iLounge

In response to the recent revelation that social networking app Path was uploading iOS users’ contact data to its servers, the company has apologized and released an update to the iOS app providing proper disclosure of the feature and prompting the user to either opt in or opt out. Path had originally implemented this feature to provide more accurate friend suggestions and notify users when somebody in their address book joined the social network. However, the feature originally silently uploaded the user’s entire contact list to Path’s servers without requesting any permission or even notifying the user that this was occurring. Path co-founder and CEO Dave Morin apologized today in a statement on the company’s blog:

Morin also indicated that the company has deleted its entire collection of user-uploaded contact information from its servers, and users will now need to specifically opt into the feature in the new version of the Path application to re-upload their contact information. Further, users who opt-in and later change their mind can request that their content be deleted by sending an e-mail to Path. The latest update, Path 2.0.6 is available from the App Store as a free download.

Tapbots has released Tweetbot 2.0, the latest update to the popular Twitter client for the iPhone and iPod touch. The new version features an updated timeline view with in-line image thumbnails and active links that can be opened with a single tap. Additional UI improvements include new views for direct messages and tweet replies and a redesigned New Tweets notification bar. Users can also now enable timed auto-refresh and enable Readability mobilizer for viewing web pages. The update also includes a number of other smaller UI and performance improvements over the prior version. Additionally, Tapbots has also released a native iPad version of Tweetbot, building on the features found in the iPhone version with an iPad optimized interface, including such features as multiple timeline views, configurable Smart Gestures, the ability to display custom navigation tabs and more. Tweetbot 2.0 for the iPhone and iPod touch and Tweetbot for the iPad are available from the App Store separately for $3 each.

Facebook has released an update to its iOS application adding support for its new timeline feature on the iPhone and iPod touch. With Facebook 4.1 users can now see the mobile-optimized timeline view of user profiles that have switched to the new Timeline format. The latest update also adds access to friend lists, subscribers and subscriptions and improves photo viewing, uploading and commenting. The Mobile Timeline feature has not yet been added to the iPad interface, the release notes indicate that another update for iPad support is coming soon. Facebook 4.1 is available from the App Store as a free download.

Path has released a major update to its social photo sharing app for the iPhone and iPod touch expanding the app and online service beyond mere photo sharing into a Smart Journal for sharing various types of life moments. Initially released in November 2010, Path’s goal was to create a more personal social network for sharing photos online by deliberately limiting the number of friends that a user can have and thereby focusing on sharing personal moments with close friends and family. The app later expanded into limited video support and social network integration, but remained primarily about sharing and tagging photos.

Path 2.0 brings a completely new interface design and expands the sharing model to become a life journal rather than merely another photo sharing service. Users can now share more types of information in their “Path” such as music they’re listening to and places they visit and can even record automatic path entries when the app recognizes that the user is spending time in a different neighbourhood or visiting a new city. Additional features include the ability to record sleeping hours to a user’s Path along with moon phases, improved Push Notifications and integrated sharing with Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare from directly within the application. Path 2.0 requires an iPhone or fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 4.2 or later and is available from the App Store as a free download.