If we ever needed evidence that Apple takes device security very seriously indeed, then it has been provided in the shape of the new iPhone firmware patch arriving even earlier than planned. Instead of waiting to deliver OS 3.0.1 to fix a security vulnerability as promised this Saturday, Apple slipped out the update through iTunes late on Friday evening. No one affected The almost 300MB download repairs a vulnerability that used incoming SMS to take over control of an unpatched iPhone. Apple not only moved to issue the update less than a day after it was made

Apple will release a fix for the iPhone to stop the latest text message hack from infecting iPhones. Available this Saturday from iTunes, O2 has said the patch will stop the threat highlighted by security expert Charlie Miller. "We will be communicating to customers both through the website and proactively," the spokesperson for O2 said to the BBC. "We always recommend our customers update their iPhone with the latest software and this is no different." Android in trouble too The same problem, which can infect the phone via a series of

Apple will sell an updated 2TB version of its Time Capsule, with the company phasing out its 500GB version. The Time Capsule – which serves as an automatic backup unit for Mac users’ data in conjunction with OS X’s Time Machine – has been a popular addition to Apple’s range. However, with people increasingly hungry for more storage – the need for a bigger drive is of paramount importance – and Apple has responded by offering a mammoth two terabytes of space. Dual-band The Time Capsule is a Wi-Fi unit with simultaneous dual-band

Nintendo has finally come out and admitted on record that Apple’s iPhone is a direct competitor to its DS and DSi handheld gaming consoles. In its latest earnings report filed this week Nintendo posted a 66 per cent fall in quarterly operating profit due to "slowing demand for its Wii console and a stronger yen." Boom times end Of course, the Wii sales boom had to come to an end at some point. Putting this news into some kind of context though, Nintendo is still selling a healthy number of Wiis on a weekly basis, just not as extraordinarily

A report in Taiwanese newspaper Apple Daily says the country’s leading gadget maker, Foxconn, is in line to assemble Apple’s new 3G tablet. AppleInsider is saying that the Hon Hai Precision Industry Co – better known as Foxconn – may have units rolling off the production line as soon as September. Other reports have Apple’s new netbook/Tablet PC/Kindle (take your pick) killer launching early next year. Non-existent product now new and improved! The article goes on to predict that the device will have a 10-inch touchscreen – up

Apple has blocked the official Google Voice application from its store, as well as all the other GV compatible programs too. The reason given is they "duplicate features that come with the iPhone", but apparently it’s not actually Apple that’s stopping the process. GV Mobile’s developer Sean Kovacs said he has been personally phoned by Phil Schiller, he who took the last Apple keynote, to let him know the App was being processed. Carrier block But apparently the iPhone’s carrier in the US, AT&T, suddenly realised that a

Apple is rushing to get its much-rumoured ‘iTablet’ device out in time for this coming Christmas, as well as introducing new interactive album features on iTunes in an effort to revitalise music sales. According to reports in the Financial Times, Apple is working with the big four major labels to stimulate iTunes album sales by offering customers new ‘added value’ features such as interactive booklets, album sleeve notes and more. The four majors – EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group – are working with Apple on a project

Spotify has submitted its first iPhone app to Apple, and hopes to have its streaming music service on the mobile phone within the week. According to the BBC, Spotify has finally submitted its eagerly awaited app to Apple, and will now suffer the nervous wait over approval. The service has been a roaring success since it arrived in the UK, offering a wealth of music for no cost – using adverts within the streamed music to fund itself. The iPhone application apparently offers the same functionality as you’d find on the desktop version, but with the extra option of

At times like these when we’re between Apple product launches there’s always plenty of speculation about what’s coming next, with an inordinate amount of talk at the minute on the subject of a tablet-style computer. Now, gadget website Tech Crunch has gone a step further in suggesting that what we’re actually looking at may be a jumbo iPod touch and that it could be with us early next year. 4G coming in 2010? The supposed evidence for the claim is a source that says US phone operator Verizon is working with Apple to produce a giant touch

Google is ‘finally’ announcing Latitude for the iPhone, but can’t put it on the Google Maps application at the request of Apple. The reason behind the ‘request’ is Apple doesn’t want confusion between a Google Maps App and the native one that comes installed on the iPhone. However, it’s also likely that the iPhone’s inability to run applications in the background was a stumbling block too, something Google alluded to in its blog: "Unfortunately, since there is no mechanism for applications to run in the background on iPhone