iOS 7 flaw can disable 'Find my iPhone' function sans password

Bad news for owners of iPhones using iOS 7: the anti-theft app "Find my iPhone" can be disabled even without a password, no thanks to a flaw in the operating system.

Enthusiast site MacRumors said the bug in effect can potentially allow the iPhone to be "hidden" from Apple's iCloud.com.

"This is a potentially serious bug as Find My iPhone is a useful method of locating a lost device," it said.

But the consolation for users is that this exploit does not remove Apple's Activation Lock theft deterrent system.



With Apple's activation lock, the device will remain locked to the original account and continue to ask for that Apple ID and password during the setup process.

Simple steps
MacRumors said deactivating "Find My iPhone" can be easily repeated on devices running the current version of iOS (7.0.4), and involves making simple changes to the iCloud account section of the Settings app.

However, it noted it could not get the exploit to work on a device running iOS 7.1, "so the flaw will likely be fixed with the upcoming update."

Also, it noted the exploit only works on a device that does not have Touch ID or a Passcode enabled, as the exploit requires access to the Settings menu.

"To avoid having Find My iPhone disabled, users should update their phones with a Passcode and install iOS 7.1 when Apple releases the software," it advised. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Apple working on fix for ‘white screen of death’ in iOS

If Microsoft's Windows has its so-called Blue Screen of Death to indicate a fatal error, Apple has something similar for its mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod.

The White (or Black) Screen of Death has been a nagging problem for users of Apple devices who upgraded to iOS 7, tech site Mashable said—and Apple is working on a fix.

"We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash," Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Mashable.


Apple's fix may be included in iOS 7.1, which is in its fourth beta. Mashable said iOS 7.1 may also "bring some minor UI and design changes."

Mashable noted the “white/black screen of death” abruptly causes a soft reboot of the iPhone.

It said complaints started to surface as early as September last year on Apple's discussion forums.

Citing various accounts, it said the color of the boot-up screen would depend on the color of the iPhone's face.

"A white iPhone face produces a white boot up screen with a black Apple logo, while a device with a black face produces a black screen with a white Apple logo," it said.

Citing some users' complaints, Mashable said the bug may activate once iPhone’s battery level dips to 30 percent. — VC, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Apple releases 3rd beta of iOS 7 to developers

Apple Inc. has released to developers the third beta of its upcoming iOS operating system for mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad.

The latest beta includes performance improvements and fixes for problems including issues with Messages, iCloud and AirPlay apps, tech site CNET reported.

“The user interface received a few tweaks as well, including more transparent folders, redesigned music controls, and the calendar now shows which days you have events on. The update also brought with it enhancements to FaceTime and a better Siri voice,” CNET said.

It said the latest beta came two weeks after the second beta of iOS 7.

CNET also said it is “standard practice” for Apple to release several beta versions of software before it rolls it out to the public.

Apple had four beta versions for iOS 6, it noted.

“So we can expect at least one more beta to arrive for iOS 7,” CNET said. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com