Apple Releases New iPhone Firmware Update

Apple released the new iPhone 1.1.2 firmware update to the iPhone users through its iTunes service’s updating mechanism. This is the second firmware update released for the popular phone since its launch on June 29.

The new firmware fixes a bug in the mobile phone’s browser that has been widely publicized in the latest period. This bug affects the way the iPhone renders the Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) images.

"Viewing a maliciously crafted TIFF image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution" Apple wrote on its website.

Also this bug was used by the hackers to create the unauthorized Jailbreak software that is used for running third-party applications.

In addition to attempting to block hackers, Apple's 1.1.2 update actually brings some real improvements: it adds international language and network support to the iPhone (in time for the UK and Germany launches), and the much-desired ability to both add and edit calendar events to the iPod touch.

The 1.1.2 update also provides an icon in the iTunes source list signifying that the iPhone or iPod Touch's battery is charging.

But it seems like the hackers found a workaround. They advised the users to first install another application, which is called OktoPrep, so that they could update to 1.1.2 without any problems.

Apple promised a software development kit for February 2008, but until then it seems that the war between the company and the “unauthorized developers” hasn’t yet ended.