Apple updates its software with patches for critical security vulnerabilities; update now

By tech2 News Staff /  24 Jan 2017 , 16:30

Yesterday’s Apple iOS 10.2.1 does not add any fancy new features to your phone, but it does patch over a dozen major vulnerabilities in the OS. Some of these vulnerabilities will allow hackers full access to your iOS device.

Some of these vulnerabilities, listed here, can allow an application to “execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges”. This is geek-speak for “your phone can be comprehensively hacked”.

As a Malwarebytes security analyst points out to Wired, these vulnerabilities will let hackers “add files, delete files or execute any actions.” Many of these vulnerabilities affect WebKit as well, which is the default rendering engine used by iOS. This means that any application that uses WebKit on iOS (which is a lot) is vulnerable.

Wired does add that most of these vulnerabilities are too obscure and hard to find for the regular hacker.

It’s not just iOS devices that are vulnerable, however; Apple has released updates for macOS, tvOS and watchOS as well. All of these updates include various security patches. The macOS update also includes a patch for the Safari browser caching bug that lost the MacBook Pro its first ‘recommended’ badge from Consumer Reports.

Obviously, you’d better make sure that all your Apple devices are updated if you want  to stay completely safe and secure.

Pokemon Go is now available on Apple Watch

  23 Dec 2016 , 16:26

The popular mobile game “Pokemon Go” is now available on the Apple Watch, squashing rumours that the game’s maker was scrapping such plans. The game involves catching digital pocket monsters in an augmented-reality version of your surroundings. The Apple Watch version will let you discover nearby Pokemon and collect special items, such as potions, from nearby “PokeStops.” But once you encounter a Pokemon, you will need to use your iPhone to catch it.

Still, the Apple Watch should make it easier for players to log their steps (needed to advance in the game and to hatch new Pokemon out of eggs), and to avoid walking around with their phones held out to search for nearby monsters.

“Pokemon Go” was a huge success when it came out in July. It’s not clear how the Apple Watch version will do, especially now that it’s too cold in much of the Northern Hemisphere to be outside catching Pokemon. Plans for the watch version had been announced at Apple’s iPhone launch event in September. The game’s maker, Niantic, hasn’t announced any plans for Android Wear and Samsung Gear smartwatches.

Associated Press

Nike+ Run Club update brings Apple Music integration, GPS for Apple Watch 2

By tech2 News Staff /  28 Oct 2016 , 13:52

Just as the Apple Watch Nike+ is all set to hit stores, Nike+ Run Club for iPhone and Apple Watch gets a notable update. The version 5.1 brings some bug fixes along with features such as Apple Music integration and support for GPS.

For Apple Music subscribers, Nike+ Run Club will completely support streaming playlists from the Nike app on iPhone. The new update also brings full support for watchOS 3.1 along with support for built-in GPS on Apple Watch Series 2. A subscriber can sync it to Apple Watch for offline playback too.

“Previously, the app was a bit on the basic side and wouldn’t map your runs when you ran without the iPhone,” points out 9To5Mac. Several features are said to be watchOS 3-specific including Siri to start, pause and end the run,  audio readouts from Watch speaker, and so on.

The changes include a redesigned summary screen, some easy sharing. “All runs will sync to Apple’s Health app, and that run settings will stay in place after updates,” Apple Insider said.

The Apple Watch Nike+ is similar to the Series 2 models, but features Run Club, extra watchfaces, along with a improved version of the Sport Band.

Nike+ Run Club is available for free from the App Store. For running enthusiasts, the water resistant Apple Watch Nike+ will be available in India starting today. Apple Watch Nike+ will be available in 38 mm at Rs 32,900 and 42mm at Rs 34,900 from Nike.com, select Nike retail stores, select Apple Authorised Resellers and select specialty stores.

macOS 10.12 Sierra review

By the time you read this, the latest version of Mac OS X – sorry – macOS, will be available to download from the App Store. macOS 10.12 Sierra, to give it its full title, finally sees Apple move away from the OS X nomenclature given to every version of its desktop operating system since 2001.

You might be thinking, "Why macOS?" Well, the answer is simple: the new naming convention brings it in line with Apple's other operating systems: iOS,watchOS and tvOS. After previously naming versions of OS X after big cats of some description, the company turned to locations in California for recent releases.


This latest one name-checks Sierra County, which is home to the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range depicted in the default wallpaper. And it looks awesome on a Retina display.

How to download macOS Sierra right now

Apple tends to release new versions of macOS with a "tick, tock" cadence. Back in 2009 it followed up OS X 10.5 Leopard, which introduced hundreds of new features and improvements, with Snow Leopard – a performance-focused update. It repeated the trick with Sierra's predecessor, OS X 10.11 El Capitan, which was basically a much faster version of Yosemite with a few new multi-tasking features baked in for good measure.





Instead of using the new name as an opportunity to overhaul OS X, Apple has made Sierra another iterative release in the vein of its recent predecessors.

However, it makes a clear attempt at swinging the focus back to