Apple To Patch Location Bugs

We have discussed the iPhone location tracking from both- customers’ and company’s points of view. It’s been said that Apple was tracking users’ locations for just one purpose and after accomplishing its goal, the “bug” was immediately fixed! (the picture on the right enlightens the objective)

Now some facts, it’s taken just seven days between that announcement and the appearance of iOS 4.3.3, while Apple said it would take a few weeks to issue an iOS update to fix a handful of bugs related to the storage of location data. A very good strategy to underpromise and overdeliver!

The iOS 4.3.3 addresses three bugs related to the database of location information on iOS devices that caused so much discussion and debates among users. Here is what iOS 4.3.3 brings up:

• Reduces the amount of the cached location information to a week’s worth, rather than relying on a size limit;

• It no longer backs up the cache to your Mac or PC via iTunes upon syncing, so the information isn’t available to anyone with access to your computer;

• The cache is now deleted from the device when Location Services are disabled in iOS’s Settings app.

Apple has also declared plans to encrypt the location information on iOS devices itself in the next major update to the operating system, which apparently refers to iOS 5.

The iOS 4.3.3 update relates to the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS; iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch (both 3rd and 4th generations). The CDMA iPhone got a separate update today, in the form of iOS 4.2.8 which fixes the same location bugs, but leaves that device short of the other features of iOS 4.3.

It should be remarked that Apple has managed to solve the problem of all smartphones very efficiently by immediate response to customers’ problems. Let’s see what happens next and hope that other smartphone producers also manage to quiet the quiet crowd.

Empty OpenGL ES Application Xcode 4 Template

Jacques De Schepper sent in an updated version of my old Empty OpenGL ES Application Template, updated to use Xcode 4's completely revamped templating mechanism. You can download the new Xcode 4 version of the template right here. I haven't had a chance yet to test this out, but once I do, I'll also add it to GitHub.Thanks, Jacques!

Bus Trip Update

Just wanted to give you all an update on the bus pilgrimage to Cupertino on June 5th. We had a tremendous show of interest. Approximately 300 people expressed an interest, plus several people tweeted and e-mailed after the interest form was closed down. Last year, we took 100 people.

Scott Knaster is investigating bus options, including a possible bus directly from SFO to the Apple Store and then up to WWDC for people who wouldn't be able to get up to San Francisco in time for the bus.

We'll start the official signups the middle of this month, once all the arrangements are squared away and we know how many seats there will be. Once the arrangements are made, the seats will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you filled out the interest form, you'll get an e-mail with details of how to reserve your seat and pay for it as soon as signup opens. If you didn't fill out the interest form, you probably want to follow me or Scott on Twitter, as we'll tweet when the signups start and then periodically re-tweet until the seats are gone.

I want to set expectations, especially for first timers. The only thing open at Apple HQ will be The Company Store, which is similar to an Apple Store, but with a lot of Apple schwag and paraphernalia (t-shirts, pens, mugs, sweatshirts, etc). Being not just a Sunday, but the Sunday before WWDC, don't expect to see many Apple employees coming and going, and you will definitely not be able to get into the quad (the inside portion of One Infinite Loop). There is no official Apple recognition of this trip, and we don't have any expectation that there will be.

In the parking lot near The Company Store, there is a restaurant called BJ's, affectionately referred to as "IL7" by Apple employees (the buildings at One Infinite Loop are named IL1 through IL6), which is fairly good for what it is. You can have lunch or a drink there, but if you do, I advise you to order quickly and have your check brought with your food. Since the same bus will be used for multiple trips, we won't be able to wait for stragglers. The bus will leave at the scheduled departure time with or without you. We didn't leave anybody behind last year, but we had one table that cut it awfully, awfully close. It's an awfully long damn walk back to San Francisco, and they get pretty busy on Sundays even without a bus full of additional customers.

Lastly, if you see Scott on Sunday, make sure to say a big thank you to him. Scott has done nearly all of the legwork again this year and the trip is happening very much because of him, so thanks Scott!