SNES emulator slips onto App Store, shoots straight to No. 1

Super Mario Bros 3, running on the emulator

A storage app that also happens to work as a Super Nintendo emulator has managed to slip by Apple's reviewers and has shot to the top of all paid applications.

The 99-cent app, called Remote File Manager, can link up to both FTP and Dropbox accounts and open numerous file types. That includes ROM files for Super Nintendo games, which open up in an emulator with on-screen touch controls.

It's unclear exactly when the feature was added to the software, which has been on the App Store since last November. It's only received two updates since then, the most recent of which was in July.

None of this seems to concern shoppers on the App Store, which have made it the top paid app, and the 26th highest grossing.

Apple is expected to pull down the app, which was spotted by TouchArcade on Wednesday. It has done that with just about every other piece of software that's slipped an emulator past its defenses.

Source: CNET

Researchers slip malware onto Apple's App Store, again

Researchers have once again pulled a fast one on Apple's app approval process, getting malware onto the App Store to prove it's still a possibility.

A group of researchers from Georgia Tech developed an app that masqueraded as a news reader that would phone home to reprogram itself into malware -- something that was apparently not picked up in Apple's security screening procedures, reports the MIT Technology Review.

Once configured remotely, the software was able to do things like send texts, e-mails, post Tweets, take pictures, dial phone numbers, and even reboot the system.

Apple only ran the app for a few seconds during its testing process, the researchers said. And once published to the App Store, the researchers quickly removed it after they were able to successfully install it on their phones.

The methodology and results of the test, which occurred in March, were published this week at the UNSENIX Security Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Apple told the Technology Review it has changed its iOS security since learning of the vulnerabilities detailed in the research, though it's unclear if anything's changed in the company's app screening process.

This isn't the first time a researcher has slipped malware onto the App Store to prove a point. Charlie Miller, a well-known security researcher (and now Twitter employee) who targeted Apple's products and services for years, did the very same thing in 2011. Miller released a generic stock-checking app called InstaStock that could tap into his own server and grab bits of code. The behavior was grounds for dismissal from Apple's developer program, per the company's App Store guidelines.

Apple has long touted the security of the App Store, with executives going so far as to bash competitors for it. On the eve of Samsung's Galaxy S4 announcement in March, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller tweeted "Be safe out there" while linking to a report from F-Secure which focused on the rise of Android security threats. Schiller also gave interviews to Reuters and The Wall Street Journal knocking other aspects of the Android platform.

Via: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57598955-37/researchers-slip-malware-onto-apples-app-store-again/

Runner iPhone App Review

iPhone running apps are one option for tracking your pace and distance while you work out. These apps can be a good option if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a GPS running watch, but they have their own limitations as well. The iPhone isn't as easy to run with as a watch, but it is an interesting alternative.

Tracking your runs with the iPhone

Like RunKeeper Pro and iMapMyRun+, the Runner app ($5.99) uses the iPhone's built-in GPS to track your pace, distance, time, and calories while you run. It’s not limited to running -- you could also use the Runner app for cycling or any other sport where you want to know your distance.

Runner iPhone App

Unlike RunKeeper Pro, an app I love for its easy-to-use interface, Runner is a little more complicated to get started with. On RunKeeper Pro, you just tap "start activity" and go. With the Runner app, you have to select one of eight predefined workouts before you can begin, such as 3 miles, 5 miles, 15 minutes, 1 hour, etc. While this may be fine for some runners, I would prefer to just start the GPS and go without being constrained by a predefined workout.

Once you select a workout, the Runner app acquires its satellite signals (you’ll see the app’s progress in the upper-right hand corner; green means you’re good to go, red means it hasn’t locked on yet). Distance and time are displayed prominently, but some of the other data is too small to read at a glance. The numbers for speed and calories could be increased -- there’s plenty of room on the screen.

Excellent iPod integration

Like most iPhone running apps, Runner integrates with your iPod playlist. It also lets you program a "boost song," which is a feature I haven’t seen on other running apps. You can elect to play the boost song whenever you need an extra dose of motivation -- just double tap the screen and your normal playlist will resume where it left off when the song is done. This is a fantastic feature, and it’s something that sets Runner apart from other apps. By the way, the iPod integration is flawless and I never have any problems playing my boost song or scrolling through songs on my regular playlist.

Runner displays your running history in a list, and you can also view your past runs on a map or add notes to specific workouts. The app integrates with Twitter, and you can have your runs automatically tweeted when you’re done (I’m sure your Twitter followers will love that!).

I only had one issue with Runner’s GPS signal, when I was running on a small outdoor track. The GPS light was green and the clock was ticking, but distance and pace were not calculating. I emailed customer support and received a very prompt reply in less than 24 hours. Apparently the iPhone’s GPS sensor isn’t sensitive enough to pick up distance changes on small circular routes. I went back to the same location and did a bigger loop with no problems -- just keep that in mind if you normally run on a track. Props for excellent customer service!

The Bottom Line

Although I prefer RunKeeper Pro’s interface, the Runner app is a very good alternative. The app works well and is relatively easy to use (although I would prefer not to be limited by the preset workouts). The app integrates very nicely with your iPod playlists, and I love the boost song functionality. Twitter integration is another plus if you like to tweet your workouts to your followers.

Source: http://ipod.about.com/od/iphoneappsreviews/fr/runner-iphone-app-review.htm