Apple has yet to release an iOS 6.1 update, which is currently still in beta mode but has already released a new update for the new iPhone 5 and iPad mini. The update, called iOS 6.0.2 was released to fix a bug which sometimes caused the WiFi connection to falter or to not operate at all on the iPhone 5 and iPad mini.

There have been numerous WiFi related complaints for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, which will likely subside if the update does in fact fix the bug. This is the second update for the devices after Apple released iOS 6.0.1 on November 1st to patch up issues pertaining to OTA software updates as well as cellular network issues.

iOS 6.0.2 Software Update

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Fixes a bug that could impact Wi-Fi

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

As far as the release of this update goes, Apple only notes that it fixes the WiFi bug, however, it is unclear if the update fixes any other issues or if the company is awaiting the release of iOS 6.1 to fix any remaining major issues in iOS 6. During the initial release of iOS 6.0.2, many users noted that they were having issues downloading it over-the-air while other users mentioned that downloading through iTunes yielded a higher success rate.

{Via MacRumors}

The game gives you a top down view of the racing track with you and your opponents taking up just a handful of pixels as you race around a variety of tracks that twist and turn around the screen.

The tracks are to scale with the miniature cars but despite their size they provide lots of detail, tricky corners, fast straights and various surfaces that affect the handling of the cars.

The game has a narrative in the single player mode where you play the role of Ryan, a rookie racing driver who you have to bring up through the ranks of five championships on your way to the World Championship Finals.

While the narrative is fun it’s pretty irrelevant to the racing and luckily it doesn’t get in the way of it either. In fact you can move from race to race pretty quickly which means the action keeps coming thick and fast.

You have a choice of controls for your car which includes both touch and accelerometer controls. My weapon of choice was the touch controls which I found very responsive. You only need to worry about steering as acceleration is automatic.

Included with the auto-acceleration is a speed boost which helps you catch up if you are running behind the leader, however this is a double edge sword as this speed boost also applies to your opponents so large leads can be eaten into pretty quickly.

This is no bad thing though as it keeps all of the races exciting right up until the last corner and while this may be a little frustration the speed in which you can replay the race means that you can get your revenge very quickly.

The multi-player options are local bluetooth & wifi and Facebook leaderboards which includes a Ghost Mode so that you can races against your friends ghost cars. These are fun alternatives to the single player mode but GameCenter integration and online multi-player would be nice additions.

If you enjoy racing games of all descriptions you won’t be disappointed with VS. Racing especially if you can grab it while it’s still free. With future free updates also promised this could be a real bargain.

What we like

• Great, responsive controls
• Lot’s of tracks
• Nice looking tracks

What to know

• No online multiplayer
• No Game Center integration

Time Warner Cable, one of the largest cable service providers in the United States introduced its iPad app last year. The TWC TV app allowed subscribers of Time Warner Cable’s service to control their DVR via the app and even allowed customers to watch live television through the app, as long as they were connected to the same WiFi network.

On Friday, TWC announced that they are making the application, previously only for the iPad, available to the iPhone and iPod touch. Customers can now do everything from watching live TV, managing their DVR and changing channels on their set-top box.

If you are a Time Warner Cable video subscriber, the FREE TWC TV app turns your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch into another TV screen and lets you watch selected live cable channels while in your home, through your wireless home network. Watch Bravo from your bedroom, take Food Network with you to the kitchen or catch up on CNBC news from the breakfast table.

• Interactive program guide (IPG) – up to 7 days of listings. View detailed show descriptions including box art. Option to display “HD only” or “favorites only” by creating a favorite channel list.
• Search – search for programming by title or episode name and filter results by genre
• Set-top box tuning – tap on a network logo or “watch on TV” button within the program description to tune compatible set-top boxes directly to the channel
• DVR management – schedule one-time and series recordings on compatible DVRs directly from the IPG. Tap on the “DVR” button to see a list of all upcoming recordings and make changes or cancel recordings

Time Warner Cable currently offers over 196 channels through the app, although many of those will be based on location and availability in certain areas. The updated TWC TV app is now available on the App Store for free and is available as a universal app for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch [App Store Link].

{via iMore}

The issue is similar to one experienced by many iPad owners around the release of the original hardware last year – users report that the iPhone or iPad claim to have connected to a WiFi network, but no WIFi icon appears and no data is received or transmitted.

The iPad issue was resolved (or simply went away) after an iOS software update. Is it possible iOS 4.3.3 reintroduced it, and somehow managed to make it spread to iPhones too?

It’s worth noting that a recent poll of this writer’s Twitter followers hasn’t yielded any reports of issues, though that’s obviously not to say the problem doesn’t exist.

CultOfMac has put together a list of possible fixes should you experience the problem yourself, ranging from ‘forgetting the WiFi network’ in settings to resetting network settings. Last time this issue raised its ugly head it was speculated the reason was an problem with encryption, so perhaps changing your encryption settings may yield results, at least temporarily.

Fingers crossed iOS 4.3.4 fixes this for everyone!

{Image Credit: DialToSave}

Apparently the iPhone Wi-Fi Sync app communicates via a desktop client app, and the two work together to talk to iTunes, and spoof it into thinking it is connected to a device via USB in some way. There are various ways this can be done. But the end effect is an iPhone, iPod or iPad is talking to iTunes using the protocols it is supposed to.

At the time I had this to say:

Being pessimistic I can certainly see Apple taking a close look at how this desktop client bridges the connect between iTunes and the iPhone, and how the files are transferred. But it is certainly possible it is not breaking any rules that Apple has set, or are that concerned about enforcing. But app approvals are a rocky unpredictable road sometimes with Apple. And reasons given for rejection are not always very clear or transparent initially.

Even though we were optimistic about Wi-Fi Sync’s chances we always knew Apple would take a long hard look at it. And when they did, they rejected it.

Engadget have spoken to Greg and quote his version of the explanation he got from an unnamed Apple representative.:

While he agreed that the app doesn’t technically break the rules, he said that it does encroach upon the boundaries of what they can and cannot allow on their store. He also cited security concerns.

So there you have it. Clear as mud. But not a huge surprise.

Greg has subsequently released the App for $9.99 on the Cydia network. If your iPhone is jailbroken and you want this functionality it’s available there now.

Are you disappointed that Apple rejected this? Can we perhaps expect this to be provided by Apple in iPhone OS 4.x in future? Or not? Let us know in the comments.

We reported last month that some Apple (AAPL) iPads were having problems with DHCP leases when in standby mode, and other WiFi connectivity issues. These issues caused some Universities in the US to temporarily ban iPads, and even iPhones and iPods, from their networks.

Some enterprising hackers, and University network admins, detailed the issues and why they thought they were happening. (Details at the bottom of this article). But Apple did not acknowledge the issue at the time.

On a support document dated the 6th of May Apple has given details of how some problems may be diagnosed, or overcome: [support.apple.com]

Apple also state in that document that there will be an upcoming fix to “address remaining Wi-Fi connectivity issues” for the “very small number of iPad users” who have experienced problems.

Until then the suggestions for weak signals, forgotten passwords and “other” networking issues from Apple are as follows :

• Updating Wi-Fi router firmware
• Using WPA or WPA2 wireless security
• Adjusting screen brightness
• Renewing IP address

If you are still having problems after that, and wish to get your hands dirty rather than wait for Apple’s fix, or simply for those that are interested, here is the very detailed report from Princeton University on iPad WiFi issues: [net.princeton.edu]

I personally have had no problems with my iPad, and my home router is particularly old. My friends with iPads, one who works in a college, have also had no issues either.

How has your experience with the iPad’s WiFi been so far? Let us know in the comments.