faults of iOS 6 having been well-documented of late, it's no surprise that we've seen a slew of concepts purporting to improve elements of Apple's mobile OS. One area which has seen a lot of attention - particularly in the jailbreak scene - is the app switcher, and Sentry, the designer behind Auxo tweak, has come through with another alternative take on how the Cupertino company could reinvent the multitasking bar.
Apple has aired two brand-new TV ads pertaining to the iPad and the iPad mini. One, entitled "Alive", seeks to show just how useful the iPad is for tasks seen as beneficial to daily life, such as like education and exercise, while the other, “Together”, highlights just how much enjoyment groups of people can get through the sharing and multiplayer apps and games.
Apple may be set to focus on the Apple TV set top box once more, with the news the company is asking engineers to apply for a new role within the team that works on the little slab of loveliness.
Although iOS 6 has been adopted in record numbers since its release back in September alongside the iPhone 5, it has scarcely been able to buy a decent press report. In a week which has seen a lot of fuss being tossed around regarding the passcode security bug, which allows a user to bypass the code or password on a device with apparent ease, it has also been revealed that the Restrictions feature’s “Don’t Allow Changes” doesn't exactly work as advertised. Namely, it doesn't fully prevent changes from taking place, and although considerably fewer users take advantage of what is a fledgling feature, the timing of the discovery paints the usually robust iOS in a fragile light indeed.
