Apple Drops iOS 4.3.3 to End Location Database and Tracking Controversy

[Michael Essany]

Although some believed it would take considerably longer for Apple to ready iOS 4.3.3, on Wednesday the iOS update arrived and it promises to correct the location tracking and data storage bug that sparked concern and controversy last month when the potential privacy threat was discovered.

As promised, Apple says the aforementioned update alters the iOS crowd-sourced location database cache. All told, iOS 4.3.3:

• Reduces the size of the cache
• No longer backs up the cache to iTunes
• Deletes the cache entirely when Location Services is turned off.

The iOS 4.3.3 update, which is available now via iTunes, is for the GSM-based iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad, and 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch. Apple is also making availble iOS 4.2.8 for the Verizon CDMA iPhone 4.

Late last week, Apple said that providing mobile users with fast and accurate location information while preserving their security and privacy "has raised some very complex technical issues which are hard to communicate in a soundbite." Instead, they will be addressed by iOS 4.3.3. Today, Apple has addressed said issues.

Source: Apple

[robbpell]

to bad! I was enjoying spying on people. lol

[metaljay]

anynews on if the untether is patched lol?
i could take a guess though

[Carcarad]

Hmm cool , i think

[cpotoso]

When will apple be able to simply have a small file that patches the issue instead of a 1/2 GB file that takes a long time to download, load on the iphone, etc??? Cydia does it in a file that is under 1 MB!

[kuhndsn]

When will apple be able to simply have a small file that patches the issue instead of a 1/2 GB file that takes a long time to download, load on the iphone, etc??? Cydia does it in a file that is under 1 MB!

Good point. However I prefer full updates as they are less buggy. If you keep patching it becomes a spider nest in the backend and causes problems.

[iFiend]

Good point. However I prefer full updates as they are less buggy. If you keep patching it becomes a spider nest in the backend and causes problems.

This.

The reason it's not a 1/2 GB is because it's the whole OS

[Cowboy]

Comex just posted that it's not patched

[Simon]

^ yup, very good news: Twitter

[Cowboy]

^^^^^
thanks i was trying to find out how to link it

[Simon]

Just click on the time of the tweet to get a link. That was the dev team tweet but same thing.

[Cowboy]

Cool cool

[Poseidon79]

anynews on if the untether is patched lol?
i could take a guess though

How'd that guess work out for ya?

[TheDirtyDiddler]

Does this update improve battery life?

[mmaboi21]

These updates are definitely taking a toll on the iPad 2 jailbreak.

Now all the whiners will start demanding 4.3.3 jailbreak...

[darkknight75]

thats great so i can use redsnow to jailbreak 4.3.3

[Simon]

thats great so i can use redsnow to jailbreak 4.3.3

Not yet, redsnow will need to be updated first.

[Cowboy]

thats great so i can use redsnow to jailbreak 4.3.3

Probably not 100 percent yet on what all this means when it comes to jailbreaking

[darkknight75]

ok cool thanks i was gonna rejailbreak but ill wait then

[Simon]

It will probably be able to jailbreak tethered right now (maybe) but the untether will just need to be updated to work with 4.3.3 and then reincorporated back into redsnow.