Apple Issues iOS 4.3.3 Update

Posted on May 4, 2011 by AppleBitch

Apple has today issued the latest version of its operating system for mobile devices, iOS 4.3.3 which apparently contains fixes for the location tracking issue which was brought to light two weeks ago.  The new update reduces the size of the file used to store the location tracking information and no longer allows the file to be backed up in iTunes. Additionally, when a user turns ‘Location Services’ off in their device settings, the tracking feature no longer functions.  The update also improves battery life and contains iPod Touch bug fixes.

The release notes associated with the update are as follows:

This update contains changes to the iOS crowd-sourced location database cache including:
- Reduces the size of the cache
- No longer backs the cache up to iTunes
- Deletes the cache entirely when Location Services is turned off

Previous rumors published two days ago suggested that Apple would be releasing iOS 4.3.3 within two weeks and todays release confirms that the company is on top of things by releasing the timely update.

Sooner Rather Than Later

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  • Prof. Peabody

    @ Dominik: If you are worried about tracking turn it off, if you aren’t leave it on. I don’t see how “clearing it when we want” would do anything at all other than assuage momentary paranoia. It would also defeat the whole purpose of the cache.
    ————–

    On another note, it’s interesting to me how Apple will still be collecting the same data part since most people will never turn location services off completely (for all apps). So they have tamed the PR beast but didn’t have to really change any of their practices. Smooth move.

  • http://www.dominikstriplin.com Dominik

    It would be nice if the update gave us the option to clear that data whenever we wanted.