Apple updates MacBook Pro firmware, won't say why

Sure, there are few glaringly obvious reasons to fix the MacBook Pro firmware, such as its "too hot to touch" running temperatures and random whining noises prodigiously documented by users, but Apple ain't saying nothing. They've just released a firmware update for their Intel-based systems cleverly titled: "SMC Firmware Update 1.0," with zero explanation as to the purpose of the update. The SMC, or System Management Control, does manage heat related issues, including the fans, so it's a reasonable guess that the new firmware is meant to address the issues at hand with the MacBook Pro, but you sure wouldn't know it from the way Apple is acting. Luckily, the rabid fan base is already testing out the new firmware, and most have found it to fix their heat issues. The verdict is still out when it comes to the whining noises, with some reporting an improvement and some not. All the same, it would really be nice of Apple to let people know what's up. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

[martin @ May 17th 2006 8:50PM]

I heard on TUAW that it lowers the clock speed at it's highest stage, probably for power reasons.

http://www.tuaw.com/2006/05/17/did-the-smc-firmware-update-cripple-some-intel-mac-clock-speeds/

[mikey @ May 17th 2006 8:51PM]

Unfortunately my balls have already been fried cajun style.

[Faruk Ates @ May 17th 2006 8:58PM]

Maybe it's (also) the two-finger-trackpad-trick for a right button click that is present in the new MacBook, the 17" MacBook Pro but not the 15".

Also, as of now, it effectively means that the portable Macs feature a "Mighty Mouse"-like trackpad, wherein one button is actually two buttons.

Who needs a right button when you can just be innovative? :)

[Faruk Ates @ May 17th 2006 8:59PM]

Okay, forgot that Engadget doesn't accept proper HTML links, so here's what I'm talking about:

http://macnewsblog.com/2006/05/can_your_macbook_pro_do_this.html

[not lazy @ May 17th 2006 9:00PM]

My Powerbook g4 is too hot. Any updates for that?

[MitchellO @ May 17th 2006 9:08PM]

Maybe the whining issue is due to power management on the USB ports? This is purely an idea (I have never even owned a Mac let along a MacBook Pro), but my Dell Inspiron 710m also had a whining issue, and it was found to be the USB ports going into standby. By disabling the power management on the USB ports, the whine instantly went away and hasn't occured again.

[Jon Henshaw @ May 17th 2006 9:09PM]

3 of us have MacBook Pros in our office, and we were all having problems connecting to our WiFi network. It was saving the trusted location settings, and we would have to manually connect to it every morning when we came in. After we all installed the new firmware update, it fixed that problem on all of our machines.

[Elliot @ May 17th 2006 9:09PM]

Is it just me or is this post trying too hard to be anti-Apple? I know it's totally hip to use the word "fanboy" (hell, I'm sure weblogs inc. gets royalties on the term) and therein Apple is the new Microsoft, but really. It's a firmware update. That's good. It doesn't make them dicks.

[Jeffrey @ May 17th 2006 9:21PM]

This doesn't do anything about the whine, i still have it and its annowing the shit out of me.

[Sam @ May 17th 2006 9:22PM]

So do any of the updates released allow the functionality of holding two fingers on the trackpad and clicking the button to perform a right-click? I'm really missing that function on my 15" MBP since the 17" and the new MacBooks still have it. Doesn't seem like there's any reason it couldn't work on the 15".

[Reality Check @ May 17th 2006 9:23PM]

But I thought Apple machines "Just Worked"? Oh wait...

[Geoff @ May 17th 2006 9:25PM]

"The first step is admitting you have a problem."

The first step to what? Facing a class-action lawsuit? ;)

[Big Ed @ May 17th 2006 9:33PM]

@#11 Macs do "just work", just like your infallible sense of humor, oh wait...

[hackand @ May 17th 2006 9:38PM]

They also updated the iMac and Mac mini firmware, but nobody seems to care.

[Mikey @ May 17th 2006 9:45PM]

I just ran apple update on my MBP which included the new firmware....after it loading the firmware, it make a loud hum noise which i have NEVER heard before....

dont know if that helps what you guys are looking for?

[ron g @ May 17th 2006 9:51PM]

> 8. Is it just me or is this post trying too hard to be anti-Apple?

It's certainly no secret that Engadget loves to be down on Apple in looking over any of their Apple related posts. To the point of being uncool and annoying as crap.

[Max @ May 17th 2006 9:56PM]

8 - I agree. I feel like Engadget can be a tad bit anti-apple at times. I think everybody needs to accredit Apple's innovation a little more than they do. Yes they have some minor glitches, but for a company that has no more than 5% of the US computer market, they're doing remarkably well at pulling out new products.

[dt @ May 17th 2006 10:13PM]

um, folks, I got my 17 macbookpro, and this firmware, does nothing... Mac is awesome. I'm not a normal spouter of macness... I'm a developer, with my first mac as of 2 weeks ago. loves it.

[x23 @ May 17th 2006 10:13PM]

there are 2 separate whining issues. (and a 3rd random sound...)

1) related to the brightness of the display. anything other than the absolute highest setting... or the absolute lowest (off) setting causes a whine. this is the louder of the two whines... and the most annoying as you have to keep the screen on the brightest setting all the time... it's blinding when you pick up the machine in the morning.

2) related to the CPU itself. if you install the developer tools you will get a "Processor" preference pane... turning off "CPU2" causes that whine to disappear. obviously that isn't ideal at all. but it seems to be that the 2nd core whines when it is idle. turning it off in low-usage scenarios makes it shut up. alternatively... i hear just keeping an app open that constantly uses some CPU shuts it up too. like Photo Booth.

3) not a whine. but the fans on the lowest setting sometimes make a pulsing low hum. like a cow mooing in the distance... every few seconds. this one isn't all that anonying honestly. it's very quiet... it just took me awhile to figure out that the cows were in my computer.

i hear both whines while booted under Windows as well... so it would seem to be a hardware issue not a software issue. i haven't tried this firmware update as of yet to see if it solves either.

[dt @ May 17th 2006 10:20PM]

btw... the 2 finger trick doesn't work for me.. what's going on?

[Vman @ May 17th 2006 10:21PM]

Does anyone have a list of the "problems" with the 15" MBP? I am planning on getting one and would like to be in the know now instead of thinking mine is broken. I don't want to jump the gun on smasing it into apple jacks in a fit of primal rage.

[Vman @ May 17th 2006 10:29PM]

Thanks x23, now I'm hungry for a steak...

[Carl Trimble @ May 17th 2006 10:31PM]

Imagine if this firmware update and the arctic silver hack makes my macbook so cold I could make ice with it!?

[AA @ May 17th 2006 10:35PM]

I haven't had a single problem with my 15" MBP at all, since I got it.

I also do not have any Adobe software (non-Universal Binary) installed that could cause any problems, as some have reported.

I think it's the perfect laptop. I love everything about it.

[visvam @ May 17th 2006 10:38PM]

Just thought I would chime in on the MacBook noise issues.

I just got my MBP back from AppleCare and I am happy to report that the noise issues have been resolved. According to the service document that came back with the machine they:

- Replaced the inverter. part # 612-0020
- Replaced the PCBA (I assume this is the logic board) part # 630-7570

It was a very quick turn around. According to the service record they repaired and shipped the machine out the same day they received it.

If you are having noise issues I would recommend that you call up AppleCare ASAP and get the machine fixed. They were very quick to offer to pick it up for repair.

[Derphead @ May 17th 2006 10:39PM]

I wouldn't exactly say apple gives ZERO explanation, 'software update' does have this to say about the update

"The SMC Firmware Update addresses boot issues with the MacBook Pro."

[dt @ May 17th 2006 10:44PM]

AA I agree... except I feel like cs2 is a little slow, but it IS usable with only 1gb ram (I will get 2 soon I guess). x23, early adobter? I think that apple might have jumped the gun, fortunately for me, I think I waited until they pulled the trigger... my machine is nice...... really nice.

[BobbyW @ May 17th 2006 11:03PM]

Do the retail stores facilitate custom amounts of RAM?
Example - if I want the 2.0ghz MBP which comes with 512MB will they have one there? I know you can't answer but is there a good chance they would have one?
Or do they open them up at the store and put the new RAM in?

[Tomas @ May 17th 2006 11:07PM]

Two-finger trick? Hot balls?

Is iPorn on the way?

[crescentdave @ May 17th 2006 11:11PM]

Jesus. Some of you applets ... They released the firmware update after massive complaints and returns. They beat a "Stop the Whine" Apple tech call in protest by 3 days.

No. There's no reason why Apple should tell it's customers anything specifically about their firmware updates that might put them in the position of being responsible for a product that overheats and is noisy.

[Anatoly @ May 17th 2006 11:13PM]

There are a few issues w/ the MBP - I had one and sold it after a week. 1 - it gets so hot, it's unreal. I like to have the laptop on my lap, and this thing is too hot for that. As a matter of fact, it's sometimes too hot to even pick up. Literally. 2 - not sure if it's your thing, but the lack of a second mouse button is dumb. OSX has a ton of context menus, and most OSX users don't know about them because of the single-button pointing devices that mac loves so much. I know I can get a bluetooth mouse, that's not the point. It's hard to use a bluetooth mouse on the plane. 3 - Battery life stinks. It's inexcusable to have a machine only last for 2.5 hours - When it's brand new. My clunky dell lasted for 3.5 hours 2 years ago when it was new. My brand new and beautiful Thinkpad T60p lasts for 5 hours on one charge. 4 - When I was using it and adjusting the screen brightness, it didn't gradually decrease the brightness, it downright dropped it by more than half. I would have liked to see a less severe difference in screen brightness when you adjust it up and down. 5 - mine shipped w/ a bum DVD-R drive. I sent it in, it was fixed. I shipped it over to the person who bought it, and he had the same exact problem. we weren't the only ones who experienced it, either.

Overall, it's a nice looking machine, but it's not as great as people make it out to be. I was fooled by the hype and I found out the bad way that it's just not that great. Still love the way it looks, but I think they could have engineered it a bit better. Esp. the heat and battery issues.

[dt @ May 17th 2006 11:17PM]

BobbyW... dude, just order what you want from apple.com

and tomas, grow up, check this out http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2307560

[John from Buffalo @ May 17th 2006 11:21PM]

I was just talking to an Apple employee (friend of mine form Buffalo, now in California) today, and the firmware fixes a BUNCH of problems related to the hardware issues. Most notably the related issue with the guy who posted heat issues related to the "problem" with the heat gew. The reason (which I have no clue if it was stated here or not) why Apple asked him to take down the site, was because he was posting copy righted material from their manual on the MacBook Pro from the Apple website - a no-no and has been hand-slapped on a number of people, hence why I never posted pictures on my website DIRECTLY from the manual. It turns out that the heat issue related to the location of the heat-pipes, and the fact that all three processors - the North Bridge controller chip, the Intel Core Duo, AND the GPU were both located in the same location. The MacBook Pro is configured with ALL of these items on the BOTTOM of the laptop, where the MacBook is configured with the heat rising through the keyboard and upper part of the MacBook I own - I've looked. I know. There was a second issue that came in with the firmware that seems to fix both the noise from the fan and the electric hum, which is NOT the fans NOR is it the hard drive. The firmware reduces the noise from the fans and reduces some issues with the electronic hum that the MacBook gives off. For those of the uninitiated EE hard ware geeks check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise#Electronic_noise

The firmware fixes heat issues, fan noise issues, and the eletronic hum that comes off the motherboard. This is unofficial, I know, but I have a reliable Apple employee that gives a clue as to why the Pro models kind of suck, which is why I returned mine as soon as I purchased it, and secondly why I waited and purchased my MacBook on sight at Walden Galleria Apple Store here in Buffalo.

Check it out (repeat posting of my review, but hey.. its all good):
http://www.johnwaller.org/apple/macbook/

Shameless self promotion, much like Dvorak :) *poke*

[Stephen @ May 17th 2006 11:28PM]

I own the MacBook Pro and I have installed the new firmware update. I have yet to install the keyboard update because many people have said that it makes the hum worse...but it's possible that the firmware update works best with all updates; eh.

I have noticed that the heat has gone down a bit, but the hum is still there. Fortunately it doesn't bother me because I just listen to music :).

[Mikey @ May 17th 2006 11:34PM]

i only have one issue...i have a defective superdrive....it destorys anything i put in it...and im too lazy to bring my mbp in to swap it, i dont wanna do the whole backup thing......i dont trust the genius bar 18 year old boys.

[Camperton @ May 18th 2006 12:52AM]

I got a 17" Macbook Pro last week. No problems here either. A vocal minority makes it seem like every machine that comes off the line is defective. They are not.

[jamis @ May 18th 2006 12:58AM]

I remember when I worked at an Apple store 2 years ago countless people would complain that their g4 powerbooks were too hot for laptop use. It's because they are metal, folks. Aluminum, specifically. You'd be suprised at how hot the ram and processor are inside a plastic laptop, insulated and cooking away. Just be glad the heat is dissapating to the outside world where it belongs and quit hyperventilating about it already!

[MasterCKO @ May 18th 2006 5:29AM]

35, sorry, but that's not an excuse. A good cooling system would keep as much heat as possible from the surface that most likely going to touch your legs and move it somewhere else that's not as, ur, deadly, shall we say.

[AJ @ May 18th 2006 7:30AM]

I've owned a Compaq laptop, a PBG4 (which I still do), and I work at a company that uses HP/Compaq laptops. All 3 of them get very hot. The Compaq one especially. The RAM cover would get to the burning point and basically fry my leg. The Aluminum PB also gets very warm, but I've never found it "too hot" to use. The Ti PBs were VERY hot and were to the burning point as well. The point is that all laptops, regardless of manufacturer, get very hot. You have a processor that is sitting all the more closer to your body and heat will be displaced. All laptops get hot!

[Adam @ May 18th 2006 8:16AM]

If your mouse won't do the two finger scroll or your have the Whining issue from the brightness of the display, call up apple and have it fixed. The only thing they won't fix is the CPU whine. (Just make sure you tell them to replace your inverter board if you have theh brightness whine.)

[Anatoly @ May 18th 2006 9:11AM]

Not all laptop get this hot - by a long shot. My dell doesn't get nearly as hot as the MacBook Pro, neither does the IBM. And remember, the IBM has a magnesium shell as well, so there goes that excuse. There is no need to be an appologist for Apple. They can take care of themselves. It's illogical to me that you guys realize the faults of these machines, and instead of making apple fix them, you go on every forum and continue defending them. They are a company, NOT your retarded brother. Make them fix their mistakes, instead of excusing them. By the way, they make a LOT of money on these laptops, iPods, Desktops, etc. Isn't it about time that they returned the favor?

[x23 @ May 18th 2006 9:43AM]

"26. x23, early adobter?"

yes. i'm the IT person in an office of 95%-ish Macs. i *always* am early adopting.

[pixelator @ May 18th 2006 9:44AM]

LOL @ Apple fanboys defending their poorly designed and defective junk. The last Apple computer I owned was a ][+ and I'm proud of it. Since Jobs, Apple has been about the image and the BS factor above everything else. Well, that and hypocritically pretending you're some kind of holy crusader and better than everyone else.

Just bought my girlfriend a T2500 (2GHz) Dell E1705 for $1260 SHIPPED. It trumps this overpriced MBP in every category except that it weighs 2lbs. more and is .6" thicker. Not a huge deal on a 17" note. From the heat and noise issues to the underclocked sluggish video card, Apple has demonstrated here again that their scratchprone, laggy iPODs aren't a fluke (I should know, I have a 60GB Video).

And then there's Apple's long track record with bad batteries in Mac notes in general... Tsk. And still the Mac freaks rail against any criticism. Why don't you guys just for the Church of Jobs and be done with it?

[will chen @ May 18th 2006 9:46AM]

Making excuses for apple is exactly what apple fanboys do...

Its the only reason the g4 lasted for so long - because steve jobs could convince users that the g4 was a godly chip when in reality, it was slow as shit compared to similar intel chips.

And my thinkpad? Doesnt get hot at all or creaks or whines.

[vincent @ May 18th 2006 10:57AM]

and i still don't know what all this has to do with the mac mini....i was updating my newly purchased mini last night and that smc update came up...
so does that also slow clock speed at higher temp?
i know that the mini wasn't hot to the touch when i was turning the thing off, but it was on for about 2 1/2 hrs for all the updates i had to do.

[GadgetGav @ May 18th 2006 1:05PM]

Maybe it does addess the whining... of the owners that is. Maybe the only point of it is to show you that the fans *do* work and that they can run really fast if they need to, so stop worrying and put away that tiny screwdriver and thermal grease...!

And yes, I do own one. It gets just as hot as the Al Powerbook G4 and it has quieter fans.

[BeavisBaldwin @ May 18th 2006 1:28PM]

First, Engadget is a bit critical of EVERYTHING they post. Rarely is there anything that's given a positive spin. Apple is different. You can expect people to poke at it.

I bit on the MBP. Was my first Apple notebook. I like a lot of things about it. The heat isn't one of them. I called AppleCare...they told me that it wasn't a "laptop" but a portable computer. They suggested NOT putting it on my lap but moving it to a desk or table to work. Hello, that's really a lame excuse.

I ran the update. Still hot as hell. I've never had the noises. My superdrive is fine. I didn't like the big size at first...the 1400x900 resolution has really grown on me. I also love Parallels, which lets me run Windows XP / Linux along side OS X. Best of all worlds.

[Asher69 @ May 18th 2006 2:25PM]

Aaaand lets not forget how wonderful an insulator your lap becomes when sitting on the couch / comfy chair with your MBP, tooling away at some processor / graphics intensive apps... As many have pointed out all laptops get warm. The more apps you run at once, especially the processor intensive ones, the hotter that little lovebox will become. I discovered this with Apple PG G3 (both black and bronze key versions - old school, yo), clamshell iBooks (now those things sucked), original 12" iBooks, TiBooks, original 17 PBs, Compaq Presarios, HP tablet PCs (three revs over two different models), HP laptops (three revs over four models). Sometimes you have to make a choice... you don't like burning your nuts? Get a TV tray, or sit the hell at a table. Just because a thing is portable, doesn't mean it was meant to be used sitting on your lap on the couch. My TiBook was my mobile office, network management facility, and production studio, and I never sat it on my lap. Ever. I still like the idea of having kids one day. To hell with heat - EMF.

Just my tuppence. Take it or leave it.

[braintrust @ May 18th 2006 3:39PM]

I assume the 17" doesn't need a firmware update...didn't show up in the Software Update. Oh I'm sorry, am I on topic?

BTW: 17"er is a champ. First Mac purchase since a G4x2 tower in October of 2000. That machine still runs great, a little slower since Tiger. But six years with no major mechanical probs and I've run it hard. The key is to buy a mac on the beginning of a new cycle, but at the second release. You have to catch it when the hardware is ahead of the available software. I had my G4 for a year and a half before OSX came out, enabling the use of the dual processors. It was like I has a brand new machine. I waited for the second round of MBP's, and from what it sounds like, it was a good choice.

/PC's make me anxious when I work on them too long. Some sort of brainwave interference.

[forecastmazy @ May 24th 2006 10:18AM]

I purchased a MBP 17" customized off the Apple website. Haven't had any sort of problem whatsoever. I will download the updates anyhow but I must say I've had it since they first shipped and have never been happier with a laptop or computer in general. The machine runs beautifully and the speed on Final Cut makes me want to gush about it to every person I meet (most of whom are non-techies who feel impressed yet can never fully understand the beauty in fulfilled immediacy of short render times). I've been running along with the puter world since Commodore 64s. After years of frustrated Windows OS experience I switched over to Mac and will never look back. My jump to the G4 was like an exodus from PC clunksville. My upgrade to the MBP has been... well... I feel like I've been reborn.
Another note real quick before I end. With the MBP I ordered the 23 inch HD Cinema Monitor (beautiful). I Opened it, noticed a small quarter inch only-visible-in-direct-light scratch on the monitor, brought it to the Apple store and was treated like a king. I was immediately brought a new monitor and sent on my way. It was the same treatment I'd received when my Ipod Harddrive would die yet this time with a far more expensive (and workline vital) piece of equipment.
I took a cab home and was never so happy.

The moral of the story; Apple is the only company that I've ever felt gives a shit about my satisfaction. Assuming you buy the Applecare with your equipment (which only a fool would pass up), Apple will take care of you.

If you don't like OS X or Mac, well I suppose to each his own. Personally, the idea of using anything but a Mac makes me queazy. I'm so traumatized and disgusted by Windows that I probably won't even utilize the Boot Camp feature (although it's nice to know it's there. Because the option of using Windows is essentially equivalent to the option of eating dinner via the corner deli buffet; dirty, stale and something you generally don't trust but glad to know about for the sake of general knowledge).