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Most everyone has probably heard about the controversy over the location-tracking behavior on iOS devices since last June. Recently, when a developer made a program to show users' location data on a map, people were understandably concerned that their whereabouts could be tracked through their location logs without their knowledge. Apple promised in an open letter that it would resolve the issue, though the company claims it was not using the information for anything.

On Wednesday, Josh Lowensohn reported that Apple made good on its promise with the release of iOS 4.3.3, reducing the size of the "crowdsourced" location cache, and the device no longer backs up the cache to iTunes.

Even though I downloaded the software and checked out the map to see that my iPhone did indeed track my location, I was never terribly worried about it and took Apple at its word that the location data wasn't being used for anything nefarious. Still, I'm glad to see the company has listened to user concerns. Hopefully this will lay this latest Apple controversy to rest.

What do you think? Were you nervous that your information was being used without your consent or do you even care? Let me know in the comments.

This week's apps are a piano app that lets you play hit songs and a flying disc game that's both graphically beautiful and challenging.… Read more

Rock Band Free is a one-song, no-cost preview of Rock Band, the iPhone and iPod Touch adaptation of the hit rhythm-based game available on consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The game's interface shows incredible fidelity to the console version, right down to menus, sound effects, and a look and feel that closely mimics the original. Without plastic instruments, though, gameplay is of course fairly different, as you're pressing touch-screen buttons in time with approaching notes on bass, guitar, drums, and vocals--but the game still does a good job of keeping a Rock Band feel, with … Read more

Wheels on the Bus is an interactive storybook for preschoolers based on the much-beloved song of the same name (similar to the app Old MacDonald, also from developer Duck Duck Moose). As with Old MacDonald, kids can navigate through eight scenes from the song with forward and back buttons--everything from the wheels on the bus to the driver, baker, and even bubbles on the bus--and each scene provides at least one opportunity for a touch-screen slide or "poke" interaction, whether you're "swishing" the wipers or opening and shutting the doors.

The song plays the appropriate … Read more