Thursday Recap: Apple on Corrupted Updates, Nexus Q, Judge Posner Speaks
Thursday Recap: Apple on Corrupted Updates, Nexus Q, Judge Posner Speaks
We're guessing the deafening silence from the App Store today is a result of those corrupted updates that made headlines over the 4th of July holiday. If you've been relentlessly pressing the update button in iTunes only to keep seeing "there are no updates available for any of the apps in your iTunes library," it might be time to take a break and read up on what else is happening in the tech world -- including what Apple has to say on the subject. Here's what's making news for Thursday, July 5, 2012.
Apple Working on Resolution for Corrupted App Updates
TechCrunch is reporting that Apple is not only aware of the corrupt App Store updates that have plagued users and developers we reported about this morning, but it sounds like a team of crack App Avengers have already assembled in Cupertino to address the problem. "We are aware of the issue related to apps crashing after update," the brief statement reads. "We are currently working on resolving the issue. Stay tuned for updates." Apple is also reaching out to developers via iTunes Connect in an effort to stifle any complaints from end users, which frequently result in one-star reviews posted on iTunes. A developer who spoke to TechCrunch seems to feel that "Apple will make an effort to fix the damages done by the bug in terms of the negative customer reviews," although Cupertino has offered no formal word on it either way thus far.
Oops! "Made in USA" Nexus Q Assembled from Foreign Parts
Google was quick to proclaim last week that its new Nexus Q media streamer was made in the USA, but it appears the truth may be a little different. Ars Technica is reporting that the components used to create the Nexus Q are mostly from Asia -- specifically Japan, China and Thailand, with some created in Europe as well. The reality check comes by way of iFixit, who recently got their hands on the orb-like streamer and tore it apart to see what makes it tick. Inside were parts from Samsung, SMSC, Elpida, Murata, PulseJack and Toshiba, almost all of which are manufactured in the Far East. So perhaps the company's claims of "Designed and Manufactured in the U.S.A." should be revised to "Designed and Assembled" instead…?
Patent Judge Posner Says System is Broken for Software
Reuters has an interesting profile on Judge Richard Posner, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals jurist who recently tossed out one of Apple's recent patent battles with Motorola Mobility. The 73-year-old, Chicago-based judge has some stern words for the patent system as it relates to software, even going so far as to refer to litigants as "animals." "It's a constant struggle for survival," Posner elaborates. "As in any jungle, the animals will use all the means at their disposal, all their teeth and claws that are permitted by the ecosystem." Posner seems to feel that software is not something that benefits from patent protection, claiming pharmaceutical companies, for example, have a "better claim to intellectual property protection because of the enormous investment it takes to create a successful drug." We're guessing the engineers who labor away at our favorite software might disagree.
Malware App Slips Into iOS App Store, Promptly Booted Out
While Apple has its hands full trying to figure out the root cause of the recent app update corruption, a Russian app called Find and Call is also making some waves today. MacRumors reports that security firm Kaspersky Lab first sounded an alert about the malware app, which is "quietly harvesting users' address book contacts and sending them to the developer's servers." Using this sensitive data, the developer then send SMS text messages to the contacts with an ad for the app, spoofing the "From" field to match the user who originally downloaded it. After debuting on the App Store on June 13, Apple issued a statement to The Loop today that the rogue app has been removed, citing "unauthorized use of users' Address Book data, a violation of App Store guidelines." No kidding.
Chinese Tech Firm Suing Apple for Siri Patent Infringement
No sooner does Apple settle with Proview over the trademark to the iPad name in China, than another lawsuit rises up to replace it. According to NASDAQ.com, a Chinese firm by the name of Shanghai Zhi Zhen Internet Technology has filed suit against Apple in a Shangai court, claiming its Xiao i Robot product uses "a Chinese language, automated-voice system similar to Siri." Apparently the company sent a letter of complaint to Apple back in May, but the query was ignored. Spokesman Zhi Zhen claims "the purpose of the suit was to stop Apple from infringing on its technology and force the world's most valuable company to bear the cost of litigation." Um… whatever, dude.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
Comment