Author: Dan Moren

It never rains software updates, but it pours. Apple on Monday released OS X Mavericks 10.9.4, incorporating a number of small fixes for the Mac OS, as well as patching some security holes. Apple also released iOS 7.1.2.

OS X 10.9.4 fixes a problem where some Macs wouldn’t automatically connect to known Wi-Fi networks, improves wake-from-sleep reliability, and deals with a problem where the background or Apple logo appears incorrectly on startup. (I’m sure that’s really been bugging some of you.)

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If minor iOS updates are your jam, then it’s time to hit the old Software Update button, because iOS 7.1.2 has arrived for iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. The Monday update fixes some minor bugs and also patches security vulnerabilities.

Among the tweaks made in the update are improvements to iBeacon connectivity and stability; a fix for a bug involving data transfer from some third-party accessories, such as bar code scanners; and the correction of a known issue with the data protection in Mail attachments.

Not yet detailed are the included security patches, which should be expanded upon later on Monday.

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It may be summer vacation, but teachers and students still got a tip of the hat on Monday, as Apple announced changes to its iTunes U system. The improvements come as part of the existing iTunes U app, and offer a host of new features—most notably, the ability for teachers to create, edit, and manage courses right from the iPad.

Using those new app enhancements, which roll out next week on July 8, teachers can add content to courses from other Apple apps like iWork and iBooks Author, as well as from third-party educational apps that are available for the iPad. They’ll also be able to use the iPad’s camera to incorporate photos and videos into their materials. Previously these capabilities were only available via the Web.

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Because you can never have too many things to read, we’ve compiled a list of the most interesting Apple-related stories for Tuesday.

ABC News Comes to Apple TV with Live and On-Demand Video, Local News, and Historical Footage [Updated]

A surfeit of new channels have arrived on the Apple TV this morning, including ABC News, PBS Kids, AOL On, Willow, and an updated version of the Flickr app. The ABC News channel offers 24/7 live and on-demand video, video news updates, local content from several affiliates, and more. This is great news not only for fans of more video content, but also those of us who really felt like we didn’t have enough little rectangles on our Apple TV home screens.

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Surfeit of stories, thy name is Tuesday! We’ve collected a few of the most interesting pieces from around the Web for your perusal.

Code/red: Apple Looks Outside for New Comms VP

Re/code says that Apple’s on the lookout for a new head of PR to replace the recently departed Katie Cotton. Speculation is high that this could help set a friendlier, more open tack for the company, especially in light of the loosened NDA strictures around last week’s Worldwide Developers Conference. (Also worth reading: John Gruber’s analysis.)

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As we all recover from our post-WWDC haze, we’ve slowly sifted through the stories making the rounds on Monday to bring you some highlights.

Apple Acquires Spotsetter, A Social Search Engine For Places

The latest Apple acquisition is—surprise—another place-oriented app. This time it’s Spotsetter, which bills itself as “a social search engine” that helps you find the best places to go as mentioned by folks you may know or are connected to on social media; it then layers that info over a map. The app’s two founders will join Apple, and if you wanted to grab it before it was gone, too late: It’s already been pulled from both the App Store and Google Play.

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It’s the time of year when folks’ minds turn to thoughts of Apple announcements. The company’s Worldwide Developers Conference is just around the corner, and its latest herald, the annual update to the WWDC iOS app, trumpeted its arrival on Wednesday.

As in previous years, the WWDC app provides a schedule of sessions taking place during the five-day conference, starting with the keynote on Monday, June 2, at 10 a.m. Pacific, and continuing all the way through to Friday afternoon. The detail view of each session provides further information, including a description, the track, and a map of the location. (As of this writing, Apple’s opted to conceal many of the sessions with cheeky names like “No Comment” and “It’s Under Wraps.”) You can mark sessions you want to hit as favorites, and view just a list of those, as well as filter events by platform, type (session or lab), and track. And should you be looking for something in particular, there’s a search function as well.

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If you prefer your productivity suites on the cloudy side, you’ll be glad to hear that Apple’s released a few updates to the beta version of its iWork for iCloud productivity suite on Tuesday. The list of updates appear as a subtly-animated splash screen that appears whenever you launch one of the apps.

Several of the most prominent updates apply to all three of the apps in the suite: You can now have up to 100 collaborators in a single document at the same time—which hopefully won’t be too confusing—and you can choose from almost 200 new fonts. There are also additional options in the color panel, and you can finally create and format both 2D and interactive charts.

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Ever dreamed of an opportunity to try out new versions of OS X before they’re released, but without having to pony up the $99 to become a registered developer? Well, that opportunity’s here: On Tuesday, Apple announced a new initiative, the OS X Beta Seed Program.

As part of the Beta Seed Program, users can register to receive pre-release versions of OS X, starting with OS X 10.9.3, which is available beginning on Tuesday. By trying out the new software and providing feedback to Apple, users can help shape the direction of the company’s desktop computer OS.

The company recommends making a backup before installing any beta software. Running a downloadable Beta Access Utility will make beta seed versions of OS X—and any additional software Apple chooses to provide for testing—visible in the Mac App Store’s Updates pane.

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If something about iOS 7.1 just didn’t sit right for you, no worries: Here comes iOS 7.1.1 to give it another shot.

The update came down the pipes on Tuesday for all devices compatible with iOS 7, but if you’re expecting big sweeping changes, you’re probably in for disappointment. The three issues mentioned in the release note are all fairly minor: further improvements to Touch ID on the iPhone 5s, a fix for a bug that could “impact keyboard responsiveness,” and a patch for a specific issue regarding VoiceOver when using a Bluetooth keyboard. There are also security improvements though, as of this writing, Apple hadn’t yet posted a list.

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Just in time for Earth Day, Apple has updated its environmental site with the latest information about the many green initiatives it has put in place. Most prominently, the company has assembled a video, narrated by CEO Tim Cook, speaking about how Apple applies its overriding philosophy—striving to make better products—to its commitment to the environment.

A letter from the company’s vice president of environmental initiatives, former Environmental Protection Agency director Lisa Jackson, echoes Cook’s sentiments: “We aim to create not just the best products in the world, but the best products for the world,” writes Jackson.

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Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the ol’ Apple TV, three new channels have made their debut on the company’s set-top box, bringing the total number of services to roughly six quadrillion. Give or take.

The newest additions, which began springing up on home screens on Monday, include A&E, the History channel, and Lifetime. So, regardless of whether you prefer duck hunters, World War II documentaries, or tearjerkers of the week, there’s a little bit of something for everybody. Unless, of course, you’re a fan of costumed, arrow-shooting superheroes, in which case you’re still waiting for the CW channel hinted at almost a year ago. (I assume the delay is just to spite me.)

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