Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:
New Fix: Days after Apple (AAPL) issued a software update to repair a security vulnerability in its mobile operating system, the iPhone-maker has pushed out a similar patch for its OS X desktop operating system, CNET notes. The patch for devices running iOS was quietly released on Friday. The update was designed to eliminate a vulnerability in iOS that resulted from the erroneous repetition of a “goto fail” line in the software’s coding. The error caused iOS to ignore security certificate (SSL) checks when communicating with websites. Hackers could have exploited the flaw to intercept and read data sent from iOS devices on the same network. Security experts quickly discovered that the flaw was also present in the OS X operating system found on Mac desktops and laptops. Apple conceded that the flaw could allow hackers to “capture or modify data” sent to and from Macs using Apple’s mail, iCloud and Safari browser in a note included with the software patch for OS X. Earlier this week, digital security firm FireEye (FEYE) said it had detected a second security vulnerability with iOS and had notified Apple about the issue.
On Top: The iPad Air has snagged the title of “Best Mobile Tablet” for 2014 at the 19th annual Global Mobile Awards, AppleInsider notes. The announcement was made at the GMS Association’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this week. In awarding the title to the iPad Air — which Apple introduced last year — the judges praised the iPad Air’s “class-leading performance in an attractive and svelte frame” and highlighted Apple’s strong app ecosystem. Last year, the Google‘s (GOOG) Nexus 7 was named “Best Mobile Tablet.”
Ignorance: Apple is appealing a federal court decision last year that found it guilty of conspiring with five publishers to fix e-book prices on its iBookstore, Bloomberg notes. In its appeal, Apple contends that U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote’s ruling should be overturned because it was unaware of price-fixing collusion among the publishers. “Apple had no knowledge that the publishers were engaged in a conspiracy in December 2009 or at any other point,” the iPad-maker argues in documents filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Apple also contends that it was “not unlawful” for it to leverage turmoil in the e-book market by “using lawful agency agreements to enter the market and compete with Amazon (AMZN).” Earlier this month, the Appeals Court rejected a motion from Apple to stay an external monitor appointed to oversee its e-book business by the District Court, though the panel did impose some restrictions on the monitor’s authority. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice indicated that the DOJ would respond to Apple’s appeal in May. Apple had previously indicated that it would likely appeal Judge Cote’s decision.
For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
