Computer Magazines - Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1.3 to fix software, security issues

Apple released version 3.1.3 of its iPhone operating system for the iPhone and iPod touch, promising to address a number of known software and security issues related to CoreAudio, ImageIO, Recovery Mode and WebKit. According to Apple, the CoreAudio patch blocks "maliciously crafted" MP4 audio files, while the ImageIO patch prohibits malicious TIFF images. The Recovery Mode update solves memory corruption issues enabling unauthorized persons with physical access to the device to bypass the passcode and access personal data, while WebKit receives two patches, one correcting an HTML 5-related hiccups that may cause mail to load remote audio and video files when remote image-loading is disabled and the other blocking WebKit from accessing a malicious FTP server. In addition, iPhone OS 3.1.3 resolves a bug that causes apps to crash when using a Japanese Kana keyboard, and also improves the accuracy of battery-level reporting on the iPhone 3GS.

Apple did not disclose when it plans to upgrade iPhone and iPod touch devices to iPhone OS 3.2, announced last week in conjunction with its forthcoming iPad tablet device. The iPhone SDK 3.2 beta includes a simulator enabling developers to format their user interface for the larger screen size, test an app's memory usage and abbreviate the debug cycle in the design process. Other elements of the SDK include an iPad programming guide, user experience guidelines and tools for creating universal applications that run across iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices.