Though Apple ’s 2012 might have seemed dominated by Mac , iPhone , and iPad news , other big stories for the troupe cropped up throughout the year . This was Tim Cook ’s first full class as Apple ’s CEO , and Apple face challenges in the kingdom of security measure , made transition in its on-line services , and updated one of its flagship applications . We ’ve already recountedthe class in iOS newsandthe twelvemonth in Mac news . Here are highlight from Apple ’s 2012 in full term of , well , everything else .
This is Tim
This twelvemonth strike out Tim Cook ’s first full calendar year as CEO . And he was n’t restrained . Despite his promise thatApple would double down on concealment , Cook spent a surprising amount of time in 2012 talking publicly about Apple ’s plans and scheme .
He followed in Steve Jobs ’s footsteps byspeaking at the yearly D10conference . He reassured dysphoric customer thata new professional Mac would go far in 2013 . He strike the term “ wassailer electric refrigerator ” in describing why Apple is n’t depend to make a hybrid Mac / tablet , and he explain his vision ofthe post - PC world .
Cook also made a public statement about iOS 6 ’s Maps app — specifically , aver that Apple was “ extremely grim ” for the frustration the app had caused . He even took the step of suggest that client disappointed with Maps try mapping options from other company such as Google , Microsoft , and Motorola . That , consequence , dear Mayans , is when the world as we knew it drew to a close .
Sometimes , actions speak louder than even Tim Cook ’s Good Book . In late October , Cook oversaw personnel changes at Apple ’s highest level , a staff shake - up that sent Scott Forstall and John Browett packing , with Jony I ve , Eddy Cue , and Craig Federighi all assuming significant , raw province . That may well prove to bethe most impactful decisionof Cook ’s year .
In security
For a platform long held to be as safe and dependable as the Mac , it was a surprisingly noisy year on the security measures front . The insidiousFlashback Trojan horseleft many Mac owner feeling angsty about their computers . The malware , which could taint your Mac if you simply see the wrong villainous website , exploited various weaknesses in Java . On other computing platforms , Oracle — which owns Java — had already issued updates that patched those vulnerability . But since Apple make out Java updates independently , Mac user were largely leave in the lurch ; if you had Java enabled , you were at jeopardy . Analysts at one decimal point claimed that more than 600,000 Macs were infected with Flashback .
Apple made changes : Beyond only releasing a Flashback removal tool and finallypatching Java itself , Apple eventuallydisabled Java by nonremittal , and automatically plow off the Java browser app plug - in if it goes idle for a while .
Beyond Flashback , Apple took other big steps in security in 2012 . WithMountain Lion ’s Gatekeeper feature , Apple aimed to make Mac users safer by limiting which apps could run on their computers by default . And by requiring developer to sandbox their apps , Apple pared down what even safe - to - campaign apps could get at on Macs .
iTunes, Brute?
Midyear , webid adieu to Ping , Apple ’s societal internet , which digress this ground a mere two years after its introduction , owing toa numeral of problems . We had a good experience with the iTunes Match swarm cyclosis serviceafter a class , though that still has room for improvement .
But the biggest word in iTunes this yr came in September , whenApple announced that it would be overhaul the august media participant / app store / syncing app . iTunes 11 was first scheduled to come in out in October , but as that got down to the wire , Apple announced thatit would be delaying the loss until November , in Holy Order “ to take a little supernumerary meter to get it right . ”
Even with that , iTunes 11 did n’t appear until the end of November , and when it did get in , it was toa mixed review : While multitude applaud some of the new features , many of the changescame across as off - putting to longtime drug user .
Cloudy with a chance of outages
The help previously known as MobileMe entered its second twelvemonth in 2012 , and although Apple improve some of its capabiltiies , it remained for the most part unchanged this year . We did call goodness - bye to some erstwhile booster : As prognosticate last year , Appleshut down iWeb hosting and iDisk in the midsection of the class , though itgraciously extended storehouse upgrade for those exploiter by another year . iWork.comlikewise took a long base on balls off a myopic wharf .
Apple receive some bumps in the road , though . In September , the ship’s company confirmedan all-encompassing outageof iCloud email that affected many users , include asinger / songwriter .
Developers also carry their foiling dealing withApple ’s online service , and we pointed out that iCloud has a surprising lack ofcollaborative and sharing features . Here ’s trust that 2013 will give us something to face forward to in that department .
TV or not TV
Though Apple did n’t release the television set of Gene Munster ’s dreams , it did show some honey for its favorite hobby ( after philately ): the Apple TV . Thethird - generation Apple TVmade its noble-minded entry , add up 1080p support and not much else , without moving the $ 99 Leontyne Price ticket an column inch .
Perhaps the bigger narrative in the Apple television set arena was the debut ofApple TV Software Update 5.0 , which revamped the set - top box ’s port entirely , permitting quicker and simpler navigation — and seemingly making it possible for Apple to preface Apple TV apps one day , should the company ever be so inclined . There ’s always 2013 .
Other Apple hardware
Applequietly updated the AirPort Expressin June , whichpleased us greatly , thanks to the base post ’s newfound ability to provide simultaneous dual - band networking and its addition of a 2nd ethernet port .
The ship’s company also unveiledupdates to the iPod mite and iPod nano . The new iPod touch do in a salmagundi of colors , and include a color - pit radiocarpal joint strap to go along with it . Sporting a dual - essence A5 CPU and a much - improved camera , the venerable iPod touch persist Apple ’s stalwart iPhone without a phone .
The iPod nano , meanwhile , gained a 2.5 - inch Multi - Touch screenland and a Home button , and once again supports picture .
The lonely Shuffle and iPod Classic nock no updates at all , but at least Apple still sell them . For now .
