Apple fixes DRM server bug that led to crashing apps 

A problem with Apple’s iOS and Mac App Stores has been causing apps to crash upon launch after users update to the most recent version. Instapaper developer Marco Arment was the first to publicize the bug on Wednesday along with a list of affected apps that grew past a hundred as reports kept coming in. Apple acknowledged the situation yesterday afternoon and now it appears to have fixed the problem.

In a statement issued to AllThingsD, the iPhone and iPad maker confirmed that the problem was traced down to a fault with "a server that generated DRM code for some apps being downloaded". Apple said it affected only a small number of users and that it doesn’t expect it to occur again.

Initially affected apps had to be deleted and re-downloaded from the appropriate App Store in order to get the fixed versions. However, for apps that store user-created data or game progress locally this was a major annoyance as it meant losing all your information. Luckily Apple has come up with a workaround so that fixed binaries will show up as “Updates” instead of going through the extra work of deleting and re-downloading.

To smooth out its relationship with developers Apple is also reseting all reviews for the most current version of each affected app, which will effectively hide one-star reviews posted in response to the bug. Arment said that over 20,000 of his customers were affected and many unknowingly blamed him for the crashes.