From the category archives:

Mac Hardware

External Hard Drives – FireWire vs. USB: Why should we care?

December 24, 2009

More and more external drives are offered with a USB 2.0 interface only, without FireWire. Even MacBooks are sold without a FireWire interface. PCs hardly ever have FireWire avaialble.
Why should we care?
FireWire is a transfer method designed for data transfer. USB was originally designed for device control. That doesn’t matter so much any more, and [...]

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Apple updates Airport, MacBook, and Superdrive Firmware.

December 9, 2009

Apple has posted a few software and firmware updates, which address issues with airport not able to turn off or on, and drive noise with optical drives. The updates should be available through Software Update, so be sure to check there.
Apple AirPort Client Update 2009-002
This update fixes a problem we reported on a little while [...]

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New Macs, new Mouse released today!

October 20, 2009

Apple’s Press release:
Apple today introduced the new wireless Magic Mouse, the first mouse to use Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch technology. Pioneered on iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpads, Multi-Touch allows customers to navigate using intuitive finger gestures. Instead of mechanical buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls, the entire top of the Magic Mouse is a [...]

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Antiglare dislpay available on MacBook Pro 15″

August 11, 2009

Apple is offering a $50 option to provide the matte display they dropped last year. New Mac portables have come with glossy screens only on the unibody models, much to the dismay of a very vocal minority.
Apple did retain the option for a matte screen on the 17″ MacBook Pro, and now it’s an optional [...]

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Lockdown – Secure your Laptop!

July 2, 2009

Lockdown is a free (donation requested) app that will allow customization of detection features that use Mac portable’s motion-sensors, external device sensors, MagSafe sensors and more “to ensure that not even the slightest tap goes unnoticed”.
Once triggered, a loud alarm sounds, and the system cannot be muted or put to sleep. Lockdown has the ability [...]

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MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update adds compatibility for replacement batteries

June 30, 2009

Monday last Apple released a new firmware update for compatible MacBook Air models. If you have a MacBook Air, you can use Software Update to download and install the new firmware. Alternatively, you can go to Apples site and download the update there.
SMC Firmware Updates are for the System Management Controller (SMC) found on all [...]

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Firmware Update for Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express

June 23, 2009

Apple released a firmware update, version 7.4.2, for Time Capsule and the AirPort Extreme and Express base stations. It’s a recommended update, and can be done easily.
AirPort Utility is the tool necessary to install the update, and AirPort Utility 5.4.2 or later is recommended to be installed before updating to Firmware version 7.4.2.
Once the latest [...]

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Apple Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0 released

June 17, 2009

Apple released an update for all Macintosh systems with Bluetooth based on the Broadcom chipset. Find it here.
This update provides bug fixes and better compatibility with the Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard.

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Vintage and Obsolete Products listed

June 17, 2009

Apple published a list yesterday of “Vintage and Obsolete” products.
Vintage products are items that are no longer supported, having been discontinued more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Apple has discontinued hardware service on these products with the following exceptions:
Products purchased in the state of California, United States, as required by statute. [...]

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Safe Sleep and the ‘White Screen of Death’

May 16, 2009

MacBooks and the White Screen of Death
MacBooks (amd MBPros?) have the ability to go to sleep. We all know that. Sometimes, they don’t seem to wake up. Usually a restart will take care of that. But every once in a while, pressing the power button will result in a blank white screen. This is the [...]

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