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   Apple Releases OS X 10.10.2, iOS 8.1.3, and Apple TV 7.0.3

   Josh Centers

   Apple has updated OS X Yosemite to 10.10.2, iOS to 8.1.3, and the
   third-generation Apple TV to 7.0.3 to address a number of troublesome
   issues, as well as a large number of security concerns.

   OS X Yosemite -- The 443 to 840 MB, depending on Mac, [1]OS X Yosemite
   10.10.2 Update is available via Software Update, and should be
   available soon from Apple's [2]Support Downloads Web site. OS X 10.10.2
   promises the following:
     * Resolves an issue that might cause Wi-Fi to disconnect ' this one
       has been a huge headache for many Mac users, so fingers crossed
       that it's truly fixed
     * Resolves an issue that might cause Web pages to load slowly
     * Fixes an issue that could cause Spotlight to load remote email
       content even when this preference is disabled in Mail
     * Improves audio and video sync when using Bluetooth headphones
     * Adds the capability to browse iCloud Drive in Time Machine
     * Improves VoiceOver speech performance
     * Resolves an issue that could cause VoiceOver to echo characters
       when entering text on a Web page
     * Addresses an issue that could cause the input method to switch
       languages unexpectedly
     * Improves stability and security in Safari

   In addition, 10.10.2 offers a number of [3]security updates, most
   notably hardening a variety of 2013 Macs against the Thunderstrike
   attack that could use Thunderbolt to hijack a Mac (see
   '[4]Thunderstrike Proof-of-Concept Attack Serious, but Limited,' 9
   January 2015). 10.10.2 also fixes vulnerabilities in App Store logging,
   Bluetooth, command-line utilities, fonts, graphics drivers, PDFs,
   Spotlight, and more. Safari has also been [5]updated to 8.0.3, which
   fixes multiple memory corruption issues in WebKit that could allow a
   malicious Web site to execute code.

   iOS 8 -- Apple has released iOS 8.1.3 to address a number of bugs, but
   most notably to reduce the amount of storage required to perform a
   software update. Ironically, while the over-the-air iOS 8.1.2 update
   weighed in at 28.2 MB (see '[6]Apple Releases iOS 8.1.2 to Restore
   Vanishing Ringtones,' 10 December 2014), iOS 8.1.3 is a 247 MB download
   on an iPhone 6. The download size will vary by device. You can download
   the update on the device via Settings > General > Software Update or on
   your computer in iTunes.

   Other things that iOS 8.1.3 claims to fix are an issue that prevented
   some users from entering the Apple ID password for Messages and
   FaceTime, a bug that caused Spotlight to stop displaying app results,
   and a glitch that prevented iPads from recognizing multitasking
   gestures. iOS 8.1.3 also adds new configuration options for
   standardized education testing.

   [7]Security issues fixed by iOS 8.1.3 include PDF vulnerabilities,
   numerous issues that could cause arbitrary code execution, Web sites
   being able to bypass the sandbox, and malicious Web sites being able to
   spoof the UI.

   Apple TV -- The third-generation Apple TV has been updated to 7.0.3. It
   offers no new features, but includes a number of [8]security
   improvements, mostly identical to those in iOS 8.1.3.

   Unrelated to the update, the Apple TV now offers Sports Illustrated's
   120 SPORTS channel, which streams events from MLB, the NBA, the NHL,
   and others.

References

   1. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204210
   2. http://support.apple.com/downloads/
   3. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204244
   4. http://tidbits.com/article/15331
   5. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204243
   6. http://tidbits.com/article/15285
   7. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204245
   8. http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204246

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