Responding to consumer backlash over news that Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices collect data that tracks a user’s locations, the company has come up with a solution, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Technology blog.

Apple released a software update that reduces the amount of data stored on the devices and also allows the owners of the devices to delete the location log, according to the story.

The updated software, iOS 4.3.3, will reduce the time frame of the location tracking to about a week, down from a year’s worth of data previously, the story says. Device owners can shut off the data collection by turning off the "Location Services" setting.

The Times piece reports: “The update came about a week after Apple offered a limited explanation of the reason for the location log, saying that rather than tracking user movements, the devices download information about nearby cellular towers and wi-fi networks in order to more efficiently offer geography-related services like mapping. Apple also cited bugs in the software that enabled it to collect far too much information.”

Google and Apple will be questioned next week by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) at a hearing about mobile privacy, the story says.